Has anyone been downstream in Spittle Croft? Most of the very powerful draft seems to go downstream in dry weather in Summer. At the onset of wet weather, the draft reverses and blows out of the entrance for a time, even when the Skirfare starts to flow into it.
From my (very old) memory of downstream Spittle Croft, the passage is wide, low and wet. After a couple of hundred feet, it ends in drafting rifts that would need to be dug to make further progress.
Spittle Croft cave is by no means the only potential point of entry to the huge system that probably exists beneath this bit of Littondale.
In the 1970's, someone had a dig just downstream of the bridge over the Skirfare on the Stainforth bridleway. To this day, a quick poke with a stick is enough to produce a spectacular whirlpool if the river is flowing, or a strong draft if it isn't. Unfortunately, this site, in common with several other sites along this stretch of river, suffer from similar access problems to Spittle Croft.
The hopeless looking Skirfare main sink, which lies just downstream of the bridge to Upper Hesleden Farm, is of interest as the cracks down which the water flows, draft strongly. Something open must lurk near the surface.
In Penyghent Gill, Waterfall Cave takes a strong draft and appears to be Going Places however, the solid floored passage becomes too low and would need major surgery. As this cave is home to bats, it should not be entered. Beneath Waterfall Cave is the scary and thankfully short Snurds Hole. Snurds, which ends in an underwater boulder choke, is far too small for the amount of water that it takes.
Potts Beck, above Litton Village, contains several sinks and Potts Beck Pot. At fist sight, Potts Beck appears to be another Ease Gill but most of the sinks, with the exception of Potts Beck Pot, are not well developed. As far as I know there are no access restrictions in Potts Beck or Penyghent Gill.
It's good to see that there is so much interest in this area. Happy digging.