Gaping Gill

Gaping Gill is one of England's best-known caves, set on the southern slopes of Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales, a little over an hour's walk uphill from the village of Clapham. A 98-metre (322 ft) natural shaft swallows the stream Fell Beck, which plunges into one of the largest underground chambers in Britain.

What exactly is Gaping Gill?

It is a pothole and cave system in North Yorkshire, not a loch or a lake. A moorland stream runs up to a ragged opening in the ground and drops into the hill. At the bottom the water sinks among boulders and filters through the limestone, finally emerging close to Ingleborough Cave. The shaft entrance is a deep, fern-fringed hollow that stands out on the fellside.

How do you walk there from Clapham?

Start in Clapham, inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The route follows the private Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail, which charges a small fee. You pass the entrance to Ingleborough Cave, a show cave, then the dry gorge of Trow Gill, before climbing onto the open moor beneath the mountain. Expect roughly 4 km, all uphill, which usually takes 60 to 90 minutes each way. Wear proper walking boots and bring layers for changeable weather.

Can you go down?

For most of the year the chamber is off limits to the public, and the shaft is the preserve of experienced cavers. Twice a year, however, caving clubs set up a winch and lower visitors to the floor during so-called winch meets:

• Bradford Pothole Club runs the spring meeting around the late-May bank holiday weekend.
• Craven Pothole Club runs the August meeting, ending on the August bank holiday weekend.

The winch cable passes through spray from the waterfall, so pack a waterproof and a head torch. There is no advance booking; you queue on the day. Prices have changed from year to year, so check dates and fees with the clubs. Heavy rain can suspend the winch.

What will you see underground?

The main chamber is huge, among the biggest natural voids in the UK. The waterfall drops into it from the surface, and daylight falls through the shaft opening. Deeper, more technical sections of the system are only for people with the right gear and training; the British Caving Association and the regional caving council publish guidance for cavers.

When should you visit?

Going underground is only possible during the winch meets, in late May and in August. At any other time you can still walk up and look into the shaft. Summer and early autumn are the most comfortable seasons for the hike, while Fell Beck is most dramatic after rain, though the path can be muddy.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go into Gaping Gill on my own? No. Descending without experience and equipment is dangerous. Visitors go down only on the winch during the organised weeks.

How long is the walk from Clapham? About 4 km each way, normally 60 to 90 minutes uphill.

Do I need to book the winch? No. There is no reservation; you join the queue on site, and the winch may stop in bad weather.

What should I bring? A waterproof jacket, sturdy boots, a head torch and cash for the trail fee and the winch.