***** Update for 2025 *****
The Bradford Pothole Club Winch meet now operates a prebooking system. All winch descents must be pre booked.
The link for booking will appear on here in early April 2025
Dates
Saturday 24th to Friday 30th May 2025
Price
£30 per person
Pre-booking is only available via the link above. No other agent or website sells tickets.
Location
Gaping Gill is located at w3w.co/negotiators.cabbies.supply the most direct route is from the village of Clapham, North Yorkshire and starts at the Ingleborough Cave Nature Trail . The charge for the nature trail is included in the winch ticket, show your booking information to the staff at the start of the trail.
The walk to Gaping Gill can take up to 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on your fitness.
Opening Times
Saturday 24th to Thursday 29th – 8am with the last descent at approximately 6pm
Friday 30th – 8am with the last descent at approximately 11am
When you arrive at Gaping Gill, go to the large white tent with your prebooking information. You will be issued with a numbered tag which gives the order for your descent.
To return to the surface, join the line in the Main Chamber.
Please note that winching may be restricted by the weather causing unexpected delays, club members will advise at the time. The maximum weight limit for winching is 20 stone (125kgs).
Advice for visitors
Clothing, mobile phones and cameras
The Main Chamber can be a chilly 6-9 degrees Celsius and colder if there is lots of water in the waterfall. Please bring plenty of good warm clothing, waterproof jacket and trousers, appropriate footwear, hat and gloves. It is also a good idea to bring a change of clothing.
The chamber is floodlit but an additional torch is good for exploring the Main Chamber
Helmets are provided please do the chip strap up fully.
As you will want to take lots of photos bear in mind that it can get wet so a waterproof case/cover is advisable.
Only phones and cameras with a lanyard can be used on the winch.
Refreshments
There are no refreshments available at Gaping Gill. Please bring your own.
The Sawmill Café in Clapham is open daily and Ingleborough Cave offers hot & cold drinks, confectionary and ice creams. Home – Ingleborough Cave
Please take all your litter home with you.
Children
The minimum age is 6 years old, any children must be happy to sit in the chair and descend solo.
Should any child or a member of the winch crew be unhappy then they may be prevented from descending.
Pets
No pets are allowed down Gaping Gill. Please do not leave your pet unattended, we do not offer a pet sitting service.
Camping
Only members of the Bradford Pothole Club are permitted to camp at Gaping Gill
There is no wild camping permitted by Ingleborough Estate and Natural England. There is plenty of accommodation in the local area.
Visiting Cavers
We welcome visiting cavers and rig some of the alternative ways into Gaping Gill but we do ask the following:
- Please avoid visiting the Main Chamber during our set up weekend and Friday detackling
- To find out what is rigged go to the large white tent and have a chat with Club Members
- All rigging equipment is used entirely at your own risk
- Do not tamper/adjust/remove any of the rigging, if you see a problem let the day leader know.
- Routes into the Main Chamber, Dihedral/Main Shaft/Rat Hole are limited to Club Members
- Only competent cavers with suitable experience and equipment may access the alternative entrances
- Please book in at the big white tent, leave a contact number and details of your group and trip
- Any visiting cavers who plan to use the winch must use the booking system.
- Derigging normally takes place on the final Friday but some may be derigged on Thursday of our open week, please check at the booking in tent.
Professional film or photography
Any professional film or photography requests require a minimum of 6 weeks’ notice.
Other Information
Download your Guide to Gaping Gill here Guide to GG
