I suppose it was inevitable. Parked by a pub and the noise would last well into the night. Lack of sleep meant we slept in, gone 8.30am then before we awoke! Never mind, the plan was to do the Ingleborough Cave and Nature Trail, so it didn't really matter what time we started.
Clapham was where we ended up, and this small village has a huge car park easily big enough to accommodate MB. So by 10.30 am, backpack filled with provisions at the ready, we set off to do the 6 mile round trip.
Roughly a couple of miles into the walk, we arrived at Ingleborough Cave. A fee of £8.50 each for seniors was well worth paying. No guided tours but self guide only which in our opinion was a far more civilised affair. We spent a good 40 minutes inside, taking our time without being hurried on to the next point of interest.
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| Last photo of the collage is of a fossil fan tail coral |
A nice cup of warming tea was most welcome as we exited the cave and good to have toilets to use before setting off on the rest of the walk. Mind you, the loos were only for those who bought tickets for the cave, which makes it a very expensive visit to the toilet if one was caught short!
Leaving the cave, we carried on along the track and most of it along the Pennine Way.
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| What you looking at? |
Approaching Trow Gill, (a wooded limestone gorge which was thought to have formed when a subterranean cavern collapsed but is now believed to have been carved out by glacier meltwater) it was here we saw free climbers. Ropes were carried and attached to pegs as they ascended, but to get up to the pegs could only be achieved by free climbing in the extreme!
5 hours later we eventually returned to MB. I stupidly didn't wear my walking boots, just my sketchers trainers and I think the sole is going because toward the end of the trek, I felt every stone and pebble.
So tonight we are once more on the Dales, another wonderful spot overlooking the valley and the Ribble Head viaduct. Shame it wasn't a steam train crossing the viaduct. Now wouldn't that have been a sight to see.
Tomorrow another cave system and possibly the waterfall walk, 6 waterfalls, 6 miles and in a circular trail. This time I will wear my boots!
And wildlife today,
This Little Owl perched on the post in front of us. There will be more photos of it tomorrow
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| Looks like a wasp of some sort. |
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| Wheatear |
2 comments:
Lovely photos of Ingleborough cave! I went there on a field trip with the OU about, maybe, 30 years ago! It was fascinating (and free back then) but I remember being quite frightened as the water was flowing so strongly, the waterfall at the end was thundering and the wretched guide kept going on about the last time it flooded!
What a great trip you are having!
Debby
Hi Debby, I think the waterfall you mean is further along the route. Ingleborough Cave didn't have one but if you go past Trow Gill you come to Gaping Gill and there is an underground waterfall there. This is the link https://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/waterfalls/europe-gaping-gill/
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