Ingleborough Cave, in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, was first discovered in 1837 by brave Victorian explorers who drained away a lake and went on to discover 1/2km of previously unexplored passages delving deep beneath Ingleborough mountain, with only candles to guide them! Today, the cave is well lit, and you can follow in the footsteps of those pioneers on an awe-inspiring voyage of discovery! A well-lit concrete footpath leads visitors past breath-taking stalactites, stalagmites and flowstones, as you are led by expert guides through a kilometre of passages brought to life by formations and artefacts dating back millions of years! The well maintained Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail wends its way just over a mile through the beautiful woodland, past the lake, the money tree and Aunt Bessie’s Grotto, before emerging at the imposing entrance to Ingleborough Cave.
Where is Ingleborough Cave located?
Ingleborough Cave is located on the south side of Ingleborough, just above the picturesque village of Clapham, in heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is easily accessible by road and rail.
Access to the Cave is via the 1.3 mile Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail walk, and a small charge is applicable. The trail is a popular walk suitable for all ages. You should allow a minimum of half an hour for the walk.
Things to do in the local area?
Walking, walking and more WALKING! If you enjoy exploring the great outdoors, you are in the right place. The Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail that leads to the cave is the gateway to some of the U.K’s most stunning limestone scenery including Trow Gill gorge (a huge limestone gorge carved by the meltwater from the last ice age, when the 400 metre deep sheet of ice that covered the area melted, forming imposing gorges like this one), Gaping Gill pothole (the largest pothole in the U.K, at just under 100 metres deep is large enough to house York Minster), the limestone pavements, Norber Erratics and ultimately the summit of Ingleborough. Alfred Wainwright, the esteemed guidebook author and illustrator, called this route up Ingleborough “the finest of all, a classic”, due to the remarkable features you see en-route.
