Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day, clear, warm, sunny just perfect and today, oh my, its raining! Talk about the English weather, well I suppose we do talk about it all the time! Got thinking about what to do when its raining and thought…… caves! There are just three open to the general public to be explored, two in the Yorkshire Dales and one in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Beauty.
White Scar Caves near Ingleton comes to mind first. A show cave of nearly a mile long just below Ingleborough, one the Three Peaks, in the valley of Chapel-le-Dale. The tour takes about an hour and a half but please do have a look on their website for details of openings and times etc. Just looking now with the bad weather today the cave is closed due to high water. Perhaps my idea of what to do on a rainy day is a nonstarter! The weather has been a bit extreme this morning though!
Ever onwards. There is Stump Cross Caverns near Greenhow above Pateley Bridge on the B6265. ‘Stump Cross Caverns is a truly unique place to visit. Explore the beauty of this natural show cave. An ideal activity whatever the weather, (so it was a good idea!) Stump Cross Caverns is all under cover with designated walkways for you to follow.’ Don’t forget to book your place though, look on the website for details and lots of information.
Back to Ingleborough and Clapham to look at Ingleborough Cave, our weather this morning doesn’t seem to have affected this one either. A show cave of well over half a mile in length, first discovered in 1837. A well lit concrete footpath leads you past huge stalactites, stalagmites and flowstones. You reach the Cave via the Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail, a picturesque 1.3 mile walk through the woodland along a well maintained gravel track. Great pub/hotel in Clapham too, The New Inn Hotel, we’ve called there a couple of times for lunch when we’ve been over that way.
And then there is Gaping Gill, again on the approach to the Ingleborough, definitely not for the faint hearted and only open to the public a couple of times a year. On some bank holiday weekends local caving clubs set up a special platform and winch which for a fee lowers intrepid members of the public into this yawning abyss. Situated at the bottom of a large crater, Gaping Gill is a yawning abyss which engulfs Fell Beck, the stream crashing down into a cathedral sized main chamber in what is probably highest underground unbroken waterfall in the UK.
If you’d like to stay nearby we have stunning cottages in the Yorkshire Dales and Nidderdale AONB, have a look on our website for ideas and availability or do call me, Nadine, or my daughter Joanne on 01969 663559 for friendly help and advice.
Written By Nadine Bell