The Old East Passage, Gaping Gill

A few days ago we paid another visit to Gaping Gill, a pothole in Yorkshire with a 110m drop from the surface. Once inside we went off to explore the Old East Passage.

After climbing the east slope and scaling a small ladder we entered a wide low passage.  Progress along the passage varied between stooping and a crawl.

The passage is well decorated with an abundance of stalactites :-)

Chalk Arch at Selwicks Bay

The chalk cliffs at Selwicks Bay, Flamborough Head contain several sea caves, rock arches and other formations. The rock arch formed when a sea cave collapsed. Eventually the top of the arch will fall away, leaving a chalk stack.

Storr's Cave, Ingleton

Storr's Cave has two prominent entrances close to the road east of Ingleton. A large passage joins the two with smaller passages leading off. A low passage to the south descends to a dried up streamway. A narrow passage leads north, waiting to be explored another day ;-)

A hidden third entrance used to be an easy climb to a dry chamber full of small bones. However, the entrance has been enlarged and the chamber strewn with clay and debris from a new passage that's being excavated. I can't help wondering who's digging and what they've discovered :-)

East Gill Force

East Gill Force is close to the Yorkshire village of Keld. The waterfall drops 4.5m shortly before East Gill meets the River Swale. We visited the falls yesterday after spotting them by chance on the map :-)

Lost in the Mist...

I was hoping to explore the cliffs above Bivi Cave but a sudden change in the weather put a stop to my plans. :-( Luckily I always carry a map and compass otherwise I could have ended up anywhere!

Beck Head Stream Cave

After climbing down about 3m in a tight rift and wriggling another 5m through a low passage, Beck Head Stream Cave opens out onto the sandy bank of an underground stream.

Not wanting to take my camera any further I took this one photo before braving the icy waters! After wading for ages upstream the passage reaches an underground waterfall and the end of my exploration, Broadbent Falls.

North Landings, Flamborough

The Yorkshire Coast: North Landings

North Landings, Yorkshire

Chalk Stack at Flamborough Head

The River Rawthey at Cautley, Yorkshire

The River Wharfe at Linton, Yorkshire

Hunt Pot, Yorkshire Dales

Filey Brigg, Yorkshire

Pebbles at Flamborough Head

Bluebells at Brimham Rocks

Unknown Cave, Yorkshire Dales

Spider Cave, Yorkshire Dales

There are two Spider Caves close to Settle, one to the east below Warrendale Knots, the other to the west in Giggleswick Scar.

Spider Cave to the east is an opening in Beacon Scar, easily noticed from the footpath to Attermire. Luckily I've been once before because this time visibility was so bad I couldn't even see the scar!

A boulder strewn vertical fault leads to a narrowing of the passing. Through the squeeze leads into a small chamber with a side passage to the left which becomes too narrow.

Raven's Rift, Yorkshire Dales National Park

Raven's Rift, near Settle, Yorkshire