Walking to Ingleborough from Clapham
Clapham is clearly signposted on the main A65 Skipton to Kendal road. Follow the B6480 into the village center. Parking is available near the National Park Office. This is where the walk starts. Turn right and head North then turn left and cross Clapham Beck on a footbridge. After the bridge head North with the river on your right. At the sharp left turn, leave the road turning right and head North towards a cottage to access the Ingleborough Estate. A small charge is made for the mile long walk through private grounds. .The grounds, which include an attractive lake are furnished with exotic trees and shrubs, and served with an excellent path which leads up through the estate to a gate. Cross over the stile and follow the track to Ingleborough Cave. at the cave you can enjoy refreshments and a tour.
Ingleborough Cave also known as Clapham Cave, is the oldest show cave. It has been accessible to the public since 1837. At the gate keep to the main path and do not veer off. Follow the path up, through the impressive ravine of Trow Gill, over the boulders, now with a wall on your left hand side. A little higher up you meet at a double stile. From here you get your first view of Ingleborough in the distance. Follow the obvious path across open moorland to Gaping Gill. This is the best known of all British potholes. The bottom of a grassy crater forms a vertical shaft 340 feet deep before widening into a gigantic chamber the size of a Cathedral. An extensive labyrinth of passages branches off in all directions with additional entrances at Bar Pot, Flood Entrance Pot and Disappointment Pot.
From here head North-West, away from the beck, up the long climb to the base of the ridge at Little Ingleborough. The cairn on the ridge of Little Ingleborough is hidden from site by the curve of the western slope. This can be found by a slight detour. It has a built in tablet inscribed A.A.S. 1928. Continue up the well marked path to the summit of Ingleborough. The summit is a broad plateau, slightly tilted, half a mile in circumference and carpeted with dry turf. As well as an Ordnance Survey column there is also a well built cross-wall wind shelter. In the middle, above eye level, is a detailed view indicator erected in 1953 by the Ingleton Fell Rescue Team. The view is far reaching and superb. On a good day the fells of the Lake District are clearly visible.
Head North-East and join the path east down across Simon Fell Breast. This is the return path used in the Three Peaks back to Horton-in-Ribblesdale. Continue to a Shooting Hut ruin and then at a gate in the wall, cross the double stile. The path curves to the right and then forks; keep to the left and follow the route signposted 'Horton-in-Ribblesdale'. Continue on, crossing a stile in the wall to the cross roads at Sulber. At the cross roads turn right and follow the route signposted Clapham.
A little way on you cross a wall near Sulber Gate, carry straight on, ignoring the little gate on your left. At Long Scar the track splits at a nearby cairn, take the right fork and continue on. Avoiding further left turns, you will reach a gate in the wall, cross at the stile and cross the field to a farm gate on the opposite side. Go through the gate and follow the Long Lane farm track south. If you look over the wall you can see the path which lead up towards Ingleborough Cave. At the end turn right on Thwaite Lane, go through two tunnels and follow it into the village to return to the car park.
