This bibliography, compiled by Dick Glover & Ric Halliwell, was initially published in Jnl CPC Vol 6 No 4 pp 188-193

ANON. 1949. "Stream Passage Entrance". CRG N/L No 24, pp3-4.
ANON. 1974. “NW Passage   Gaping Gill”. Jnl KCC No 8, p 13.
ATKINSON F. 1950. “New Pots for Old   Bar Pot. Ingleborough, Yorkshire”. Cave Science 2 No 11, pp136-8.
ATKINSON F. 1963. “Some Notes on the Formation of Caverns in the Craven Area of NW Yorkshire”. Proc BSA No 1, pp67-78.
BELLHOUSE H.H. 1899. “The Formation of the YRC” Jnl YRC Vol.1 No 1, pp3-12.
BENN G.P. 1968. “Whitsun Series, Gaping Gill”. Bull BPC 5 No 4, pp1-10.
BOOTHROYD C.P. & P. JOHNSTONE. 1980. “Bar Pot and Flood Entrance Pot”. LUSS 17p+ survey.
BOWSER R.J. 1973. “Discoveries above Boulder Chamber. Gaping Gill". BCRA Bull 1 No 1, pp 16-18.
BRINDLE D. 1949. “Car Pot Breakthrough”. Jnl. YRC Vol. 7 No 25, pp 248-252.
BRINDLE D & PL TYAS 1949. “Car Pot” Jnl. CPC Vol. 1 No. 1 pp20-23
BRODRICK H. 1910. “Car Pot” Jnl. YRC Vol 3 No 10, pp174-176.
BRODRICK H. 1912. “The Streambed of Fell Beck above Gaping Gill”. Jnl YRC Vol 4 No 12, pp44-53.
BRODRICK H. 1924. “Excavations at Foxholes, Clapdale”. Jnl YRC Vol 5 No 16 pp112-116.
BROOK D. 1968. “The Recent Events at Gaping Gill”. ULSA Rev No 3 pp1-7.
BUTCHER A.L. & GEMMEL A. 1952. “A Key Plan of Gaping Gill”. CRG Pub No 5 (reissued 1959).
CALVERT E. 1899 1900. “Gaping Ghyll Hole”. Jn1 YRC Vol 1 No 1 , pp 64-74, and No 2, pp123-133.
CARTER W.L.& DWERRYHOUSE A.R. et al. 1905. “The Underground Waters of North-West Yorkshire. Pt 2   The Underground Waters of Ingleborough”. Proc YGS 15, pp248-304.
CUNNINGHAM J. 1971. “Hurnel Moss Pot”. ULSA Rev No 8, pp12-15.
CUTTRISS S.W. 1907-08. “Gaping Gill Again”. Jn1 YRC Vol 2 No 8, pp306-311.
DAKYNS J.R., TIDDEMAN R.H., GUNN W & STRAHAN A. 1890. “The Geology of the Country around Ingleborough with Parts of Wensleydale andWharfedalell”. Mem Geol Surv UK, 103p. HMSO, London.
DAVIES R.E. 1956. “Diving in Clapham Cave”. Cave Science Vol 4 No 26, p 80-81.
DAWKINS W.B. 1874. “Cave Hunting”. Macmillan & Co, London. 455p. Reprinted by EP Publishing, Wakefield. 1973.
DOUGHTY P. S. 1968. “Joint Densities and their Relation to Lithology in the Great Scar Limestone”. Proc YGS 36 Pt 4 No 27, pp 479-512.
DUFTON C.J. 1961(a). “Clapham Cave”. Jn1 BPC 3, pp 73-91.
DUFTON C.J. 1961(b). “Extensions to Christmas Pot”. Jn1 BPC 3, pp 9-14+survey
DUNHAM K.C., HEMINGWAY J.E., VERSEY H.C. & WILCOCKSON W.H. 1953. “A Guide to the Geology of the District around Ingleborough”. Proc YGS 29 Pt 2  No 6. PP 77 115.
DWERRYHOUSE A.R. 1907. “Limestone Caverns and Potholes and their Mode of Formation”. Jn1 YRC Vol 2 No 7, pp 223-228.
FARRER J.W. 1848. “On Ingleborough Cave”. Proc Geol Soc 5, pp 49-51.
GARWOOD E.J.& GOODYEAR E. 1924. “The Lower Carboniferous Succession in the Settle District and along the line of the Craven Faults”. Quart Jnl Geol Soc 80, pp 184-273.
GASCOYNE M. 1972. “A Recent Extension to the Gaping Gill Series   The Far Waters” Jn1 LUSS Vol 1 No 2, pp 4-6.
GASCOYNE M. 1977. “Does the Presence of Stalagmites Really Indicate Warm Periods? New evidence from Yorkshire and Canadian Caves” Proc  7th Int Speleo Congr, pp 208-210. Sheffield University.
GASCOYNE M. 1979. “Pleistocene Climates Determined from Stable Isotope Studies”and the Geochronologic Studies of Speleothems”. Unpubl PhD Thesis, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
GASCOYNE M. 1981. “A Climatic Record of the Yorkshire Dales for the Last 300,000 Years”. Proc 8th Int Speleo Congr Pt 1, pp 96-98, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA.
GEMMEL A. & MYERS J.0. 1952. “Underground Adventure” . Dalesman Press, Clapham. 141p.
GIDMAN C. 1975. “Biological Studies in Ingleborough Cave”. Trans BCRA 2 No 3, pp 116-122.
GLENNIE E.A. 1953. “Passage Direction and Joints in Gaping Gill”. CRG N/L No 43/44, pp 7-9.
GLOVER R.R. 1973(a). “Some Aspects of the Development of Gaping Gill”. Jnl LUSS Vol 1 No 3, pp 59-63.
GLOVER R.R. 1973(b). “Gaping Gill   Some Underground Controls of Development. Pt 1   The Main Chamber Fault”. Jn1 CPC Vol 5 No 1, pp 8-11.
GLOVER R.R. 1974(a). “Gaping Gill   Some Underground Controls of Development. Pt 2   The Porcellanous Band and its Control of Passage Levels”. Jn1 CPC Vol 5 No 2, pp 58-65.
GLOVER R.R. 1974(b). "Cave Development in the Gaping Gill System”. Ch 18 (pp 343-384) in “The Limestones A Caves of North-West England”. WALTHAM A.C. ed. David & Charles, Newton Abbot.
GLOVER R.R. 1974(c). “Comments on ‘The Origin and Development of the Gaping Gill System’   A Case Study in Geomorphology”. Jnl, KCC No 8, pp 8-12.
GLOVER R.R. 1976. “Ingleborough Cave and Beck Head Cave”. BCRA Bull No 12, pp 13-15.
GLOVER R.R. 1978(a). “Tiddeman's Pot   The Lost Pot of Clapham Bottoms”. Jn1 CPC Vol 5 No 6, pp 317-321.
GLOVER R.R. 1978(b). “The Blind White Fish of Ingleborough Cave”. Jn1 CPC Vol 6 No 6, pp 309-311.
GLOVER R.R. & GARDNER J. 1975. “Lake Pluto”. CDG N/L No 41, pp 14-16.
GLOVER R.R., PITTY A. & WALTHAM A.C. 1977. “Caves & Karst of the Yorkshire Dales”. Excursion Guide, 7th Int Speleo, Cong, Sheffield. 37p.
GRAINGER B.M. 1938. “Survey & Report on the Geological Structure of Hensler's Passage, Gaping Gill”. Caves & Caving 1 No 3, pp 110-112.
GREENWOOD W.H. 1910. “Flood Entrance: Gaping Gill”. Jnl YRC Vol 3 No 10, pp 167-173.
HALLIWELL R.A. 1980. “Karst Waters of the Ingleborough Area, North Yorkshire”. Proc UBSS Vol 15 Pt 3, pp 182-205.
HALLIWELL R.A. 1981. “The Geohydrology of the Ingleborough Area, England”. Proc 8th Int Speleo Cong Pt 1, pp 126-128, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA.
HENSLER E. 1963. “Gaping Gill   An Addition to Hensler's Passage”. Cave Science Vol 5 No 34, pp 91-94.
HILL C.A. 1913. “Clapham Cave”. Jnl YRC Vol 4 No 13. pp 107-127.
HORN A.E. 1906 7. “Further Explorations in Gaping Ghyll”. Jnl YRC Vol 2 No 7, pp202-210.
HRYNDY B.B. & THORPE S. 1975. “Lake Pluto”. CDG N/L No 38, p15.
HUGHES I. McK. 1887. “On Caves”. J Trans Vict Inst 21, pp 77-106.
HUGHES I. McK. 1900. “Ingleborough. Pt 1   Physical Geography”. Proc YGS 14 Pt 2, pp 125-150.
HUGHES T. McK. 1908. “Ingleborough. Pt 7   The Carboniferous Rocks”. Proc YGS 16 Pt 3, pp 253-320.
HUTTON J. 1780.  “A Tour to the Caves in the Environs of Ingleborough and Settle”. 2nd edition. Richardson & Urquhart, London. Facsimile  Reprint 1970, SR Publishers, Wakefield.
KING W.B.R. & WILCOCKSON W.H. 1934. “The Lower Palaeozoic Rocks of Austwick and Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Yorkshire”. Quart Jnl Geol Soc 90, pp 7-31.
LEAKEY R.D. 1953. “New Discovery in Clapham Cave”. British Caver No 24, p 101.
LEAKEY R.D. 1954. “Grange Rigg Pothole”. Speleologist (Derbyshire & NSG) 3, pp 115 118.
LIVESEY P. 1963. “Christmas Pot - Grange Rigg & P5 Stream Passage”. Bull BPC Vol 4 No 1, pp 6-15.
MARTEL E.A. 1897. Ch 23 “Les Cavernes du Yorkshire (Clapham Cave)” and Ch 24 “La Descente de Gaping-Ghyll” in “1rlande et Cavernes Anglaises” Delagrave, Paris.
ibid. [English Translation] 1951. “The Caverns of Yorkshire”. Cave Science Vol 2 No 15, pp 312-325, and No 16, pp 349-360.
MITCHELL A. 1949. “Yorkshire Caves and Potholes II   Under Ingleborough”. Craven Herald, Skipton. 140p.
MITCHELL A. 1967. “When the Ice Cap covered Gaping Gill   Some Post-Glacial Problems”. Jnl CPC Vol 4 No 1, pp 36-40.
MITCHELL A. 1974. “Extracts from the Ingleborough Cave Book”. Jnl CPC Vol 5 No. 2, pp 95-99.
MYERS J.0. 1948. “The Formation of Yorkshire Caves & Potholes”. Trans CRG Vol 1 No 1, pp 26-29.
PALMER R.J. & YEADON T.G. 1976. “Terminal Lake Sump to Radagast's Revenge”. CDG N/L 43, pp 9-10.
'PASTOR' 1761. [HUTTON] “Natural Curiosities of Ingleborough, a Mountain in Yorkshire”. Gentlemans Mag 31, pp 126-128.
PATCHETT A.N. 1953. “Clapham Cave”. Jnl BPC 1, pp 21-31.
PATCHETT A.N. 1956. “Clapham Cave Again”. Jnl BPC 2, pp 41-44.
PATCHETT A.N. 1960. “Clapham Cave 1946 to 1959”. Jnl YRC Vol 9 No 30.pp 1-8.
PHILLIPS J. 1835. “Illustrations of the Geology of Yorkshire. Pt 2. The Mountain Limestone District”. Murray, London.
PIEARCE T.G. 1975. “Observations on the Fauna and Flora of Ingleborough Cavern Yorkshire. Trans BCRA Vol 2 No 3, pp 107-115.
PITTY A.F. 1974. “Karst Water Studies in and around Ingleborough Cavern”. Ch 7 (pp 127-139) in “The Limestones and Caves of N.W. England”. WALTHAM A.C. ed. David & Charles, Newton Abbott, Devon.
PLANT 1. 1978. “South East Pot Sump to  27m”. CDG N/L 49, p 12.
PLANT I. et al. 1978. “Through Trip from Lake Pluto to Beck Head Stream Cave”. CDG N/L 49, pp 16-18.
PRATCHETT N. 1962. “The First Complete Exploration of Christmas Pot”. Bull BPC 3 No 9. 2 pages in unpaginated publication.
RAMSBOTTOM W.H.C. 1973. “A Synthesis of Dinantian Stratigraphy”. Proc YGS 39 Pt 4, pp 569-572.
RAMSBOTTOM W.H.C. 1974. “Dinantian” (pp 47-73) in Ch 4 “Carboniferous",in Geology & Mineral Resources of Yorkshire”. RAYNER D.H. & HEMINGWAY J.E. Eds. Published by YGS, Leeds.
RULE A. 1910. “Gaping Ghyll: Exploration & Survey: Spout Tunnel and Rathole”. Jnl YRC Vol 3 No 10, pp 186-192.
SCHWARZACHER W. 1958. “The Stratification of the Great Scar Limestone in the Settle District of Yorkshire”. Liverpool & Manchester Geol Jnl 2, pp 124-142.
SIMPSON E. 1935. “Notes on the Formation of the Yorkshire Caves and Potholes”. Proc UBSS Vol 4, pp 224-232.
SIMPSON E. 1937 38. “Gaping Ghyll Hole”. Caves & Caving Vol 1 No 1, pp 27-31; No 3. pp 112-116 and No 4, pp 140-141.
SIMPSON E. 1951. “Gaping Ghyll Hole”. Cave Science Vol 3 No 17, pp 21-36.
SMITH E. 1955. “The Rathole Conquered”. Jnl CPC Vol 2 No 1, pp 30-32.
STRAHAN A. 1910. “A Guide to the Geological Model of Ingleborough and District”. HMSO, London. 17p.
SWEETING M.M. 1950. “Erosion Cycles and Limestone Caverns in the Ingleborough District”. Geogr Jnl 115, pp 63 78.
TIDDEMAN R.H. 1872. “On the Evidence for the Ice-Sheet in North Lancashire and adjacent parts of Yorkshire and Westmorland”. Quart Jnl Geol Soc 28 Pt 1, pp 471-491.
WAGER L.R. 1931. “Jointing in the Great Scar Limestone of Craven and its  Relation to the Tectonics of the Area”. Quart Jnl Geol Soc 87 Pt 3, pp 392-424.
WALTHAM A.C. 1970. “Cave Development in the Limestone of the Ingleborough District”. Geogr Jnl 136, pp 574-585.
WALTHAM A.C. 1971. “Shale Units in the Great Scar Limestones of the Southern Askrigg Block”. Proc YGS 38 No 13, pp 285-292.
WARREN S.E.  1982. “Tiddeman's Pot”. Jnl CPC Vol 6 No 3, pp 136-140.
WARWICK G.T. 1956. “Caves & Glaciation: pt 1 Central and Southern Pennines and Adjacent Area”. Trans CRG Vol 4 No 2, pp 125-160.
WARWICK G.T. 1971. “Caves and the Ice Age” in CRG Symp on Origin and Development of Caves. Trans CRG Vol 13 No 2, pp 123-130.
WOODING M. J. 1970(a). “Recent Developments at Ingleborough Cave and at Keld Head”. Bull BSA (New Ser) No 1, pp 8-10.
WOODING M.J. 1970(b). “Terminal Lake Sump”. CDG N/L No 17, pp 9-10.
YEADON G. 1973. “Origins and Development of Gaping Gill”. Jnl KCC 7, pp 5-22.
YEADON G. 1983. “Ingleborough Cave   GG Link diving reports”.CDG N/L No 67 pp 6-9.

Gaping Gill is situated on the lower slopes of Ingleborough Hill in the Yorkshire Dales and can only be reached on foot.

The best starting point is the village of Clapham. By car, Clapham is within easy reach of many popular Yorkshire Dales and Lake District holiday locations. The village is just off the A65, between Settle and Ingleton.

Clapham railway station is a short walk from the village, and has services from Leeds, Bradford, Skipton, Carnforth and Lancaster. Local bus services provide links with Skipton, Settle, Ingleton and Lancaster.

Cars can be left in the National Park car park in the centre of the village. From the car park, take the lane following the stream up through the village to the start of the Nature Trail (Ingleborough Estate makes a small admission charge) through the Estate.

As you follow the footpath through the estate and head for the summit of Ingleborough, you will pass some of caving's famous sites. The source of the village's stream soon comes into view, emerging from the low arch of the aptly named Clapham Beck Head. To the left, under an imposing limestone arch is the entrance to Ingleborough Cave. These join and form the lowest accessible sections of the Gaping Gill Ingleborough Cave System. This marks the beginning (or more accurately) the end of an extensive system of passages and caverns extending under Ingleborough.

To see more climb upwards through the ravine of Trow Gill. Here, water flows silently beneath you as Gaping Gill becomes Ingleborough Cave and passes under the scars of Clapham Bottoms (right).

On reaching the fell wall, the obvious rocky hole on your left with a fringe of small trees, is Bar Pot, one of the dry upper entrances of the system often used by cavers. Soon you come to the large shake hole where Fell Beck, a mature stream in a shallow blind valley, abruptly plunges 340 feet to form Britains highest and most spectacular waterfall at Gaping Gill, before beginning its long underground journey to Ingleborough Cave.

Gaping Gill by Kevin Dixon.

Bibliography

For an extensive bibliography of publications relating to Gaping Gill click here

Gaping Gill Winch Meet 11th to 18th August 2023 - Friday to Friday

Correction!! - The 2023 dates will be 11th to 18th August NOT 12th - 19th as previously shown

Please note that the winch will NOT be operating over the Bank Holiday weekend

The extensive system of caves 100 metres under this moorland are only accessible to cavers except for a week in May (with Bradford Pothole Club) and a week in August (with Craven Pothole Club) when these caves are made accessible by a winch. During the CPC Winch meet other entrances will be rigged with rope and visiting cavers are invited to use these.

Walking up to Gaping Gill

Walk to Gaping Gill

You can walk from Clapham (LA2 8EQ) to the cave entrance in about 1¹/₂ hr along a well marked but rough path. On the way up you will pass the entrance to Ingleborough Show Cave. This separate attraction (well worth visiting) has no connection with the Gaping Gill Winch Meet / Caving Clubs.

 

Visiting the Main Chamber

Advice to Visitors

Advice to Visiting Cavers

There can be long waits and although you cannot book in advance once you have booked in you can explore Ingleborough rather than having to wait at the entrance. When it is busy or there is very heavy rain (which makes the descent unpleasant) and the chair does not run, we will try to make information available in Clapham and on the Twitter feed.

Local information

Clapham Village

Ingleborough Show Cave

EuroSpeleo 2016

There are plenty of places to stay locally and Clapham has an excellent community shop. In 2016 Yorkshire hosted EuroSpeleo - the largest cave conference in Europe (only held every few years). Over 700 cavers from across Europe visited Gaping Gill. You can see some of what brought them here.

The Craven Pothole Club

The CPC is a long established Dales Caving Club (est. 1929), with its base in Horton. If you are interested in starting to cave / joining us, talk to our members at the booking in tent or visit our web site. The main site has more information about Gaping Gill (We've been visting these caves for 85 years).