by Stephen N.
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Late May Bank Holiday saw a party of 18 gather in Clapham, Yorkshire, for a walk over to Horton in Ribblesdale. There were two new faces. Nigel Sutton from Salisbury was taking the slow way to Scotland and had stopped off en route. Derek Munday from Manchester had confirmed the date with Chenda after yours truly had put a non-existent one in the magazine. We set off towards the Nature Trail, turning right uphill before reaching it, through the tunnels under the ornamental gardens, emerging high on the valley side and passing opposite the entrance to Ingleborough Cavern. The day remained cloudy and Ingleborough itself could not be seen. At the 400 metre level we entered the cloud and navigation became a matter of map, compass and altimeter where carried. Since only a few of us seemed equipped or inclined to use same, keeping the large party in order became important. At a meeting in the paths the vanguard took the right hand way. "I don’t like this." said Derek to me, "They’re going south." A look at the map confirmed our intended heading as north east and the group was recalled. Soon we came to a junction in the paths. Here our path crossed the Horton - Ingleborough main path (as confirmed by the signpost) and we commenced our descent into Horton, soon coming clear of the cloud and finding our way to the Crown with ease. Odd that, how navigating by pubs is easier than by map and compass. Lunch was a leisurely affair. The sudden arrival of such a large party did not provoke total chaos in the kitchen but some people’s meals took a while in arriving. Photographs circulated of the recent Mallorcan and Irish trips. Bernard had a file of information relating to the planned Total Eclipse trip in August 1999. Eventually Nick joined us, having suffered delays greater than usual on the westbound A65. Puddings and extra coffees were ordered. At 2:30 a certain restiveness became apparent and the return party started to gather in the car park. Only 15 were returning, the other 3 availing themselves of a lift with Nick. We were about to set off when the rain started, delaying our departure while waterproofs were deployed. The rain was not heavy and did not last. Despite the rain the weather in general had cleared and as we climbed back past the station and up the Ingleborough path we had an improving view back eastwards across Ribblesdale to Pen-y-Ghent and westwards of the quarrying which disfigures that side of the valley above Horton. At the signpost we went straight on towards Ingleborough, into a maze of dry-stone walls and limestone outcrops and pavements. At a stile we gave way to a party of three coming in the opposite direction. They were doing the three peaks and were, as they explained, "after a time" and so eager to avoid delays. Emerging from the maze, we left the main Ingleborough path and struck off left, heading west along a vague track. This turned south so we left it, using walls to guide us towards our next destination, Gaping Ghyll. As we crested a hillock the sound of a generator floated towards us on the wind and soon the outskirts of the tented settlement that springs up here twice a year came into view. Either side of the late May Bank Holiday, the Bradford Caving Club has a fortnight-long meet here. They divert the stream and set up a winch and boatswain’s chair to lower people the 111 metres into the cavern of Gaping Ghyll. During the first week it is members only, but in the second week it is open to the public. For £6.00 you get lowered and have the option of being winched out or of finding your own way. The cavern itself could contain St Paul’s Cathedral and the Bradford team illuminate it. For the August Bank Holiday the Craven Caving Club has a similar meet. A lass from the caving club asked if we wanted to be lowered. "How long is the wait?" I asked. "You could go down straight away, but there’s quite a wait to get lifted out." "Are there other ways out?" asked Bernard. "If you have someone with even a minimum of experience, then Bar Pot is pretty straightforward. It’s rigged with ladders all the way so there’s no need for SRT’s." (Single Rope Techniques - climbing up a rope using friction devices). Bernard looked at me. "I’ve been into Mud Pot and done a few mines trips." I said. "You should be OK then, with the right gear. Climbing gear will do; just remember it’ll get dead mucky." So that’s next Late May Bank Holiday sorted. The Monday will be a walk in limestone country. On Monday night the caving party will use the bunkhouse in the outdoor centre that used to be Austwick Hospital, making an early start on Tuesday to avoid the queues. We will form small parties to be lowered into Gaping Ghyll and make our way out via Bar Pot. If Adventure SIG is still extant perhaps Chris Adigun might point his northern members in our direction. Leaving Gaping Ghyll, we made our way down the steep rocky defile, a sort of mini Goredale Scar, that comes out at Ingleborough Cavern. Here there was a brief halt for the purchase of ice-creams. The guide was about to set off on a tour (£4.00 per head for 50 minutes - I’ve been in and it’s quite good) but by now it was late afternoon and some had long journeys ahead. Bernard wondered if we could get down to Ingleborough Cave from Gaping Ghyll. As I recall a way was found several years ago after many years’ exploration. Only very few people have ever traversed it and now it is closed by a subsequent rock-fall. We followed the stream down to the entrance to the Nature Trail. On finding a notice saying there was a charge at the bottom end only two went down; the rest retraced our steps to the upper path avoiding the fee. Even those of us from west of the Pennines had turned into temporary Yorkshiremen.
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