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Ingleborough Cave

Ingleborough Cave is a show cave near Clapham at the foot of Ingleborough, one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks. The cave was opened to visitors in 1837 and has been a tourist attraction longer than most in the Dales, with a guided tour lasting the best part of an hour through a series of chambers, formations and underground lakes. It is a more structured experience than the local natural caves around Garsdale such as Tom Croft Cave and Dovecote Cave, with electric lighting throughout and no need to bring a torch. Combine a visit with Ingleton, White Scar Cave, the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail or a walk on the limestone pavement above Clapham. Sturdy footwear is sensible - the cave floor is uneven in places.

Ingleborough Cave is a show cave on the south side of Ingleborough, just above the village of Clapham in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It was first discovered and explored in 1837 by Victorian cavers, and has been open to the public ever since, making it one of the oldest show caves in the country. The cave is family-friendly with electric floodlighting along the path, and the tour takes you through chambers with stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and an underground lake, with guides explaining the geology and the history of exploration.

Your ticket includes access via the Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail, a pretty signed walk from the village car park in Clapham up to the cave entrance through woods and alongside a stream, so the visit is a decent walk in its own right. The cave offers dog-friendly visits on selected days if you are bringing your dog. Clapham sits just off the A65 Leeds to Kendal road, and is about forty minutes' drive from Garsdale, so it pairs well with a day trip to the Three Peaks area.

  • Address: Ingleborough Cave, Clapham, North Yorkshire, LA2 8EE
  • Website: ingleboroughcave.co.uk
  • Note: the postal address (LA2 8EE) is not the sat nav address - follow signs to the Yorkshire Dales National car park in Clapham village
Ingleborough Cave

Stay Near Ingleborough Cave

We have three holiday cottages in Garsdale you can use as a base for visiting Ingleborough Cave.

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