Dowkabottom Cave

[James Goldberg]

Hi, I am considering going to Dowkabottom Cave tomorrow however there are a few things that I am unsure about. Over the past week I believe that the weather in Littondale has been fine however tomorrow there is light rain forecast for a few hours, would this make the duck difficult or impassable?
I have also struggled to find any descriptions of the cave other than the one in Northern caves 1 which describes a "slightly awkward" climb and I was wondering whether the cave would be suitable for a larger caver. The last thing I am unsure about is whether a ladder is needed for the entrance climb, or would a handline do just fine?

 

[Alex]

I don't think 2 hours would make the duck impassible, but be prepared to get wet. There was a few tight bits beyond the pool, I can't remember how tight. The awkward climb prob will have an in-situ handline it's only about 2m but depending on how good a climber you are, you may prefer a ladder but most manage without.

 

[mrodoc]

I don't remember difficulty with Dowkabottom or a climb of any significance at the entrance. Here is a photo of it taken from inside a few years ago.

 

[Alex]

Yeh it's the climb above and to the left of that person, yeh not that hard.

 

[JasonC]

As I recall, the entrance climb is not at all hard, but apt to get slippery, so a handline might give welcome reassurance.

 

[huwg]

Some friends went in last week post rain. The duck was passable but wet.

The entrance climb currently has a ladder on it so is even more straight forward (locally sourced) and there is a a knotted handline in place.

All the gear is used at your own risk etc., might be worth taking your own hand line as the in situ one is well used....

There is one awkward climb in the cave but it isn't overly tight, the awkward bit is turning around in the little chamber at the top! If you didn't like it reversing it would be ok.

Great cave, worth looking in the other side when you are up there and having a peek down sleets, though I wouldn't head down there if it's going to rain!

 

[mrodoc]

Good dry weather option. Don't remember a duck but maybe it was down a grovelly section we opted out of! The cave looks to have potential for extension by digging. Passages are impressively big too.

 

[Lankyman]

Good dry weather option. Don't remember a duck but maybe it was down a grovelly section we opted out of! The cave looks to have potential for extension by digging. Passages are impressively big too.

I'd forgotten how large some parts of Dowkabottom are. I imagine there's a potential connection somewhere with Sleets Gill which isn't too far away. I definitely recall the duck. My last visit was a few years ago on a solo walk around the vast area of limestone that the cave sits in (pretty much devoid of known cave). It's an atmospheric place looking down from the edge of the doline onto the prehistoric hut circle near the open entrance and imagining the inhabitants thoughts regarding the cave. I believe a child's remains were found by antiquarians. It's very thought provoking to be down in the entrance passage on your own.

Enclosure, Dowkabottom © Karl and Ali

Shown on the map as an "enclosure" it looks (to non-archaeologists!) like a hut circle. Then again, if you were living right next to a deep hole (Dowkabottom Cave just a few metres away to the right) it wouldn't be healthy for young kids. The long snow strip is on Great Whernside.

www.geograph.org.uk

 

[mrodoc]

The only reason we visited it was that my companion (no names to avoid embarrassment) planned to go into Hagg Gill but couldn't find it.