RockSports

CAVING
You don't have to go far in the Yorkshire Dales before becoming aware that caves and potholes are important to the geology and landscape of the area.
Whether it is watching the water appear from small entrances at Ribblehead or the more obvious and dramatic entrances such as Hull Pot near Horton-in-Ribblesdale or Gaping Gill above Clapham, it is clear that there is a lot going on underground.

Caving landscapes
Caves are just one aspect of the limestone scenery, which also includes dry valleys, sink holes, gorges and cliffs. This landscape is known as karst and the Yorkshire Dales National Park is the finest and most extensive example in Britain. The predominant limestone of the National Park is the Great Scar Limestone which formed in the Carboniferous period some 330 million years ago on the floor of a shallow tropical sea.
The caves of the Yorkshire Dales have formed in limestone rock over a period of many thousands of years. Limestone is a strong rock but has many joints and cracks, and is also soluble in rainwater, although extremely slowly. In cave systems other processes are also involved in their formation. Abrasion by sand and cobbles is very important and near underground waterfalls spray erosion occurs, and in larger chambers wall and roof collapse can speed these processes.

Cave Systems
In the Dales the cave systems are some of the most dramatic and extensive in the country with over 2,000 caves and potholes (vertical shafts) in the area and more than 400km of surveyed passage. The Ease Gill system alone is a complex series of passages over 70km in length and Gaping Gill main chamber is big enough to contain St. Paul's Cathedral.
With their beautiful passages and shafts and calcite formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, curtains and flowstone, they can be places of great beauty and peace.
 

Show Caves
Alternatively you can gain a taste of the experience by visiting one of the show caves in the Dales; these are White Scar Cave near Ingleton, Ingleborough Cave near Clapham and Stump Cross Caverns near Greenhow.
For details see:

• White Scar Cave
• Ingleborough Cave
• Stump Cross Caverns  

Also worth noting is that there is an opportunity each year for members of the public to be lowered into Gaping Gill by a winch and see the dramatic main chamber from underground. The winch meets are organised by Craven and Bradford Pothole Clubs and occur every year centred around the bank holidays at the end of May and end of August.  For more details see http://www.bpc-cave.org.uk and http://www.cravenpotholeclub.org.

Caving Clubs
Exploring caves takes knowledge, the right equipment and experience and it is best to gain these either through a course run be a qualified guide, or by joining a local club.
To find a local club, or a 'try caving' weekend click here. At the last count there were 11 clubs around the Yorkshire Dales area so there are plenty to chose from!
 
Caving instructors and guides
The activity centres and guides listed below are accredited through the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA).  Accreditation through AALA is only required for centres and guides doing adventurous activities with young people in a commercial setting.  This means that many well qualified and experienced guides are not part of this scheme especially if they concentrate on working with adults. 

Above & Below
2 Greenstead, Newby, Via Clapham, Via Lancaster, North Yorkshire, England LA2 8HR
Tel: (015242) 51011

High Adventure Outdoor Education Centre
233 Keighley Road, Cowling. Keighley, North Yorkshire, England BD22 0AA
Tel: (01535) 630044

Ingleborough HaSteady Adventures
Fishergate Business Centre, 35 Hospital Fields Road, York.  YO10 4DZ
08456 123636

Yorkshire Dales Guides
Barrel Sykes, Langcliffe, Settle, North Yorkshire, England BD24 9LP
Tel: (01729) 824455

Dales Ventures (Tony Flanagan)
Ffrancon, Thornton-in-Lonsdale, Westhouse, Near Ingleton, Via Carnforth, Lancashire, England LA6 3PB
Tel: (01524) 241210

North Yorkshire Outdoor Education Service
There are three centres run by North Yorkshire County Council in the region.  These are at East Barnby near Whitby, Great Fryupdale on the North Yorkshire Moors, and Bewerley Park near Pateley Bridge.
Association of Caving Instructors (ACI)

Some Instructors are available for 'hire' on a freelance or self-employed basis, and offer a wide range of caving activities. This can vary from single day introductory educational and adventure trips in a cave or abandoned mine suitable for beginners, (schools, families, scouts, corporate teams, etc), through to one to one guiding over several days, or a programme of technical instruction in personal skills, rigging, and rescue delivered over a period of months. Whatever your interests or ability, ACI members will be able to tailor their instruction to meet your needs.

Although often specialising in particular caving areas, most will work throughout the UK and abroad. Many are also qualified in other activities and are able to provide instruction in rock climbing, gorge scrambling, mountaineering, canoeing, orienteering and so on.

Visit the Association of Caving Instructors website.

Outdoor Education Centre
Clapham, Via Lancaster, North Yorkshire, England.  LA2 8EF
Tel: (015242) 51265

Low Mill Outdoor Centre
Low Mill,. Askrigg, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, England DL8 3HZ
Tel: (01969) 650432

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