Boxhead Pot

Boxhead Pot is a vertical cave on the moorland of Leck Fell in Lancashire, northwest England, close to the Yorkshire Dales boundary and within reach of Lancaster. It is a destination for experienced cavers, not a casual sightseeing stop. The pot is one of the upper entrances to Lost Johns' Cave, which in turn forms part of the much larger Three Counties System.

What is Boxhead Pot?

The cave opens in a deep shakehole roughly 30 metres south of its neighbour, Lost Pot. From the hollow, a vertical pipe drops straight onto the top of a shaft about 34 metres deep, which ends on an unstable ledge of boulders. The total depth is around 105 metres. Cavers from a northern English club broke into it in the mid-1990s.

Below, it joins the upper end of Lost Johns' Cave near the high avens known as the NPC Avens. Lost Johns' itself has about 4.8 km of passage, a depth of roughly 211 metres and eight entrances, and it is widely used for practising single-rope vertical technique.

What is the Three Counties System?

It is one of Britain's longest cave networks at around 87 km, running beneath the borders of Cumbria, Lancashire and North Yorkshire. Water from the whole system emerges at Leck Beck Head, above the village of Cowan Bridge. Boxhead Pot is one of the routes into it from the fell top.

How do you get to Leck Fell?

Leck Fell is upland pasture and moor between the villages of Leck and Casterton, a short drive from Lancaster. Narrow lanes lead to the fell, and the last stretch to the cave entrances is on foot across open ground. There are no trees for shelter and the weather can turn quickly, so carry a map, sturdy boots and waterproofs.

Who can go down Boxhead Pot?

A descent calls for single-rope technique gear, shaft experience and a team that can look after each other. The loose boulder ledge at the foot of the first shaft means falling stones are a real hazard, so groups should be small and careful. Casual visitors should not attempt it. Access to caves on Leck Fell is managed by local caving bodies, and neighbouring Lost Pot has been subject to permit arrangements. Check current rules with the British Caving Association or the Council of Northern Caving Clubs before you plan a trip.

What can you see above ground?

On the surface you get classic northern English karst: shakeholes, hollows and limestone outcrops among grassy hills. It suits walkers who like quiet, exposed country in the Dales. Shakeholes are deep and some openings are unguarded, so keep children and dogs well back from the edges.

Frequently asked questions

Is Boxhead Pot open to tourists? No. It is a natural vertical cave intended for properly equipped cavers, with no visitor facilities.

How deep is Boxhead Pot? About 105 metres, starting with a shaft of roughly 34 metres.

Does Boxhead Pot connect to Lost Johns' Cave? Yes. It leads into the upper part of Lost Johns' Cave and so belongs to the Three Counties System.

Is Boxhead Pot the same as Lost Pot? No. Lost Pot is a separate cave about 30 metres away, though it also feeds into Lost Johns'.