Yorkshire Dales Tourist Guide Advanced Search

HOME | Please mention this website when you call the accommodation owners - THANK YOU!

Caves and Potholing in the Yorkshire Dales
Click images to enlarge

128_mother shiptons cave.jpg
Mother Shiptons Cave

Area: Yorkshire Dales
Region: Yorkshire Dales
County: North Yorkshire
Useful Links:
Yorkshire Dales Accommodation Search
Yorkshire Dales Visitor Centres

Activities:
Caving
Potholing


Full Description: The Yorkshire Dales contains some of England’s finest limestone scenery making it a popular destination for caver’s whishing to explore the potholes and caves created in the geology of the area.

Britain’s largest collection of caves in terms of size and numbers are located in the Yorkshire Dales, they also rival caves found in South Wales for quality too. Caves can be found scattered on hillside areas but the main caving community is based around the village of Ingleton in the south west dales, and here you can also find caving shops, cafes and accommodation. Clapham village also makes an excellent base for exploring the Ingleborough area. The area surrounding Ingleton is interesting to geologists because this is where the well known Craven Fault crosses through the Dales.

Caves in the Yorkshire Dales areas are well documented; the Dalesman publishes the definite reference guides and documents of every hole which is big enough for a person to explore.

Around Wharfedale and Ingleton and to the north of Malham limestone pavements can be found, they have taken shape since the end of the ice age 12,000 years ago. They were formed by glaciers scraping down the land to the limestone which left exposed has been attacked by rainwater creating network crevices (grikes) and blocks (clints).

Special attractions for the expert pot-holer include Alum Pot, Gaping Gill system on the west side of Ingleborough, Kingsdale Master System close by to Ingleton and Mossdale Caverns. The Lancaster Pot and Easegill caverns System which has over 70 known passages is believed to be the longest and most complex system in the whole of Britain.

Caves open to the public include Ingleborough Cave, White Scar Caves and stump Cross Caverns.

Ingleborough Cave
Ingleborough Cave is one kilometer long and is a large passage with no steps. Ingleborough Cave contains up to 350 million year old stalagmites and stalactites and forms an outlet to the famous Gaping Gyhll system. Cave tours can be taken which are sometimes affected in very wet weather.

White Scar Cave
Situated close to Ingleton White Scar Cave is the longest cave in Britain. The long path winds past waterfalls, through galleries of stalactites and stalagmites and between banks of flowstone. The Battlefield Cavern which is 100m long with soaring roofs of up to 30m making it one of the largest caverns in Britain. Containing thousands of stalactites hanging from the cave roof in clusters Battlefield Cave really is a highlight of the tour.

Mother Shipton’s Cave
Mother Shipton’s Cave is a small tufa cave (primary caves formed in the deposition of tufa) which the legend says it was the birth place and home to Mother Shipton. Her life was rather extraordinary as she predicted several important historical events. Today the cave focuses on Mother Shipton.

Stump Cross Caverns
At Stump Cross Caverns there are many animal remains dating back over 90,000 years. Inside the cave is a video area which gives information on potholing, caves and about the area.


For further information contact the Yorkshire Dales Visitor Centres


(id: '128') This listing has been viewed 726 times
Please mention Let's Stay Yorkshire Dales when contacting the business owner