Gaping Gill

The wonders of the deep are available to walkers this week as Yorkshire’s largest underground cavern is opened up to non-cavers.

Craven Pothole Club’s members have rigged a winch over the entrance to Gaping Gill, the 105m (360ft) limestone pothole on the slopes of Ingleborough.

The club’s annual winch meet enables those with no experience of caving and potholing to descend to the floor of the main chamber, reputed to be big enough to swallow York Minster.

The winch will operate all this week, up to noon next Monday, as the winch is dismantled after the morning session on the bank holiday.

No prior booking is possible, and it pays to get to the site early as it can get very busy, though it is always possible heavy rain may stop the operation of the winch. Fell Beck, which is swallowed by Gaping Gill, is partially diverted during the winch meet, but sharp showers, not unknown on Ingleborough, can lead to the suspension of the service.

Access to the site is only by walking, and involves a 4½km (3-mile) walk from Clapham, the nearest village.

Gaping Gill’s entrance is on open fellside, so appropriate clothing is essential – particularly waterproofs because, even with the beck diverted, the winch passes through falling water on its descent into the main chamber.

On weekdays, the club aims to get the winch working by 9am, with weekend service starting an hour earlier.

Minimum age for the trip is seven, but all children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Craven club has been running the winch meet since 1932, and now organises the event to end on August bank holiday weekend. The Bradford Pothole Club stages a similar service during the late-spring bank holiday.

Cost of the descent is £10, and full details are on the Craven Pothole Club site.