Burrowed underneath the stunning craggy landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, Ingleborough Cave truly is a sight to behold.
Words really can’t do it justice. Navigating through this natural wonder during a recent visit truly gave me a newfound appreciation of the beauty lying beneath the earth’s surface.
Originally discovered in 1837 by Victorian explorers, these daring men drained a whole lake and ventured half a kilometre under Ingleborough mountain using only candles to guide them!
Today thankfully, the cave is illuminated by floodlights and contains a well-laid out concrete footpath making it accessible for pretty much anyone and everyone.
Interested in planning an excursion to Inglebrough Cave for yourself? Then be sure to check out our comprehensive guide which details all you need to know when visiting the cavern.
Ingleborough Cave Walk Route
Parking for Ingleborough Cave
The nearest parking for Ingleborough Cave is in the idyllic village of Clapham.
The car park costs £5 for over two hours and from here you’ll easily be able to spot the signposts detailing where to walk for Ingleborough Cave.
How to get to Ingleborough Cave
Exit the carpark and turn right, following signs for the cavern.
Cross the bridge and turn right again, sticking to the signpost directions.
Just a few minutes stroll up the country road and you’ll soon arrive at the entrance of Ingleborough Nature Trail. You need to pay to walk along this footpath, although you can buy a combined ticket from here which gives you access to both the path and the cavern.
Simply follow the picturesque trail for around 30 minutes which leads you directly to the entrance of Ingleborough Cave.
Inside Ingleborough Cave – Guide
Inside the cavern, you’ll be handed a laminated guide which provides more info on each of the numbered points of interest as you venture through the 500-metre long show cave path. After passing through the entrance, the main highlights are labelled as follows:
- Eldon Hall
- Sword of Damocles and the Bee Hive
- Pillar Hall
- The Abyss & the Showerbath
- The Witch’s Fingers & the Curtain Range
- The Gothic Arch & Long Gallery
Eldon Hall
Named after one of the early explorers, Lord Eldon. To the right as you pass the hall, you can also spot a magnificent flowstone formation dubbed the Mushroom Bed!
Sword of Damocles and the Bee Hive
A huge spike hanging from the cavern route is titled the Sword of Damocles, whereas the swollen-looking rock formation on the left is aptly named the Bee Hive.
Pillar Hall
Named after the jaw-dropping pillar formation at the end of this segment, to the left of Pillar Hall you’ll spot a small pool. For over 100 years, visitors of the cavern have been throwing coins into the water to make a wish here.
The Abyss & The Showerbath
The Abyss is a terrifying 3-metre deep black pit which surely would have scared the life out of the early cavern explorers! The Showerbath – a relic of the last ice age – can be seen just in front of The Abyss on the left, which remains constantly flowing with water.
The Witch’s Fingers & The Curtain Range
The swooshing rock formation to the right really gives the impression of curtains blowing in the wind, while directly up above hides the notorious Witch’s Fingers hanging from the roof. Be careful to avoid the water dripping down from the finger since it’s said to bring bad luck!
The Gothic Arch & Long Gallery
The Gothic Arch passage to your left looks like something pulled straight out of a grand medieval cathedral, while the Long Gallery leads you to the end of the cavern. Along the way, keep on the lookout for ‘The Alligator’, ‘Horse’s Hoof’, ‘The Coffee Pot’ and my personal favourite, ‘Grandma’s & Grandad’s false teeth’!
The Pool Of Reflections
Saving the best til’ last. Our absolute highlight of the cavern was the Pool of Reflections which can be found at the very end of the show cave. Stand on the steps to your right and peer into the crystal-clear waters…
Some say the reflection looks like a city of skyscrapers lit up at night, but for me it looked much more like a stronghold you’d see in Games of Thrones or Lord of the Rings!
What do you think? Zoom in and have a look 🔎
How long does Ingleborough Caves take?
From Clapham Car Park, it shouldn’t take any longer than 30-45 minutes to reach the cave entrance. Once reaching the cavern and picking up your helmet & guide from reception, you’ll probably look to spend around another 30 minutes exploring inside the cave.
The show cave for the general public follows a fossil gallery for roughly 500 metres (1,640 ft), although with special permission some spelunkers are allowed to explore even further.
Fun fact – Did you know that Ingleborough Cave extends all the way to Gaping Gill? With a further 12 miles of winding passages to explore beyond the show cave, Bradford Pothole Club and Cave Diving Group finally discovered the link in 1983.
Can dogs go in Ingleborough Cave?
Yes! Dogs are allowed in Ingleborough Cave. Just ensure they’re on a lead and are well behaved since the cave path is quite narrow and the points of interest aren’t meant to be touched.
Ingleborough Cave prices
The price for the Ingleborough Nature Trail alone costs £2.50 per adult and £1 per child (aged 3-15). However, to make things easier you can purchase a combined ticket from the Nature Trail entrance which includes both the trail and the cave. The prices of this are (as of May 2022):
Ticket (Trail & Cave) |
Price |
| Adult | £13.00 |
| Children (3-15) | £6.50 |
| Family (2A+2C) | £37 |
| Senior Citizen (65+)/Student | £11.50 |
Ingleborough Cave Opening Times
While Ingleborough Cave opens daily at 10am, closing times do vary slightly throughout the year. Please check closing times below, and also remember to factor in your walk to the cave when visiting.
Date |
Ingleborough Cave Closing Time |
| Until Friday 27th May | 16:00 |
| 28th May – 5th June | 17:00 |
| 6th June – 22nd July | 16:00 |
| 23rd July – 4th September | 17:00 |
How long is the Ingleborough Nature Trail?
The Ingleborough Nature Trail is a picturesque 30-minute stroll through enchanted woodlands and beside the sparkling Clapham Beck which conveniently leads you directly to the entrance of Ingleborough Cave.
Gaping Gill
After visiting Ingleborough Cave, why not extend your ramble slightly and head over to Gaping Gill?
A 30-minute stroll from the Cave, Gaping Gill is situated at the foot of Ingleborough and is renowned as one of the county’s finest landmarks.
The largest cave chamber in Britain, it’s said that York Minster Cathedral could even fit inside there!
For those interested in clambering down Gaping Gill however, you’ll have to visit during one of the winch meets which are held several times a year. For more information, be sure to check out the Bradford Pot Hole Club website.
Is Ingleborough Cave worth it?
If you’re an outdoorsy type, I’d unequivocally say Ingleborough Cave is worth a visit.
While it will set you back a few quid (especially if you’re going as a family), the sights you see inside are simply astonishing. A natural wonder slowly formed over milenia – seeing the cavern with your own eyes really shows you just how amazing mother nature can be.
More Resources
Looming in the distance during your walk, you’ll most likely spot Whernside and Pen-y-ghent. These two mountains along with Ingleborough make up the world famous Yorkshire 3 Peaks and are well worth a ramble if you ever get the chance!
If you’re interested in taking on Ingleborough, I’d definitely recommend checking out the comprehensive walking guide created by Happy Hiker which I’ll link to here.
Likewise, for more outdoor-activities in the vicinity of Ingleborough Cave, don’t forget to head on over to our vast array of Yorkshire posts!
Happy walking 🚶🚶