Ingleborough Cave

Ingleborough Cave is a show cave in Clapdale, just under two kilometres from the village of Clapham in North Yorkshire, in the Yorkshire Dales. It sits at the foot of Ingleborough, at the point where water from the Gaping Gill system finally comes back to the surface.

What will you see inside Ingleborough Cave?

The route winds through chambers hung with stalactites, stalagmites and flowstone curtains, with an underground stream beside the path. Walkways and bridges keep the visit easy going. The cave belongs to the same network as Gaping Gill, one of Britain's major underground systems, and in 1983 cavers found passages linking the two.

How did it become a show cave?

For centuries a natural calcite barrier closed off the entrance and held water back. In 1837 James Farrer of the Ingleborough Estate opened the cave to visitors. The Farrer name is tied to Clapham in other ways too: Reginald Farrer, the plant hunter, brought Asian species to the estate, and the woodland trail to the cave is named after him. Since the 1950s the cave has been run by the Jarman family under a lease from the estate.

How do you get to Ingleborough Cave?

There is no road access. From the visitor centre in Clapham you follow the Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail through lakeside woods and up Clapdale. The distance to the entrance is about 1.25 miles (just over 2 km), on a small estate access fee. The same path is the start of the well-known walk to Gaping Gill and the summit of Ingleborough, roughly 7 km one way to Gaping Gill with over 500 m of climbing. For an easier outing, a circuit of about 2.85 miles returns to the village via Long Lane and the tunnels.

When should you visit and what does it cost?

The cave is seasonal: usually daily from spring to autumn, mostly weekends in winter, with longer hours in school holidays. Prices and times change, so check the cave's own website before you set off. Visits are guided and photography is allowed. Bring a warm layer, as it stays cool inside all year, and sturdy shoes for wet ground.

Frequently asked questions

Can you drive to Ingleborough Cave?

No. Park in Clapham and walk the estate trail, which takes around 30 to 40 minutes each way.

Do you pay to enter the estate?

Yes. There is a small fee for walking through the Ingleborough Estate, and the cave ticket is separate.

Is the cave suitable for children?

Yes. The route is marked and safe, and there are reduced child tickets. The walk from Clapham can feel long for very young children.

Are Ingleborough Cave and Gaping Gill the same place?

No. They are two entrances to one system. Gaping Gill is a deep shaft on the fell, while Ingleborough Cave is the part open to visitors, where the water emerges.