Descent issue 308 front cover: Peter Lord in Sótano de las Golondrinas, Mexico, by Martyn Farr
Descent issue 308 back cover: Keith Edwards and Melissa Bell in the Smithy, Cwm Dwr (OFD), South Wales, by Mark Burkey

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Descent (308), February 2026

£8.45

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Description

SFC25
Luca Rossi reports on the most recent SpeleoFotoContest, which has become one of the top international showcases of subterranean photography. We also present some of the winning images.

Ease Gill Open House
In June 2025, a 10-day caving festival was held at Bullpot Farm, the home of Red Rose CPC, with numerous SRT routes through Ease Gill rigged for the duration. Rachel Turnbull tells the tale.

Inside the Mountain
The free ascent of Gaping Gill Main Chamber in 1988 was a historic moment for both climbing and caving. Jack Homan writes about a documentary he is making about this challenging route and the climbers planning to repeat the ascent.

Great Sporting Trips of the World: Sótano de las Golondrinas
Martyn Farr describes a pensioners’ day out in one of the world’s most spectacular holes.

A Question of Size
Loyal Descent readers will be aware of the two enormous UK underground finds from the last few years – Redhouse Lane Swallet in the Forest of Dean and the Draughting Hole-Missed Pot system in the North Pennines. These caves may be of similar length, but their characters are worlds apart, as this scale comparison of their surveys shows.

The Dry Traverse
The North of England’s Three Counties system offers all sorts of sporting trips for cavers, but Todd Rye might just have come up with the best of the lot.

Adventures in Ultraviolet Photography
Dave Watts looks at caves in a different light.

Big CHECC ’25
Polly Judd reports on November 2025’s annual gathering of students from the Council of Higher Education Caving Clubs.

Crossword Answers
The results of quite possibly Descent’s most popular crossword ever.

Front cover: Peter Lord in Sótano de las Golondrinas, Mexico. Photo: Martyn Farr

Back cover: Keith Edwards and Melissa Bell in the Smithy, Cwm Dwr (OFD), South Wales. Photo: Mark Burkey

 

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PRINTED ON CERTIFIED CARBON CAPTURED PAPER LOGGED FROM SUSTAINABLE SOURCES

Size:

A4

Pages:

44

Publication date:

February 2026

Back issues:

In stock

ISSN:

0046-0036

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