Going Underground!
The Yorkshire Dales are famous not just for dry stone walls and spectacular countryside and hills, the world underground is just as vast with hundreds of miles of caves. Created by limestone formations over millions of years. We have two main show caves close to Settle, Ingleborough Cave is located on the edge of Clapham (6miles away) this accessed after a walk through a lovely Nature Trail which is 1.3miles. Opening times do vary so it’s a must to check the website.
Ingleborough Cave – The Fortification
If you don’t fancy the walk and want to drive a little further from Settle(12miles away) parking outside the next show cave White Scare Cave. Next to the road between Ingleton and Ribblehead. Again check out their website for all the important information including opening times (weather permitting)
White Scar Cave – The Devils Tongue
Both Show caves do tours providing you with hard hats as there is bending down to walk through the caves. There are a number of steps.
Both are fantastic in their own right – one claims to be the longest show cave in England and the other a Premier of the Yorkshire Dales, we would recommend either just depends on your time available. Worth checking their websites for events such a Christmas, Star Gazing
For some more Cave adventures you could go down into one of the largest underground chambers in Britain – Gapping Gill, this can be accessed by the general public with no caving experience by being winched down! This is only available twice a year, May and August around the bank holiday weeks. Run by two local pothole / caving clubs. All the details and even a video can be found here, of our time down Gapping Gill !
Gaping Gill Cave
If you want to see more details on Gaping Gill it’s featured on this Channel 4 Programme Lakes & Dales Episode
Fast forward to about 10mins into the programme if you want!
If you don’t want to stop there and try out caving as an activity then contact our local business Yorkshire Dales Guides that will take you on a real caving experience.
You will see from their website they have a range of caving activities to choose from.
When you are out and about in the Yorkshire Dales you will see other caving groups, we had a taster which was great fun and gave us a good insight to this underground world.
Ready for Caving
