Cave Descriptions

EuroSpeleo 2016 - Cave Route Description

The GAPING GILL System

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Trips in this section

• Main Shaft by Winch
• Main Shaft via Dihedral
• Navigation from Main Chamber to all exits
  • Main Chamber to exit via Flood Entrance (Wade's), Stream Passage Pot and Bar Pot
  • Main Chamber to Exit via Marilyn or Disappointment Pot
  • Main Chamber to Exit via Corky's Pot
• Navigation from individual entrances to Main Chamber
  • Bar Pot to Main Chamber
  • Flood Entrance Pot (via Wade's) to Main Chamber
  • Stream Passage Pot to Main Chamber
  • Disappointment Pot to Hensler's Master Cave or Main Chamber
  • Marilyn to Hensler's Master Cave or Main Chamber
  • Corky's Pot to Main Chamber

 

The Gaping Gill system is over 15km in length and around 190m deep and can be accessed by no fewer than 21 different entrances, several of which are rigged for Eurospeleo.

The majority of these entrances are clustered around the famous Gaping Gill Main Shaft and all descend >100m from surface to a network of passages. Many of these passages unite in the Gaping Gill Main Chamber, one of the largest natural chambers in the United Kingdom and the biggest single drop underground waterfall. A large variety of exchange trips from one entrance to another are possible. You can also take advantage of the famous Winch, which will take EuroSpeleo delegates directly between the Main Chamber and the surface for a small fee (£5).

Parking:

Clapham village is approximately 50 minutes’ walk from the EuroSpeleo venue (via Austwick). However, given the subsequent 60 minute walk from Clapham to Gaping Gill, it is anticipated that driving will be preferred. Park in Clapham village car park (small parking fee) or in a suitable nearby location. It is very important that you do not park outside resident’s houses or cause congestion. Ensure discretion when getting changed into and out of caving gear.

How to find:

Gaping Gill (main shaft) grid reference: SD 7511 7269

Walk up the road alongside the river (upstream) in Clapham village to reach the start of the Nature Trail, next to the large waterfall. A small fee (70p per person) is payable via a ticket machine. Follow this path for 30 minutes to reach Ingleborough show-cave. Continue on the path for 10 minutes to a steep limestone gorge (Trow Gill). Up here, another 10 minutes’ walk reaches a double stile/gate over the left wall. Cross over the wall here.

To locate the main Gaping Gill shaft, follow the rough path for 500m (passing several entrances to the system on your right and left) to reach the huge fenced enclosure of Gaping Gill. There will probably be an encampment of cavers ready to welcome you.

 

For non-cavers (and cavers alike) wishing to see Gaping Gill Main Chamber in style and comfort, EuroSpeleo has arranged for exclusive use of the famous Gaping Gill winch run by the Craven Pothole Club.

A breath-taking winch descends 100m to the floor of the spectacular Main Chamber.... this will take any caver's breath away! A discounted price of £5 (normally £15) has been arranged for EuroSpeleo Congress delegates only. This should be booked and paid for at EuroSpeleo reception in Dalesbridge, where an approximate time slot will be given. Upon arrival at Gaping Gill, you will be required to check-in in the marquee at the Gaping Gill entrance shaft.

Fully equipped cavers may wish to use the winch as a route down only (finding your own way out by one of the seven rigged entrances). Alternatively, you may wish to abseil down one of the entrances and use the winch as a route out of the cave (you may however be asked to clean your caving suit before getting onto the winch if you are very dirty). The £5 charge will also apply if using the winch in one direction only.

Dihedral is the cavers’ route down the Main Shaft. This is not usually allowable when the winch is running for the public; however, as the winch is exclusively for the use of Eurospeleo delegates, the Dihedral route will be available. This is a spectacular pitch dropping through daylight down the side of the Gaping Gill shaft. This is considered by some to be one of the finest pitches in the United Kingdom. A small tunnel (Jib Tunnel) just 25m to the side of the main Gaping Gill Hole leads to the head of this pitch, which then descends the shaft via a handful of ledges and rebelays to land in the Main Chamber itself. Please speak to a member of the winch team before you descend (or if you plan to ascend this route later) to make them aware of your intentions. It would not be desirable to encounter another group coming the other way as there are limited places to pass.

Additional reading: Selected Caves (page 47), Northern Caving (page 117)

 

Navigation from Main Chamber to all exits

Main Chamber to exit via Flood Entrance (Wade’s), Stream Passage Pot and Bar Pot

This description is intended to allow cavers at the Main Chamber to exit via Bar Pot, Flood Entrance (Wade’s), Stream Passage Pot, Marilyn or Disappointment Pot. This should be used in combination with the specific inward-bound navigation guide for that entrance.

Climb 4m up boulders onto the balcony overlooking the Main Chamber (at the end of the chamber furthest away from the falling water). Follow the obvious crawling/stooping height tunnel (ignore a low crawl leading off on the left) to emerge after 50m, usually through a few small puddles, under a low arch at a T-junction in a big chamber. Go left and follow the walking-height passage to reach another similar T-junction (this is Sand Caverns junction).
The way to Stream Passage Pot is right, through Sand Caverns (follow the reverse of the Stream Passage Pot description).

Left goes towards Bar Pot/Flood Entrance (Wade’s). After several minutes of easy crawling/stooping in a very well-worn passage, turn right into a narrow, low rocky crawl (another right turn is found a few metres earlier but this is not the correct way). The crawl is 15m long and enters South East Pot.

The rope entering from above in South East Pot comes from Flood Entrance (Wade’s) and can be followed outwards to the surface. In summary, go up this big pitch at South East Pot, then follow the obvious route to reach two short pitches up. Then follow a 75m crawl upstream to reach a final pitch up which ends only a few metres down a slope from the surface.

Ignore this rope and traverse around the left wall of South East Pot to a climb up boulders and into a passage beyond. After 50m you will reach the bottom of the Bar Pot main pitch (rope on left wall).

To exit via Bar Pot climb this pitch. Follow the traverse rope, which ends after a short crawl under the wall of the chamber. Then follow the boulders steeply upwards. After 15m of steep ascending, turn sharp left and continue upwards for another 10m to emerge into a very large chamber.

Climb up to the highest point at the top left corner of the chamber, where you will find the Greasy Slab. This is a difficult and very smooth upwards slot (thankfully with a rope for assistance). Above the Greasy Slab, the rope from the Bar Pot entrance is found.

The Bar Pot entrance pitch is tight and awkward at the top and may prove a challenge.

 

Main Chamber to Exit via Marilyn or Disappointment Pot

To exit via Marilyn/Disappointment, follow the route towards Bar Pot (see above). However, ignore the rope on the Bar Pot main pitch and continue straight ahead into another very tall aven/chamber. At the far end of this aven/chamber, beneath the left wall, is a 2m drop down leading into New Hensler’s Passage, which is 10 minutes (<100m) of flat out or hands-and-knees crawling.

The 2m drop leads immediately to a squeeze, followed by a slope down into a crawl in a small stream. Follow this straight ahead (downstream). After 15m, a dry crawl avoids a section of the stream which is too low. Ignore the small passage on the left part way along this dry crawl, and instead, keep going straight ahead to soon regain the stream.

Crawl downstream for a further 15m. Then, next to a 40cm high cone-shaped stalagmite, turn left out of the stream and into a very narrow crawl. After 20m, the stream is met again and the passage soon enlarges to easier crawling/stooping and then eventually to walking size.

This is the start of Hensler’s Master Cave.

Soon after the passage becomes walking-size, a junction is reached where the stream from Disappointment Pot enters on the right. Follow this upstream for approximately 80m and climb up through boulders into a very large chamber at the bottom of the final pitch of Disappointment Pot. The rope leading upwards should be easily found entering this chamber near the falling water.

Additional note: Downstream (straight on) Hensler’s Master Cave enlarges and is a lovely river passage. It is strongly recommended to take five minutes to follow this passage downstream and back for a few hundred metres to the point where the passage splits. At this split, the water goes left; however, the right route ascends a few metres up boulders, and this leads to the Far Country. Much more (very hard) caving can be enjoyed beyond here; however, further research is required.

To exit via Disappointment Pot/Marilyn, go up three short pitches and follow the water upstream. The next rope is found hanging down from a very tall aven only 50m upstream. You can follow this rope up to the surface at Marilyn without any navigational challenges.

Alternatively, ignore this rope and continue upstream towards Disappointment Pot. Follow the long stream passage to eventually reach two short upward pitches (one immediately after the other). Up these, and soon the famous Disappointment Pot duck is reached (a very low airspace duck). Beyond here some awkward canals/narrow passages lead to the surface at Disappointment Pot.

 

Main Chamber to Exit via Corky’s Pot:

This is the most challenging of all the rigged routes out of the Gaping Gill system.

At the far end of the Main Chamber, beyond the balcony leading to the other exits, water sinks through some dug holes in the floor. Beyond here, climb up a long steep boulder slope towards the roof, where a small metal ladder is found. Climb the ladder and follow the passage at the top for 10 minutes (a mixture of walking, crawling and a few easy climbs). This passage eventually enters Mud Hall.

Mud Hall is an enormous chamber! A short traverse on ropes leads to a climb down a chain. From the bottom of the chain, a long traverse on ropes leads around the edge of the chamber. At the end of the traverse, on the left, a long descent down a slippery, muddy boulder slope leads to the very bottom of Mud Hall. At the bottom you will find some excellent mud sculptures, and very nearby, the rope descending from Corky’s Pot can be found. Take extreme care as the top of this pitch has many loose rocks. Stand well clear from the bottom while people are ascending.

The main passage leading off from the end of the Mud Hall traverse (before you descend to the bottom of the chamber) leads into the Whitsun Series. This is an extensive section of the Gaping Gill system, and some excellent caving can be enjoyed beyond here. More research is required.

Exiting via Corky’s requires no specific navigational instructions (there are no wrong turns). However, be aware that the route is arduous, involving tight squeezes and some challenging and physically demanding pitches where it is difficult to get on/off the rope at the top.

 

Navigation from individual entrances to Main Chamber:

Bar Pot is the easiest and almost all-weather caving route to Gaping Gill main chamber, and for many cavers in the UK, this is their first experience of SRT underground! However, you should not underestimate the slightly tight and awkward entrance pitch (which is quite hard coming up). After this, a short scramble down blocks leads to a dry and simple 30m pitch, and then 30 minutes of easy crawling/walking leads to a breath-taking balcony in the corner of the Main Chamber.

Location:

From the Gaping Gill enclosure walk back towards the double stile/gate at the top of Trow Gill.  Bar Pot is 30m before the stile/gate on your right.  It is a very deep shakehole with a small slot down through boulders at the bottom.

Navigation:

The small entrance leads almost immediate to the first pitch. This pitch is tight at the top but gets larger further down.

At the bottom of the pitch is a short drop down to the Greasy Slab (with a rope to hold onto). Slide down here into a large chamber. Scramble down to the bottom of this chamber and then into a low downward crawl beneath the left wall. This leads steeply down on some very well polished blocks. After 10m, turn right and continue steeply down the well-worn blocks. You will soon reach the start of the roped traverse leading to the Bar Pot main pitch. Follow the rope traverse under a large block and around a balcony to the top of the pitch.

This is a very easy pitch and is an excellent 30m descent.

At the bottom of the pitch, face directly away from the wall at the bottom of the rope. Follow the passage on the right for 50m to South East Pot. Climb down the blocks and traverse around the right hand wall. There will probably be a rope here for protection (as the hole on the left is very deep).

The rope entering from above comes from Flood Entrance.

A small crawl on cobbles leads away from South East Pot. After 15m this reaches a junction. Go left and follow the worn passage by crawling and stooping for several minutes until an obvious junction (Sand Caverns Junction) is reached at a large rift chamber. The route to the Main Chamber is on the right.

(Straight on here leads via Sand Caverns towards Stream Passage Pot).

A few more minutes of walking-sized passage leads to another large junction. The way on is under the (less obvious) low arch on the right. A few more minutes of easy caving (crawling and walking, ignoring a low crawl leading off on the right) leads to a balcony overlooking the Gaping Gill main chamber, with an easy climb down.

Additional reading: Selected Caves (page 42), Northern Caving (page 104)

A slightly more challenging and technically interesting route to the Main Chamber which intercepts the route from Bar Pot at South East Pot. Flood Entrance is often done as an exchange with Bar Pot or Stream Passage Pot with a detour via the Main Chamber.

Location:

From the Gaping Gill enclosure walk for 300m back towards the double stile/gate at the top of Trow Gill.  Wade’s Entrance is a small shalehole on the left hand side of the track. Note that the true ‘Flood Entrance’ is about 30m further on than this on the left and is not rigged for Eurospeleo.

Navigation:

The name of this trip is Flood Entrance, although confusingly, the actual entrance to the system that most people use (and which is rigged for Eurospeleo) is known as Wade‘s. The small entrance hole slopes downwards for several metres to reach the head of the first pitch. The first pitch starts as a narrow slot but soon opens out and there is a rebelay on a rock bridge a short way down. At the bottom, follow downstream through about 100m of fairly easy, twisting crawls.

The second pitch is reached at the end of the crawls. This drops into a pool of water, where a crawl quickly reaches the next short pitch. A fine passage leads into another crawl in a washed out shale bed then reaches the top of the big pitch, South East Pot. This is a 45m descent with an awkward rebelay and deviation, which lands on a ledge.

Go up the boulders from here to soon reach the bottom of the Bar Pot main pitch.

Go through the low crawl to emerge at a junction. Go left and follow the worn passage by crawling and stooping for several minutes until an obvious junction (Sand Caverns Junction) is reached at a large rift chamber. Straight on leads to the large dry Sand Caverns and ultimately the route (up) to Stream Passage Pot; however, the route to the Main Chamber is on the right.

Going right, after a few minutes of easy caving another large junction is reached. The way on here is under the less obvious low arch on the right. A few more minutes of easy caving and the Main Chamber is reached on a balcony with an easy climb down.

Additional reading: Selected Caves (page 46), Northern Caving (page 107)

Stream Passage Pot is an exceptional route into Gaping Gill, with some airy pitches and a variety of challenging and interesting SRT situations. The route leads down to Stream Passage where some fine horizontal caving in large dry passages enters the system at Sand Caverns Junction.

Location:

Grid reference: SD 7484 7252

This entrance is quite difficult to find. From the Gaping Gill enclosure walk south west (bearing 240°) across the open fell for ~300m. Stream Passage Pot is a metal pipe at the end of a small valley below fell top level.

Navigation:

The entrance is awkward, and involves a climb down a pipe into small chamber and then a slot to reach the first pitch. This pitch leads down to a walking passage. Soon, three 20-30m pitches follow in reasonably quick succession. These provide an excellent technical descent with no navigational issues. The final (fourth) pitch lands in the spacious Stream Passage itself. From here the cave is horizontal and care must be taken with the navigation.

From the bottom of the pitch, follow the stream until the passage enlarges at a T-Junction. The water then flows into Mud Pot. The way on is up the slope on the right for about 20m. Then you must drop down a few metres and then follow around to the left for about 20m. After this, go up a smooth mud slope and then down some mud sediments on the other side. This leads into the very large, dry passages of Sand Caverns.

Follow Sand Caverns to eventually reach Sand Caverns Junction. The route straight ahead goes towards Bar Pot/Flood Entrance. However, to the left a few minutes of walking-sized passage leads to another junction. The way on here is under the (less obvious) low arch on the right. A few more minutes of easy caving (crawling and walking, ignoring a low crawl leading off on the right) leads to a balcony overlooking the Gaping Gill main chamber, with an easy climb down.

Additional reading: Selected Caves (page 50), Northern Caving (page 130)

This cave is named after the original exploration which found this promising stream passage to be sumped after only a few hundred metres. Efforts during the mid-20th century passed this sump to find a superb route to Hensler’s Master Cave. As all the pitches are very short, this was one of the most popular routes into Gaping Gill for those caving using ladders.

Hensler’s Master Cave is a fine section of the Gaping Gill system and is definitely worth seeing.

The sump has since been engineered to be just a low airspace duck which is only a few metres long. This deters many visitors. Despite this, a trip from Disappointment Pot to the Gaping Gill main chamber is excellent, and is regarded by many people as one of the classic trips in Yorkshire.

Eurospeleo offers the opportunity to exit at Disappointment Pot only, thus avoiding a complete soaking in the duck until the very end of your trip.

Location:

From the Gaping Gill enclosure walk back towards the double stile/gate at the top of Trow Gill.  Dissapontment Pot is the first (very large) shakehole reached on the right hand side of the track (100m).

Navigation:

At the bottom of the shakehole, climb down into a stream canyon. The first section of the cave is challenging; fairly tight, with a wet canal and low airspace duck; but once these are over, the rest of the cave is easier. Two short (8m) pitches follow in quick succession, and then a long section of stream passage is followed.

This passage then passes underneath a very tall aven where the rope from Marilyn enters (Marilyn provides a much easier/drier entrance to get to here).
Continue onwards in the stream for a short distance to reach the final three pitches and some cascades. These pitches drop into a large chamber. A route down through the boulders in the floor of this chamber leads to a river passage. Follow the water downstream for approximately 80m to where a junction in a much larger passage is reached.

This junction is the start of Hensler’s Master Cave.

Additional note: Downstream (right) Hensler’s Master Cave enlarges and is a lovely river passage. It is strongly recommended to take five minutes to follow this passage downstream and back for a few hundred metres to the point where the passage splits. At this split, the water goes left; however, the right route ascends a few metres up boulders, and this leads to the Far Country. Much more (very hard) caving can be enjoyed beyond here; however, further research is required.

The way towards Gaping Gill main chamber is via New Hensler’s Passage, about 10 minutes of low, narrow and slightly wet crawling. Turn left at the start of Hensler’s Master Cave (i.e. leaving the flow of the water from Disappointment Pot). The passage soon lowers to stooping height, and then to a crawl in a small stream. Very soon, the stream becomes too low and the way on is a drier, but very low crawl on the right. After 20m of slithering along this crawl, the stream is then met again.

Follow the water upstream (right) for 15m. Another dry bypass should then be followed for 15m (ignoring the small side-passage on the right) to once again join the small stream. Continue crawling and after approximately 10-15m, the passage turns to the left (and soon gets too small). At this turn, leave the stream up a slope into a tight crawl. This turns right after a few metres and then a squeeze must be negotiated. Immediately beyond this squeeze is a 2m climb up into a very large chamber. The crawl is thankfully now over!

Follow the passage leading away from the chamber for 30m to locate the rope of the Bar Pot main pitch on the right. Ignore this and continue ahead for a further 50m to reach South East Pot. Climb down the blocks and traverse around the right hand wall. There will probably be a rope here for protection (as the hole on the left is very deep).

The rope entering from above comes from Flood Entrance.

A small crawl on cobbles leads away from South East Pot. After 15m this reaches a junction. Go left and follow the worn passage by crawling and stooping for several minutes until an obvious junction (Sand Caverns Junction) is reached at a large rift chamber. The route to the Main Chamber is on the right.

Straight on here leads via Sand Caverns towards Stream Passage Pot.

A few more minutes of walking-sized passage leads to another large junction. The way on is under the (less obvious) low arch on the right. A few more minutes of easy caving (crawling and walking, ignoring a low crawl leading off on the right) leads to a balcony overlooking the Gaping Gill main chamber, with an easy climb down.

Additional reading: Selected Caves (page 45), Northern Caving (page 113)

Marilyn is a much more recent addition to the catalogue of entrances to Gaping Gill. Marilyn drops directly into the Disappointment Pot streamway just upstream of the third pitch, thus avoiding the low airspace duck and awkward entrance. For those wishing to explore Hensler’s Master Cave, Marilyn is an easier and drier alternative route.

Location:

Grid reference SD 7524 7242

From the Gaping Gill enclosure walk back to double the stile/gate at the top of Trow Gill.  Do not cross the stile, instead turn left and follow the wall for about 100m.  Marilyn is then found in a small shakehole with large metal trapdoor approximately 50m directly away from the wall.

Navigation:

The entrance descends on rope via several ledges and slopes. Below this a narrow squeeze reaches the head of Niagara pitch which is divided by a sloping ledge part way down. Be aware that this pitch has many loose rocks: Keep well away from the bottom when others are descending. You are now in the Disappointment Pot streamway, 50m upstream from the final three pitches.

See the Disappointment Pot description for more details and onward routes.

Additional reading: Northern Caving (page 113)

Corky’s Pot is one of the most challenging entrances to the Gaping Gill system!

From the low crawls at the entrance, the constricted first pitch sets the scene for several short, interesting, but narrow pitches, squeezes and crawls, leading eventually to a large balcony where a 40m pitch drops directly into the lowest point of Mud Hall. This enormous cavern is only 20 minutes from its bigger brother, Gaping Gill Main Chamber.

Location:

Grid reference SD 7527 7268

Corky’s Pot is away from all the other entrances. From the Gaping Gill enclosure take a bearing of approximately 110º and walk for 250m across the fell (or ask one of the winchmeet staff). The entrance is a small shakehole with an obvious bricked shaft.

Navigation:

Warning: The entrance shaft walling is unstable!

At the bottom of the entrance, a small stream leads into a flat out crawl. Very low crawling continues for several minutes until a 1m drop where you can (just) stand up. A further 5m tight crawl leads to a tiny chamber and the top of the first pitch. Most cavers will need to attempt this 5m crawl feet-first to avoid an impossible turn-around at the pitch head. This is great fun!

Several short pitches follow, separated by awkward sections or crawls, but with no navigational issues. A calcited squeeze leads to the penultimate pitch, which lands in a large chamber with a slope down to the head of the large final pitch into Mud Hall.

The rock slope leading to this final pitch is very loose and extreme care must be taken not to dislodge boulders which may roll down the pitch. Other cavers may be down there!

The pitch lands at the lowest point in the massive Mud Hall. From here, go uphill via steep boulders to reach the top of Mud Hall. Straight ahead the passage continues into the Whitsun Series, where a full day of additional exploring can be had (see guide books for descriptions). On the right however is the start of a roped traverse around the top of Mud Hall, ending with a climb up a metal chain.

At the end of this traverse, follow the passage (which involves some easy climbs and crawls). After five minutes, at the far end of a wide chamber, a small hole drops down to a ladder at the top of Gaping Gill Main Chamber.