Ingleborough Cave
Ingleborough Cave
4.5
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
About
Ingleborough Cave, in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, was first discovered in 1837 by brave Victorian explorers who drained away a lake and went on to discover 1/2km of previously unexplored passages delving deep beneath Ingleborough mountain with only candles to guide them! Today, the cave is well lit, and you can follow in the footsteps of those pioneers on an awe-inspiring voyage of discovery! A concrete footpath leads visitors past breath-taking stalactites, stalagmites and flowstones, as you are led by expert guides through a kilometre of passages brought to life by formations and artefacts dating back millions of years! The significant impact of the Ice Age is visible, and as recently as 2002 the tooth of a woolly rhinoceros, now long extinct, was discovered just beyond the show cave!
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Christopher C
    2 contributions
    Excellent trial for children ages 18 months onwards.
    This was an excellent family day out and was particularly magical for the children, especially walking up the path in the snow. A very easy walk for all ages. However It was a little icey in areas and there didn’t seem to be any measures taken to salt or grit the path. The experience itself is as magical as you make it. Wonderful staff and a brilliant Father Christmas (Great toy at the end too for the children). The only disappointment was that the trial didn’t loop through the cave. Groups were crossing back and forth with each other and it got a little tight in the caves at time. Overall a wonderful and magic family day out! We’ll be returning definitely!
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled with family
    Written 11 December 2022
  • Michael118
    Kingston-upon-Hull, United Kingdom22 contributions
    Worth the walk
    Parked in nearby Clapham then purchased tickets for me and my wife to visit the nature park and cave from the Sawmill Cafe located at the start of the nature trail. There is no vehicular access to the cave entrance so be prepared for a long walk. This can be achieved by a fit, young person walking at a brisk pace in 20 minutes. (It took us 1 hour just to get there and a further 1 hour for the return journey). The visitor to the cave is presented with a hard hat and upon entering you are presented with a level, concrete footpath. Access is initially very easy but there are sections where the roof height temporarily reduces to approximately 4 ft (120cm). It is in these sections that the hard hat becomes essential, and why mine was returned with a few additional scratches. To summarise; be prepared for a long walk in beautiful surroundings. The cave is well worth the visit and photography is allowed. There are refreshments and picnic tables available near to the cave entrance with toilet facilities for paying cave visitors.
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 February 2023
  • Margaret F
    Alness, United Kingdom4 contributions
    Lovely walk pity about lack of safety protocols.
    We Purchased tickets at entrance at saw mill cafe. We were not given any information except dogs were allowed in to the cave. The Walk up to cave is very pleasant and we enjoyed this. However, At entrance to the cave there is a sign that says tickets and hot drinks. As we had already purchased our tickets we proceeded into the cave . After about one hundred yards into the cave we were stopped by guide who said “I have to stop you!!”He asked to see our tickets which we produce for him, he then told us we would have to go out of the cave back to the ticket office as we needed hard hats and a safety talk. We said that there was no notice to inform us of this , he said there was a notice to inform people of this . He escorted us back to the ticket office . We return to the ticket office and asked him to show us where it stated you had to report to office and get hard hats and clearly there was not any notice. He apologised for this . However the manner of how we were escorted out of the cave put us completely off and we did not want to go back in. I had traveled all the way from Scotland to see the cave and for the sake of correct information at two ticket offices where they sell tickets and lack notice to inform of procedure we were completely put off. I realise health and safety are paramount for all who wish to see the cave therefore I strongly recommend that a notice is put up and if you buy tickets at the entrance you should be informed by the person selling tickets for the cave informs you what the safety procedures are e.g. hard hats and safety talk. In hind sight we should have asked for our money back but we’re so taken a back being ordered out of the cave didn’t think about this at the time.
    Good Morning, Thank you for your feedback, and I am sorry to hear that you were disappointed by your experience. As you mentioned, we take the safety of our visitors extremely seriously which will be why our member of staff was eager for you to come back to the shop before proceeding with the relevant safety equipment, as well as the information sheet, which improves your experience. There is signage in place but we will review it and see if anything else can be added for additional clarity, perhaps with a simpler message. Many thanks.
    Written 20 April 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 10 April 2023
  • jane w
    5 contributions
    Hidden Extra Costs & Long Walk To Cave
    failed to mention the additional costs to even walk up to the cave, which is mostly uphill and steep rocky paths for 1.5 miles ( i think this is the case with most people from reading the reviews) definitely not suitable for wheelchair users or children under the age of 8 id say. the cave was okay but not amazing - especially for £13 a person. the paths are very narrow and you have to spend most of the time hunched over to fit through the cave as it’s very low down. Came out with a sore back and still had to walk 1.5 miles back to the car. I would probably go to a different cave in the future.
    Good Afternoon, Thank you for your review. We rely on constructive feedback from our customers so that we can continue to improve our offering. That said, I do have a few things to point out in your review that I have picked out and listed below. 1. In all of our literature and marketing, and on our website, we make it clear that the trail is 1.23 miles at a steady incline. I would argue that “steep rocky paths” is a major exaggeration; “an even gravel track” would be more accurate. 2. In all our literature and marketing, and on our website, the price we advertise INCLUDES entry to Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail, so I am not sure where you were looking. 3. We do not advertise the trail as being suitable for manual wheelchairs. Instead, we purchased a high specification all terrain electric mobility scooter that can be hired free of charge for use on Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail. It can be reserved over the phone or by email. 4. We have many visitors of all ages all year round, including hundreds of visitors below the age of 8, including multiple school groups bringing primary school children of all ages. If it wasn’t suitable for children under 8, I would suggest that these school groups probably wouldn’t be attending given the thorough risk assessments that they have to undertake. 5. The paths are not “very narrow”, they’re fairly wide for a cave environment. Also, unless you’re a giant, you spend approximately 40 metres bending down (out of 500 meters) which to me is not “most of the time”. Regardless of your take on both of the above, we cannot do anything to change this as the cave is protected by law and we cannot and would not alter what has naturally formed, as conservation is at the heart of all of our strategies. I hope these help you to understand the points you raised from our point of view. Best of luck finding a cave with no bending, as I have visited all of the caves in England and this one is one of the most open. Perhaps a different activity might be more suitable for you moving forwards.
    Written 7 August 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 31 July 2023
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LoveTravel817227
2 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Took my grandchildren along with their parents to see Santa ,what a superb experience, they loved every minute, Santa was exeptionally good , taking time to talk to all the children and have photos taken with them ,highly recommend
Written 5 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

claire b
Wigan, UK1 contribution
Dec 2023 • Family
Great day out all the kids loved it and the walk up wasn't to hard for them. Be prepared to duck alot if you are tall 🤣
Written 4 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Elise F
Sheffield, UK1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Friends
Our Tour Guide Aila was enthusiastic, fun, friendly and so informative ! I've been to a lot of show caves across the country, and I have to say, you're really getting a *lot* for your money here.
The cave itself is in a charming landscape, a lovely walk up and has a very extensive amount of passages with an array of different speleothems. You can clearly see the cave has been kept well by a family who care about it. I would highly recommend.
Written 2 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sam S
Bingley, UK158 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
Having read some of the other reviews, let me start off with the basics.

Tickets are bought from the cafe, which is at the start of the trail. You can’t buy them in advance. Tickets are £13 each which includes entry into the trail and the caves. Just remember that the money goes towards to maintenance of the area, so it’s not like they’re trying to scam you!

Parking isn’t great, so it’s best to park in the car park in the village. Only downside is that it’s £5 per day!

Once you buy your ticket, you head off on the trail. My watch measured it as 1.6 miles to the cave. And it’s quite a lot of uphill. I had no issues with this as I’m a keen Walker. But for all those people who leave reviews moaning about this… you should have read the info on the websites in advance!

The trail is beautiful. There’s information points along the trail giving info about wildlife, geology, etc.

Then you get to the cave. This bit is a weird set up. You head into a tiny shop where a member of staff hands you a laminated piece of paper and explains that this is your guide for the cave (there’s numbers around the cave which correspond with the numbers on sheet so you can read all about each section of the cave at your leisure). Then she showed us a tub of hard hats and asked us to wear one. My only concern here was that they didn’t look very clean and wondered how hygienic this was! Nevertheless, we took our hats and laminated paper and off we went.

The caves are really easy to navigate round and are in excellent condition. There was a lot of water around when we visited, so it was coming through the roof of the cave. I didn’t mind in the slightest, but just a warning to those reading this! The cave is really well lit so you can see all the fine detail inside.

There are some parts which require you to crouch for a period of time, otherwise you’ll hit your head. So just be mindful if you have any mobility issues. But it really is beautiful in there.

We only came across two other people in there so plenty of space to look round at your leisure.

It’s an out and back route around the cave so you come out the same door you went in and the staff member is there to meet you again and collect the hats back.

There is then the option of going back on the trail you came on, or head out and explore some of the other trails around the cave, which is what we opted to do.

All in all, a fab afternoon out.
Written 26 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lynne W
Dartford, UK18 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
If I could give this more stars I would. I brought my disabled Dad here and we borrowed the facilities all terrain scooter which enabled us to get to the cave entrance. From there we then used our manual wheelchair with the help and support of David who also gave us a personal tour . Everyone could not be more helpful and made the trip even better. The caves are stunning and well worth a visit, as is the old saw mill cafe
Written 25 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gaz
6 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Fantastic show cave with some amazing rock and calcium formations. There's no point in moaning about the short sections you have to crouch in (it's a cave!) and adds to the excitement. Stunning short walk from the car next to awesome waterfalls (see pics). Very reasonably priced given the maintenance and lighting provided throughout the cave. Complimentary helmets provided, toilets at the start of the walk and a cafe. Lots to see on the walk to the cave. Free village parking. The cave itself took around 40 minutes and was a self guided affair so not rushed at all. Brilliant staff with great knowledge.
Written 2 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jane w
5 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
failed to mention the additional costs to even walk up to the cave, which is mostly uphill and steep rocky paths for 1.5 miles ( i think this is the case with most people from reading the reviews) definitely not suitable for wheelchair users or children under the age of 8 id say. the cave was okay but not amazing - especially for £13 a person. the paths are very narrow and you have to spend most of the time hunched over to fit through the cave as it’s very low down. Came out with a sore back and still had to walk 1.5 miles back to the car. I would probably go to a different cave in the future.
Written 31 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good Afternoon, Thank you for your review. We rely on constructive feedback from our customers so that we can continue to improve our offering. That said, I do have a few things to point out in your review that I have picked out and listed below. 1. In all of our literature and marketing, and on our website, we make it clear that the trail is 1.23 miles at a steady incline. I would argue that “steep rocky paths” is a major exaggeration; “an even gravel track” would be more accurate. 2. In all our literature and marketing, and on our website, the price we advertise INCLUDES entry to Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail, so I am not sure where you were looking. 3. We do not advertise the trail as being suitable for manual wheelchairs. Instead, we purchased a high specification all terrain electric mobility scooter that can be hired free of charge for use on Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail. It can be reserved over the phone or by email. 4. We have many visitors of all ages all year round, including hundreds of visitors below the age of 8, including multiple school groups bringing primary school children of all ages. If it wasn’t suitable for children under 8, I would suggest that these school groups probably wouldn’t be attending given the thorough risk assessments that they have to undertake. 5. The paths are not “very narrow”, they’re fairly wide for a cave environment. Also, unless you’re a giant, you spend approximately 40 metres bending down (out of 500 meters) which to me is not “most of the time”. Regardless of your take on both of the above, we cannot do anything to change this as the cave is protected by law and we cannot and would not alter what has naturally formed, as conservation is at the heart of all of our strategies. I hope these help you to understand the points you raised from our point of view. Best of luck finding a cave with no bending, as I have visited all of the caves in England and this one is one of the most open. Perhaps a different activity might be more suitable for you moving forwards.
Written 7 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Mark
Amersham, UK1,953 contributions
Jul 2023
This cave claims to be the best showcave in Britain. Its certainly a large cave, it has a well made walkway that takes you probably 400-600m into the mountain. There are interesting features inside and a guide tells you about the discover of the cave, its history and features.

The cave system goes on much much further kilometres of it, all the way up to join up with the surface at Gaping Gill (although it is no longer a route through for people after a rock fall several years ago).

Its easy to navigate through the cave, and not at all strenuous. Suitable for children and even those not so fit - although I'm not sure if it is wheelchair accessible.
Written 12 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bullmer
Bingley, UK280 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Excellent caves , made all the better by the pleasant walk up to them, and on the day we were there visitor numbers were low which enhanced the experience. The helmets provided are essential, some ceilings are very low and this makes the trip more adventurous.
Written 13 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JessicaBoardman
Guisborough, UK69 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Could have spent so much longer down there, or gone on for longer if it allowed. Amazing! I expected to duck slightly........thank god for the hard hats provided. Lovely walk up to the caves, didn't opt to walk the 10miles afterwards.
Written 11 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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INGLEBOROUGH CAVE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Ingleborough Cave

Ingleborough Cave is open:
  • Sat - Sun 10:00 - 15:00