Simpson Pot

Simpson Pot is a limestone pothole on the western side of Kingsdale, North Yorkshire, inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park in England. It is a serious caving objective for experienced cavers, not a casual sightseeing stop. It takes its name from Eli Simpson, a well-known figure in Yorkshire caving.

What is Simpson Pot?

The cave drops about 112 m and runs for roughly 880 m, with a British difficulty grade of 4. It connects into neighbouring Swinsto Cave and from there into Kingsdale Master Cave, the main streamway draining the valley. Together they form a system of about 27 km that collects water from both flanks of Kingsdale.

The first exploration took place in 1940, with further passages found in 1962 and 1978.

What is the route through the cave?

The classic trip is a descent by rope through a chain of shafts, pulling the rope down after each pitch so there is no need to climb back out. The exit is through Valley Entrance at the foot of the hillside.

Features along the way include:

• a run of short drops known as Five Step Pot,
• The Pit, an 11 m shaft that the usual route traverses over to reach a dry series,
• Storm Pot, 9 m deep,
• Slit Pot, a 23 m shaft whose top is a tight fissure.

Is it safe and accessible?

This is not a cave to approach without preparation. After rain a large stream enters, and the pitches can become impassable. Rescues have happened: in 2012 a caver abseiled into the blind shaft of The Pit, pulled his rope down behind him and realised the mistake only after about eight hours.

The Council of Northern Caving Clubs (CNCC) reported in 2021 that boulders at the foot of the final pitch had shifted. Before any pull-through trip, check the current state from the Valley Entrance side. The entrance lies on open moorland beside the old Turbary Road track above Kingsdale, close to Ingleton and Thornton in Lonsdale. Yordas Cave, an easier cave open to ordinary visitors, is also nearby.

How should you plan a visit?

• Pick a spell of dry weather and check the rainfall forecast.
• Go with a local caving club or a licensed guide.
• Bring rope-work gear, a helmet, lighting and a wetsuit.
• Leave a call-out time with someone on the surface.

Frequently asked questions

Is Simpson Pot suitable for inexperienced visitors? No. It demands rope skills and confidence in vertical caves. Beginners should join a guided trip or try one of the gentler caves nearby.

Where do you come out? Through Valley Entrance, the opening into Kingsdale Master Cave at the base of the hill.

Which caves does Simpson Pot connect to? Swinsto Cave and Kingsdale Master Cave, forming a system of about 27 km.

When should you avoid the trip? After heavy rain, when the stream floods the shafts and the route becomes dangerous.