Withcall Tunnel Portal. O.k so I had a quick recce at the West Portal of Withcall Tun

[Black Shuck]

 

[Black Shuck]

Withcall Tunnel.

O.k I was in the area and decided to have a quick look at the West Portal of Withcall Tunnel. Also the small Occupation underbridge west of the Portal. Was well suprised by the size of the approach cutting

 

[Badoosh]

Spot on dude, glad to see you made it! Did you not walk the full length?

 

[Black Shuck]

Hi my man. I went down to the tunnel from the Stenigot mast end. I did have a 3.5 million Spotlight in my car but it did not fit in my rucksack. I only had a farty little 6 volt Draperwith me. I got about 20yds into the tunnel and could not see a bloody thing!. It was much darker than Old Warden and a alot wetter. The big torch was just too bulky to carry across the fields and down the approach cutting although I am kicking myself for not having the guts to walk the whole thing!. East portal start next time I think.

 

[ThenewMendoza]

That looks promising. Can't believe you didn't go the whole length!!

M

 

[Badoosh]

Go for it! First did this place at night with a mate & one torch with a battery that decided to be cruel to us half way. When we reached the end of one portal there was no going back so it was a case of find the road & a 2 hour walk back to the motor, with the help of a compass & OS map. The memories will stay with me for the rest of my life lol! Once i was in this long dark tunnel...lol

 

[Black Shuck]

That looks promising. Can't believe you didn't go the whole length!!

M

I know Mendo I am absolutely kicking myself but I will go back but Iam a a bit unsure how to light it.

 

[Black Shuck]

!

Go for it! First did this place at night with a mate & one torch with a battery that decided to be cruel to us half way. When we reached the end of one portal there was no going back so it was a case of find the road & a 2 hour walk back to the motor, with the help of a compass & OS map. The memories will stay with me for the rest of my life lol! Once i was in this long dark tunnel...lol

Yes it really is one of the most dramatic Portals I have seen for a very long time and it took a lot of getting to as well. Going back uphill all the way was somewhat of a marathon and I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest!

 

[ThenewMendoza]

I know Mendo I am absolutely kicking myself but I will go back but Iam a a bit unsure how to light it.

I'm sure there is a torch thread on here somewhere, I use a couple of led Tesco things, cost around 8 quid I think.

M

 

[Badoosh]

Good photos dude. Hope you make the full length at some point.

 

[Kaputnik]

Was planning on visiting this place last year, but didn't because, as Spawney pointed out at the time, the tunnel is home to possibly 5 species of bats, and was designated an SSSI,( site of special scientific interest ) by English Nature for that reason,
bats are protected by law and it isn't a good idea to go disturbing them with torches, noise etc, especially as they may still be in hibernation at this time of year.
Sorry if that make me sound like a kill-joy, just thought it worth mentioning.

 

[Badoosh]

Was planning on visiting this place last year, but didn't because, as Spawney pointed out at the time, the tunnel is home to possibly 5 species of bats, and was designated an SSSI,( site of special scientific interest ) by English Nature for that reason,
bats are protected by law and it isn't a good idea to go disturbing them with torches, noise etc, especially as they may still be in hibernation at this time of year.
Sorry if that make me sound like a kill-joy, just thought it worth mentioning.

Defintely a good point to make. We did it a few years back in the summer & was pleased to say there was no bats at that time thankfully.

 

[Black Shuck]

Heres the Withcall D Sub.