Alum Pot

Alum Pot is one of northern England's best-known cave shafts, set in Ribblesdale close to the village of Horton in Ribblesdale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. A wide open chasm on the side of Simon Fell, it has drawn explorers down its throat for well over a century and a half. Walkers come to peer into it, while cavers treat it as a northern classic.

What is Alum Pot?

It is a pothole, a vertical limestone shaft, with a large open mouth at about 343 m (1,125 ft) above sea level on the eastern flank of Simon Fell, North Yorkshire. Modern accounts give its depth as roughly 104 m (341 ft). Underground it links with the neighbouring Long Churn Cave and with Diccan Pot. Older writing also knows it as Allan, Alan, Allen, Hellen and Hell'n.

How do you get to Alum Pot?

The shaft stands on private land, and the approach starts at Selside Farm in the hamlet of Selside in Ribblesdale. You pay a small fee there, then follow a private track of about 1 km to the edge of the chasm. A wall surrounds the shaft to keep sheep and people from falling in, but keep well back from the edge all the same, especially with children and dogs.

Walking routes also start in Horton in Ribblesdale itself, pass Sulber Nick, reach the Alum Pot area and drop down to Selside. A longer loop of around 15 km begins at a lay-by near Selside and climbs over Park Fell and Simon Fell to Ingleborough, one of the peaks on the Yorkshire Three Peaks round.

What will you see?

From the rim you look into a huge, deep cleft where a stream tumbles in and vanishes into darkness. After rain the shaft is loud and wet. Around it lies classic Dales limestone country of drystone walls, rough pasture and exposed hills, with Ingleborough dominating the view from higher ground.

A short history of descents

Early attempts in 1847 and 1848 fell short. In 1848 nine men were lowered to the floor of the shaft in a large bucket, winched by railway workers. The first complete descent is recorded in 1870. In July 1936 Mabel Binks died when a falling rock struck her, the first caving fatality in the Yorkshire Dales.

Can you go underground?

The main shaft is for experienced cavers with rope gear. Beginners usually choose the neighbouring Long Churn Cave, regarded as one of the most popular easier caving trips in the Dales. Its upper section starts with a descent of a 4 m (13 ft) waterfall into a pool called Dr Bannister's Handbasin. Go with a local guide or a caving club.

When should you visit?

The walk works all year, but late spring to autumn gives the most comfortable conditions. After heavy rain the paths turn muddy and much more water pours into the shaft, which is impressive to watch but makes any descent harder. Wear sturdy boots and bring a warm layer, because the open fells are windy even in summer.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a charge to visit Alum Pot? Yes. The land is private and a small fee is paid at Selside Farm.

How long is the walk from Selside to the shaft? The private track is about 1 km, so allow roughly 15 to 25 minutes each way at an easy pace.

How deep is Alum Pot? Modern sources give about 104 m. Nineteenth-century accounts quoted 165 ft, but those measurements were uncertain.

Is it suitable for beginner cavers? The main shaft is not, but the nearby Long Churn Cave is often chosen for first trips with a guide.