Walk 5:
Ingleborough via Gaping Gill
Route overview:
- Eurospeleo (140m)
- Austwick
- Trow Gill
- Gaping Gill
- Ingleborough summit (724m)
- The Allotment
- Long Scar
- Crummack Farm
- Wharfe
- Austwick
- Eurospeleo
Summary:
This is perhaps the most must-do shorter walks of Eurospeleo, offering a tremendous amount of variety in a reasonably short distance, taking in the excellence of Gaping Gill and Ingleborough.
Approximate time: 6 hrs
Approximate distance: 23 km
Difficulty: 2½ / 5
Navigation Overview:
From Eurospeleo, cross the main road and walk into Austwick. About 250m after the pub (The Game Cock) turn left onto Townhead Lane and follow this out of the village for about 300m. A cross roads is then met with a track on the right and left. Go left towards Clapham (Thwaite Lane).
After about one mile turn right and follow the track (Long Lane) until near to Trow Gill.
Near Trow Gill, a small path cuts down the hill on the left to join the lower footpath. Follow this lower path up Trow Gill itself (a steep limestone gorge) and for a further several minutes. The path goes over a double stile/gate on the left and then towards Gaping Gill, where an encampment of cavers will be found operating the famous Gaping Gill winch.
The footpath up Ingleborough commences beyond Gaping Gill. The first steep ascent is Little Ingleborough, followed by a second ascent to the top of Ingleborough itself. At the top, as soon as the flat plateau is reached, turn right and follow the Dales High Way path downhill, which is signed towards Sulber Nick and Horten in Ribblesdale (you may wish to take a walk around the summit before heading down). Be careful not to take the route towards Chapel-le-Dale by mistake as this would take you in the wrong direction!
About 1.5km beyond the Summit of Ingleborough a wall is crossed onto a remote fell called The Allotment (where the caves Juniper Gulf, Rift Pot and Long Kin East are located). About 1km further, another wall is crossed to reach a junction (near to Nick Pot, which is marked on your map). The way on is the southbound path to Long Scar and NOT the eastbound path towards Horten in Ribblesdale.
The path to Long Scar maintains a southbound direction for about 1km to pass through another wall. A short distance beyond here at Long Scar, a footpath should be followed leading downhill towards Crummack Farm.
Follow the track south at Crummack Farm until an obvious junction. Go left and follow the footpath to Wharfe, where several routes lead down to the road (you can take any of these). At the road, turn right and follow the road (or Wood Lane footpath if you prefer) back to Austwick and then Eurospeleo.
