'pretty' caves in the dales?

[deffonotmaria]

Was wondering what people think are some of the 'prettiest' or most scenic to visit caves in the dales?
I'm going to be there for 5 days soon and am looking for trip inspiration. I'm not too worried on a technical basis, I'm just interested in what caves really made people stop and go wow.
(would also be up for a 'hard' trip to see some nice formations)

 

[Babyhagrid]

I can thoroughly recommend cape Kennedy, the fire hydrant and the straw gallery beyond towards redhead aven, all in easegill/Lancs.A fairly easy trip with some navigational challenge. And can be part of an easegill through trip if you want.

 

[Samouse1]

For formations, Cape Kennedy, Shuttleworth, Gingling to Fools Paradise to name a few. Atmospherically you can't beat some of the open pots like Alum, Deaths Head, GG

 

[Ian Ball]

Car Pot?

 

[Cantclimbtom]

I've not been there yet but my Dales bucket list of pretties has Easegill system's Easter Grotto at number 1 spot.

My uncle has spun me a story about camping in Easegill for weekend (what *he* did, that's not a suggestion. He was there during the last ice age when anything much was ok ) and during that trip lying on his back for ages staring up at Easter Grotto

 

[PeteHall]

Personally, I get more excited by sculpted limestone than calcite. On this basis, I love Wilf Taylor's. It's just a beautiful bit if limestone!
You can also then take a trip up the Ease Gill Main Drain, which is also a gorgeous bit of limestone.
There are a couple of chokes to pass that can be a bit tricky to route-find, but if you then climb up at Stake Pot, you could continue to Cape Kennedy as recommended above.

 

[alanw]

I can second Alum Pot. Looking in from the balcony below Dolly Tubs is a classic view.

Gaping Gill Main Chamber is spectacular. The BPC winch meet will be up and running soon. Official announcement.

 

[mrodoc]

I am loth to suggest locations in case they get damaged as seems to have happened to some of those listed above.

 

[Lankyman]

You can also then take a trip up the Ease Gill Main Drain, which is also a gorgeous bit of limestone.

Whenever I was there I'd often spend time staring up at the stunning formations as well. I always thought the Main Drain was THE archetypal master cave and Yorkshire's answer to the big stuff on the Continent. A fabulous place all round.
Out of the main areas I enjoyed caving in Dentdale where I had a theory that the stunning formation were a product of the greater tree cover above the limestone. It's probably tosh. Ibbeth Peril I is an easily accessible place and the main chamber has some great formations above the inlet waterfall. Nettle Pot is nicely decorated as well. Some of the smaller systems that are around Penyghent Gill are good for sculpted limestone (Outsleets was a favourite of mine). Strans Gill, Passage of Time would be a good target if you want a hard trip. I left it too late in my caving career and couldn't fit down the entrance pitch.

 

[Badlad]

My post crossed with Lankymans....

Try just wandering up Lancaster Hole main streamway. Beautifully sculptured passage, but if you stop and look up as you travel along it, there are tons of wonderful formations in the roof.

Try a trip into Ireby 2 and spend some time poking about up Jupiter Cavern and Frink Chamber. If you are thorough you'll find some amazing dog tooth crystal pools.

The all new North by North End Pot will lead you to Llean Bean Aven and the Eastern Front. Some spectacular formations all along the route.

Have a good five days.

 

[caving_fox]

Notts 2 of course! Very surprised that wasn't already mentioned. In through Cupcake if you want a harder challenge (and out through Lyle caverns if you want an extreme challenge, some pre-rigging support might be needed).

 

[flashheart]

F'ing Hopeless and the Haywagon in Voldemort are two very pretty Leck Fell options.

 

[alanw]

Personally, I get more excited by sculpted limestone than calcite.

If you do Gaping Gill, in South Passage look up into the roof - lots of lovely solution pockets.

 

[paul]

Like the view out into Alum Pot, other locations which I found memorable on first sight were the view of Gaping Gill main chamber after arriving via Bar Pot and the view back into the shaft of Jingling Pot from the bottom of the Lateral Cleft route.

 

[Steve Clark]

Glasfurd’s Chamber in Gavel is a worth a visit and quite easy to get to. Longer trip if you start at Short Drop and/or bottom Gavel too.

I couldn’t actually fit through the calcite squeeze to the final chamber , so here’s a selfie taken in the approach passages whilst my team mates went for a look.

 

[deffonotmaria]

Thanks all! I have passed suggestions on
Alum is one of my favourites, and Long Churns to the window is actually the trip I run for the uni club's new members (could go for the 13th time though, right?)
It sounds like I need to work up the courage to drive to Bull Pot Farm again...

 

[JAA]

Illusion has some nice bits, fools paradise if you fancy a slightly harder trip to Gingling ?

 

[huwg]

Hagg gill has some excellent straws round white rose chamber, for a shorter trip. You end up right in the roof with them which is cool (and requires care!).

I always find Budda's temple in Dow a cool spot too, small helicities in the roof on the way there, ancient pottery by the entrance in the flowstone, and the walk in is picturesque. Not quite on the same scale as some of the others mentioned perhaps.

 

[Ane]

Repeating many of the previous suggestions, but my favourites for relatively easily accessible 'pretties' (straws / calcite / etc):
- Shuttleworth
- Hagg Gill
- Notts 2
- Illusion Pot
- Slug World, Easter Grotto & the Minerats in Ease Gill
For pretty cave passages in general, I'm a big fan of the entrance series to Lost Johns' and the last bit of Dowbergill passage (where it connects to Dow cave - so atmospheric, if a little bit wet), in addition to the standard options already mentioned (Gaping Gill, Alum). New Goyden also has some lovely and very photogenic streamway. For something slightly different, how about Fossil Pot? (attraction should be obvious from the name )

 

[dougle89]

Repeating many of the previous suggestions, but my favourites for relatively easily accessible 'pretties' (straws / calcite / etc):
- Shuttleworth
- Hagg Gill
- Notts 2
- Illusion Pot
- Slug World, Easter Grotto & the Minerats in Ease Gill
For pretty cave passages in general, I'm a big fan of the entrance series to Lost Johns' and the last bit of Dowbergill passage (where it connects to Dow cave - so atmospheric, if a little bit wet), in addition to the standard options already mentioned (Gaping Gill, Alum). New Goyden also has some lovely and very photogenic streamway. For something slightly different, how about Fossil Pot? (attraction should be obvious from the name )

Illusion is rather pretty, and the ducks are very ducky right now