Gaping Gill - Advice for Visitors
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2010 Opening times
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd August: First descent of the day at approx. 8.00 am.
Monday 23rd to Friday 27th August inclusive: First descent of the day at approx. 9.00 am.
Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August: First descent of the day at approx. 8.00 am.
Monday 30th August (Bank Holiday): First descent of the day at approx. 8.00 am.
Please note that the winch will only operate in the morning as dismantling the equipment begins at noon. Arrive at Gaping Gill by 9.00 am to ensure your descent.
The walk to Gaping Gill
Allow one and half hours for the walk from Clapham village to Gaping Gill via the Estate Nature Trail and Ingleborough Show Cave. Note that there are no toilet facilities once you leave Clapham village.
Camping
Only members of the Craven Pothole Club are permitted to camp at Gaping Gill. The landowner does not permit camping on the fell. There are campsites and bunkhouses in the
village of
Clapham see: www.claphamyorkshire.co.uk
Booking
We are unable to take advanced bookings. Book as soon as you arrive at Gaping Gill by visiting the tent next to the winch.
The Weather – will the winch be operating?
The weather is always going to be a consideration when contemplating a visit to Gaping Gill. Although we dam the stream to divert water away from the Main Shaft and winch descent, prolonged heavy rain will inevitably bring winching to a temporary halt. Even local forecasts are not always a reliable guide to predicting the weather at Gaping Gill, as Ingleborough Hill seems to have an ability to generate its own weather system, and of course it can change in the time it takes to make your journey to the Dales and walk onto the fell.
During the meet we try to keep a number of establishments informed of our operational details. Ask in the village at Home Barn outdoor shop; at the entrance to the Estate Grounds / Nature Trail or at Ingleborough Show Cave on the walk up.
Minimum Age
The minimum age is 7 years*. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
What To Wear
Hopefully it will be a grand day for your visit to Gaping Gill. However, the hole is located on the open moor and the weather on the surface can be very different to that in Clapham village. We recommend you wear warm, waterproof clothing and boots/strong shoes – we do!
The ride on the winch takes about a minute each way and is often accompanied by a slight spray from the nearby waterfall. During busy periods you will queue to ascend in the chair, so you’ll need that warm clothing.
Safety Helmet
We will provide you with a safety helmet.
Lighting
The Main Chamber is floodlit and our guides are equipped with lights, but please bring a small hand torch or headlamp if you wish.
Photography
It’s well worth recording your visit for the family album and some fine pictures can be obtained using a hand held camera with flash. The Main Chamber always contains spray from the waterfall; so provide some means of protecting expensive equipment when it’s not in use.
Refreshments
There are no facilities to provide refreshments at Gaping Gill, so bring a packed lunch. There is a village store in Clapham and refreshments can be obtained during opening hours at Ingleborough show cave on your walk up.
Visiting Cavers
Cavers are welcome to use the winch as a means to access the system. Bar Pot will be rigged with ladder and lifeline - the lifeline is not suitable for SRT. We do not tackle any of the other entrances to Gaping Gill, so you must provide your own equipment.
For safety reasons we need to know who is in the system at all times. We operate a numbered tag system, visiting cavers, please call at the shakehole to book-in and collect a tag.
* At the Leader's discretion
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