Fails of the Urban Explorer: A Bit of Everything

Going forward I can see the fails list is going to exponentially grow. The difficulty gaining access to properties is such, that in time it may kill my dangerous hobby or at the least subdue my longing to go out.

The days of coming back with seven successes in a single day seem to be gone. If that COVID thing ever returns, then we may see an upsurge in exploring again.

It was one of the few positives that came from it, besides working from home becoming more acceptable.

Cumbria Cottage

I’m looking at this cover picture and thinking, ‘left of the front door looks like a climbable window.

It can't have been accessible or I would have been in there right away, head first if necessary.

This was a pure drive-by and with @bingbabe waiting around in the car, I was not expecting much.

A few months earlier and the shrubbery may have been so overgrown as to cast this one as invisible.

I can see that others have been inside and the sealers have been to combat this dreadful behaviour.

...'climb the wall, jump and dangle from the window using your momentum to blast through that balsa-wood landing on both feet. You don't think I was considering it?'

Many a passer-by curiously looked at me as I tromped about looking for an access point. One even stopped to have a chat.

It was owned by a little old lady who passed away some time ago. I, of course, was a prospective buyer; after all, it is for sale.

The double glazing has been dragged off its hinges in places. It may look better inside than the visuals suggest, as I did cup my hands to have a nosey.

Pwll Gwyn

During our final and least productive summer trip to Wales, we earmarked Pwll Gwyn for a visit. Some other explorers claimed to have gained access, likely more daring ones than us.

After scouting around the back, and looking doubtfully at the flimsy-looking roof we decided that we would rather live a little longer.

There was a suspect window but between that and us was a suspiciously paper-looking surface that needed to be navigated upon.

Pwll Gwyn is in the middle of nowhere which is a good thing, and there's ample parking for the TourBus if it ever gets opened up.

I would suggest @grindle keeps an eye on this one as it’s kind of next door to his house and he can even pronounce ‘Pwll Gwyn', which is something the English are incapable of.

Return to the Turd Factory

There’s an old Urbex proverb that dates back to the middle ages.

‘...don’t fuck about, and get in while you can...’

It’s true and one should heed the words of our ancestors and digest. While The Turd Factory was truly one of the worst explores I have witnessed, both @anidiotexplores and I missed the top area which was subsequently opened up by some thugs a week or so after our initial visit.

Not listening to those holy words, we fucked around and went back too late to find the gate entrance sealed, and some new vandalism that had taken place around the front.

@anidiotexplores gingerly climbed through only to find the original Turd Factory area, now devoid of anything besides even more lumps of shit.

"I think there's someone in there", he told me. It was not boding well especially as the upper area was on the other side of the barred gate, and still open.

I would say that having been a terrible explore to start with, "The Turd Factory" should at least compensate us for the time wasted going back.

The sheer impudence of that building,… sheesh.

St Thomas Mental Hospital

“It’s so fucking big, how can we not get in?”

Those were my words to @anidiotexplores who gazed upon this sprawling monster of a complex.

He had visited before and managed a partial entrance. St Thomas’ had a reputation of being a tough nut to crack.

Walking around the edges was taking around 15 minutes and I noticed the multitude of climbing grease on the top edges of walls and fences.

Yet there was a way in, though a little climbing was required.

“Why is there a car in there?”, I whispered to my comrade.

Car or not, I was on the grounds and was going to look around and be damned of the consequences.

Every door and window was fully sealed at least in this part. I climbed up the metal ladders to find the same scenario.

The complex proper was still on the other side of all that razor wire and greasepaint.

We did find the way in courtesy of the local underground intelligence only to be told it was over a flimsy 7-foot fence next to a housing estate with many watching eyes.

The eyes were already out and watching...

Well fuck that, I'm one for covert entrances, not blatant ones. St Thomas’ is one for a future re-visit after the demolition crew has visited and made it all nice and easy for us.

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