Gatekirk Cave

[newcastlecaver]

did Gatekirk cave last week, a very nice little trip which is made slightly longer if you climb up into an oxbow and follow some crawls for a short distance. Of interest really was the fact that the picture on the front cover of Northern caves two is of Gatekirk cave.


We did a 'drive by' set of sunday caves, doing Skirwith, then driving to Gateskirk, then up to Thorns Gill (parking just up from where you park for Runscar and thistle) and did Thorns Gill and Katnot cave. A nice bit of variety between the trips

 

[tubby two]

'Drive-by' caving eh? whatever next. Caving in an armchair maybe?

tt.

p.s. pot kettle i know.

 

[rogerkirk]

You mention the oxbow. Did you see 'The Tomb', then? There's an unusual lump of limestone that looks like an Egyptian mummy lying on its side and to make it scarier than ever, some cavers have actually polished its head until its gleaming white. Gatekirk's a lovely cave. I came out of top entrance once but last time I went this would have been suicidal. The place really does flood like hell, and that was just after a morning's moderate rain. Has anyone ever been in Weathercote Cave? Not much caving but its historically interesting and one of the best sights in the Ingleborough area. Fantastic waterfall and limestone bridge, though you have to get permission to enter.

I've never done Thorns Gill but I like Katnot. Skirwith is again historically interesting but aren't some of the boulders balanced on the old steps more than a little dodgey? Some nice formations if I remember.

Nowt wrong with drive-by caving!!

 

[newcastlecaver]

drive by caving has many merits, slightly more than armchair caving but that too has significant benefits, I read Ghar Parau the other day by David Judson and now I feel like I've been there!

 

[Pitlamp]

Re Gatekirk; the farmer prefers cavers not to park anywhere along the road above the Gatekirk valley.  It's best to park elsewhere and walk in.  He's not bothered about folk going inthe cave, incidentally and is a decent bloke.