Explore some of England’s most dramatic caves

Ingleton, North Yorkshire

Head underground to gaze in wonder at the fascinating caves that form a major, but hidden, part of the Yorkshire Dales landscape.

Peaceful, beautiful and the same temperature year round, the cave systems in the Yorkshire Dales formed from the limestone that underlies much of the region. The longest cave system in Britain is here: Ease Gill, over 40 miles (65 km) in length. One of the largest chambers, Gaping Gill, is big enough to contain St Paul’s Cathedral.

On May and August bank holiday weekends, visitors can be lowered into Gaping Gill by winch to see the impressive main chamber. Visit the show caves – White Scar Caves, Stump Cross Caverns and Ingleborough Cave – to get up close to the world of stalagmites and stalactites. Above ground, hints of the subterranean world can be seen where rivers disappear underground such as at Alum Pot and Hull Pot.

Gaping Gill and the Ingleborough and White Scar caves are around 20 miles (32 km) from Lancaster, 2 hours 25 minutes from London by train.

Content provided by Yorkshire Dales National Park

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Gaping Gill main chamber - large enough to contain St Paul's CathedralGaping Gill main chamber © Bradford Pothole Club
Relaxing in a dry passage on a caving tripRelaxing in a dry passage on a caving trip © Bradford Pothole Club
Straw stalactites in White Scar Caves Straw stalactites in White Scar Caves © Robbie Shone
Admiring the formations in Stump Cross CavernsAdmiring the formations in Stump Cross Caverns © Paul Harris
A guided caving trip in the Yorkshire DalesA guided caving trip in the Yorkshire Dales © Yorkshire Dales National Park

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