Ingleborough by Gaping Gill
Through Trow Gill's limestone gorge and past the great pothole of Gaping Gill to Ingleborough's summit plateau.
- Distance
- 15.9 km
- Ascent
- 620 m
- Time
- 4.5–6.5 h
- Grade
- Moderate
- Route
- Out and back
- High point
- 723 m
Drag along the profile to see where you are on the map.
Offline navigation is coming in the TRXO app. Hear when it launches.
Route mapped on from OpenStreetMap paths, with heights from EU-DEM terrain data; not yet checked on the ground by TRXO. Added to TRXO on . For planning only: always navigate with an up-to-date map such as OS Explorer or Harvey. How we make our routes.
About this walk
Ingleborough by Gaping Gill is a moderate 15.9 km out-and-back walk with 620 m of ascent, taking 4.5 to 6.5 hours. It starts at Clapham village (grid reference SD 745 693). It climbs Ingleborough (723 m), a Hewitt. The start can be reached by public transport.
This is the most interesting way up Ingleborough. From Clapham, a track leads past Ingleborough Cave and through Trow Gill, a dry limestone gorge, to Gaping Gill, where a stream plunges about 98 m into one of Britain's largest caves. Caving clubs run winch meets in spring and summer that lower visitors into it.
Beyond, the path climbs onto Little Ingleborough and up to the summit plateau, ringed by the remains of an Iron Age hillfort. Return the same way, or descend towards Ingleton.
Route
-
1
Trow Gill
Follow the estate trail past Ingleborough Cave and up through Trow Gill.
-
2
Gaping Gill
Continue across the moor to Gaping Gill.
-
3
The summit
Climb over Little Ingleborough to the summit plateau, then retrace your steps.
Summit
723 m
On the way
-
Gaping GillCave · on the route
-
Juniper GulfCave · 900 m from the route
Other routes up Ingleborough
Questions about this walk
- How long does Ingleborough by Gaping Gill take?
- Most walkers take 4.5–6.5 hours for the 15.9 km route, which has 620 m of ascent. That allows for short stops; give yourself longer in winter, in poor weather or with a group.
- Where does the walk start, and where can I park?
- It starts at Clapham village (grid reference SD 745 693). National Park car park in Clapham.
- Can I get there by public transport?
- Clapham station is about 2 km away. Check times on Traveline.
- How hard is it?
- It's graded moderate. Estate track, a rocky gorge, then a stony path; some limestone steps.
- Which hill does it climb?
- Ingleborough (723 m, Hewitt).
- Can I take my dog?
- Yes, dogs are welcome on this walk. Before you go: The first part follows the Ingleborough Estate nature trail, which has a small charge. Sheep graze the fells and moors: keep dogs on a lead near livestock, especially at lambing time (March to May).
Walked this? Tell the next walker
No reviews, condition reports, walkers' photos or trip reports for this walk yet. Yours would be the first.
