Great Douk/Middle Washfold
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| Regions \ Yorkshire Dales \ The Three Peaks \ Great Douk Cave |
Contents |
Location
Grid Reference: SD 7472 7700
Altitude: 330 m
Google map based on the entrance
Parking may be had at the layby just above The Old Hill Inn, Chapel-le-Dale, on the B6255. SD 7453 7779.
Follow the major footpath from below the layby through a couple of pastures. Immediately past the third gate, follow the track up to the left. This leads after 250 m directly to the Great Douk enclosure. Cross the stile and descend into the huge depression. At the bottom is the scaffolded entrance to Great Douk Pot, and straight ahead is the obvious entrance to the cave from which a waterfall issues
Description
Despite being easy, this is a very fine cave, and the Middle Washfold to Great Douk traverse makes an excellent finish to a day's caving after a trip down one of the neighbouring holes such as Sunset Pot, Roaring Hole or Hardrawkin Pot.
Climb easily up the waterfall. To the left, a low passage leads to the Southerscales Pot outflow sump. Straight on is easy walking, passing under Little Douk Pot. Eventually a pleasant succession of cascades is met, and the passage passes through areas of fine flowstone. Soon after an oxbow passage, which by-passes a low crawl in the stream, the passage bifurcates.
The main way is to the left, which lowers to a flat-out bedding with the main water entering from a small passage on the left. Straight ahead the passage chokes, but a hole in the roof enters a dry bedding which leads to a junction. Turning left leads to the Middle Washfold entrances.
Access
Permission is not required.
History
Great Douk must have been known for a very long time, but the first reference to it may be found in John Hutton's Addendum to the second edition of West's Guide to the Lakes published in 1780. Hutton and party explored the cave for some 50 metres beyond the Little Douk Pot window.
The connection from Middle Washfold was made on August 1st 1936 by Norman Thornber and E.J. Douglas of the B.S.A. and F. King of the Northern Cavern and Fell Club. The connection with Middle Washfold Sink was made by U.L.S.A. in February 1966.
The connection with Southerscales Pot was made in 1966 by members of the Cave Diving Group following U.L.S.A.'s exploration of Southerscales Pot.
References and Further Reading
- Anon. 1937, "Great Douk", Caves and Caving, Vol. 1 No. 1 page 31
- Brook D. & Crabbe H., 1969, "Great Douk and Southerscales Pot...", U.L.S.A. Explorations Journal, pp.33-36
- Hutton, J. 1780, "A Tour to the Caves in the environs of Ingleborough and Settle...", Richardson and Urquhart, London and Kendal
