Route Descriptions

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Short Drop Pot and Gavel Pot
NEW UPDATEUpdated: 21 Mar 2024

A description of the route from Short Drop Cave to Gavel Pot and Gavel Pot itself, to accompany the rigging topos.

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The Leck Fell Master Cave System
NEW UPDATEUpdated: 19 Mar 2024

A description covering the Lost Johns' Cave, Boxhead Pot, Death's Head Hole, It's a Cracker and Notts II entrances to the Leck Fell system and the route from each to Lyle Cavern.

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Jingling Pot
NEW UPDATEUpdated: 18 Mar 2024

A description of the classic SRT routes down Jingling Pot to accompany the rigging topo.

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Ease Gill Caverns
NEW UPDATEUpdated: 29 Feb 2024

A thorough description of most of the popular entrances to, and routes through Ease Gill Caverns, to accompany the various individual rigging topos. Included are Lancaster Hole, Cow Pot, County Pot, Wretched Rabbit, Pool Sink, Boundary Pot and Top Sink and several routes between these various entrances plus some interesting round trips.

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Birkwith Cave
NEW UPDATEUpdated: 5 Jan 2024

A description for Birkwith Cave near High Birkwith.

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F'ing Hopeless Pot
NEW UPDATEUpdated: 5 Jan 2024

A guide to F'ing Hopeless Pot on Leck Fell including essential conservation notes for anyone considering a trip.

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Bull Pot of the Witches
NEW UPDATEUpdated: 3 Jan 2024

A description covering the CNCC-anchored route down to Long Gallery.

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Five Ways Pot
NEW UPDATEUpdated: 3 Jan 2024

A description of the route to, and down Five Ways Pot on Dowlass Moss.

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Mayday Hole
NEW UPDATEUpdated: 3 Jan 2024

A description of the simple route down Mayday Hole on Dowlass Moss.

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The Mistral to Gour Hall
NEW UPDATEUpdated: 3 Jan 2024

A description of the route from The Mistral in Ease Gill to Gour Hall, and a few additional excursions. A great trip suitable for most abilities and all but the wettest weather conditions. For the route from Link Pot to The Mistral, see the Link Pot route description.

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Curtain Pot
Updated: 7 Nov 2023

A true gem, offering a long day out needing lots of time and tackle, but without the difficulties many people associate with caves on Fountains Fell. Well prepared visitors will struggle to be disappointed by a trip to Curtain Pot.

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Simpson's Pot
Updated: 16 Oct 2023

A description of the route down Simpson's Pot, either as a pull-through to Valley Entrance or a return trip or exchange with Swinsto Hole.

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Swinsto Hole
Updated: 16 Oct 2023

A description of the route down Swinsto Hole to allow a return trip or exchange with Simpson's Pot, or pull-through to Valley Entrance.

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Excalibur Pot and Jenga Pot
Updated: 9 Oct 2023

A description of the classic Excalibur Pot trip to the Main Streamway, as well as the through-trip from Jenga Pot to Excalibur Pot for anyone wanting to extend their adventure. The only substantial active cave system known in the North York Moors.

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Hurnel Moss Pot
Updated: 24 Apr 2023

A description of the route down Hurnel Moss Pot to accompany the rigging topo.

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FOUL Pot
Updated: 23 Apr 2023

A description of the route to the bottom of this relatively new addition to the excellent deep potholes of Fountains Fell.

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Notts Pot
Updated: 23 Apr 2023

A description of three SRT routes down the classic Notts Pot to accompany the rigging topo.

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Gingling Hole
Updated: 19 Feb 2023

A description to accompany the topo for this Fountains Fell classic, including Big Rift and Big Pitch routes.

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Calf Holes and Browgill Cave
Updated: 22 Nov 2022

A description of the route from Calf Holes to Browgill Cave near High Birkwith.

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Old Ing Cave and Dismal Hill Cave
Updated: 22 Nov 2022

A description of Old Ing Cave and Dismal Hill Cave near High Birkwith, including the connection between them allowing for an excellent through trip.

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Long Kin West and Pillar Holes
Updated: 6 Nov 2022

A description of the entirely vertical routes down neighbouring Long Kin West and Pillar Holes to accompany the rigging topos.

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Gaping Gill
Updated: 9 Oct 2022

A thorough description of most of the popular entrances to, and routes through the Gaping Gill system, to accompany the various individual rigging topos.

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Link Pot
Updated: 16 Aug 2022

A guide to Link Pot in Ease Gill Caverns, including the through-route to The Mistral, and a separate route to Serendipity, which is an excellent short day trip with a variety of pitches and passages.

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Cherry Tree Hole

A guide to a simpler trip around Cherry Tree Hole, as well as details for those looking to venture to the further extremes of the system.

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Hunt Pot
Updated: 26 Apr 2022

A description of the route down Hunt Pot and neighbouring Shrapnel Pot to accompany the rigging topo.

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Little Hull Pot
Updated: 26 Apr 2022

A description of the route down Little Hull Pot to the sump to accompany the rigging topo.

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Greensett Cave

A short but great fun multi-entrance cave, no SRT, in a stunning remote location on Whernside. An excellent summer day out!

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Scanty Lardos Pot

A description for this popular, clean and enjoyable trip at the top end of Penyghent Gill.

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Crackpot Cave

A fine short trip in Swaledale, popular with well-prepared novices and experienced cavers alike, featuring a splendid main streamway and good formations.

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Yordas Cave and Pot
Updated: 11 Nov 2021

A description of Yordas Cave, and Yordas Pot via the middle and top entrances, to accompany the rigging topo.

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Long Kin East and Rift Pot
Updated: 4 Jul 2021

A description of the routes down Long Kin East, and Rift Pot (including a few possible SRT routes), which connect at the bottom, to accompany the rigging topos.

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Southerscales Pot

A seldom-visited short cave near Chapel-le-Dale, offering a varied and interesting trip but with quite a lot of crawling.

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Cupcake
Updated: 9 Jan 2021

A description of the route in Cupcake, an esoteric entrance and varied muddy route to the Leck Fell Master Cave system on Leck Fell.

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Bogg Hall Cave

A description of the route through Bogg Hall Cave, the resurgence of Excalibur Pot and Jenga Pot. This is a superb fun very short trip requiring low water and wetsuits.

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Ireby Fell Caverns
Updated: 3 Jan 2021

A description of the classic route down Ireby Fell Caverns to Duke Street I and then through to Duke Street II. Includes an additional long round trip via Cripple Creek and Jupiter Cavern for those seeking a longer adventure.

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Marble Steps Pot
Updated: 29 Dec 2020

A complex and multi-route pothole offering a splendid diversity of pitches and passages. Best avoided if heavy rain is forecast.

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Fossil Pot
Updated: 8 Dec 2020

A short, quirky and fun trip near Grassington.

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Growling Hole

A guide to this challenging pothole on East Kingsdale with a splendid 75m final pitch.

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Valley Entrance
Updated: 5 Jul 2020

A description of the route through Valley Entrance to Kingsdale Master Cave, as well as the separate route to Toyland and several of the upstream extensions.

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Juniper Gulf
Updated: 4 Jun 2020

A description of the route down Juniper Gulf, a famous Yorkshire Pothole, to accompany the rigging topo.

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Boggarts Roaring Holes
Updated: 6 May 2020

A description for the 2001 extended route down Boggarts Roaring Holes, a multi-pitch challenging adventure on Dowlass Moss.

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Trapdoor Pot
Updated: 6 May 2020

A guide to this quirky and esoteric pothole on Dowlass Moss.

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Large Pot
Updated: 17 Feb 2020

A description of the route down Large Pot via Colossus to Necropolis (for connection to New Rift Pot) to accompany the rigging topo.

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New Rift Pot

A description of the route down New Rift Pot (Masongill) to Coates Cavern, where onward routes connect to Large Pot, Low Douk and Ireby Fell Caverns (further research needed if planning an exchange trip).

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Long Drop Cave

A description of the route down Long Drop Cave on Leck Fell, a seldom visited back-door into Deaths Head Hole, to accompany the rigging topo.

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Birks Fell Cave
Updated: 2 Sep 2019

A description of the full journey through this stunning Yorkshire cave.

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Vesper and Spectacle Pot
Updated: 1 Aug 2019

A description of the route down Vesper Pot and Spectacle Pot, which connect at the bottom, to accompany the rigging topos.

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Tatham Wife Hole
Updated: 2 Jun 2019

A description of the route down Tatham Wife Hole to accompany the rigging topo.

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Meregill Hole
Updated: 25 Feb 2019

A description of the route down the famous Meregill Hole to accompany the rigging topo.

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Caves of Scotland
Updated: 22 Dec 2018

An extensive guide to some of the most significant caves of Scotland.

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Hardrawkin Pot

A clean and short SRT trip down an active stream pothole near Chapel-le-Dale.

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Robinsons' Pot
Updated: 16 Nov 2018

A short and simple trip with a splendid main streamway, in the most unusual location.

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Rumbling Hole
Updated: 5 Nov 2018

A description of the route down Rumbling Hole to accompany the rigging topo.

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Roaring Hole

A description of the route to the bottom of Roaring Hole in Chapel-le-Dale - A quirky pothole of average difficulty descending to over 120m with relatively minimal tackle.

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Aygill Caverns
Updated: 29 Jul 2018

A description of the route as far as the downstream cascades in Aygill Caverns to accompany the rigging topo.

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Sunset Hole

A description of the classic trip down various water cascades and simple pitches to the Final Chamber of Sunset Hole, plus some optional more challenging extensions.

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Bull Pot
Updated: 7 Nov 2017

A description of the route down Bull Pot to accompany the rigging topo.

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Christmas Pot

A description of the route to the Grange Rigg sump via Christmas Pot.

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Grange Rigg Pot

A description of the route down Grange Rigg Pot (which meets with Christmas Pot) to the Grange Rigg sump.

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Hagg Gill Pot

A description of the route through Hagg Gill Pot in Langstrothdale.

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Washfold Pot

A description of the route to the sump in Washfold Pot.

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Rowten Pot
Updated: 12 Feb 2017

A description of the Eyehole and Big Gully SRT routes down Rowten Pot to accompany the rigging topo.

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Alum Pot and Long Churn Caves
Updated: 10 Jan 2017

A description of routes down Long Churn Caves, Alum Pot (via Dollytubs, South-East or North-West routes) and Diccan Pot to accompany the rigging topo.

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Big Meanie
Updated: 30 Dec 2016

A description of the route down Big Meanie to Death's Head Hole Main Chamber and the Leck Fell Master Cave to accompany the rigging topo.

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Ibbeth Peril 1

A description of the route through Ibbeth Peril 1 (the most popular entrance to the Ibbeth Peril system) to the Main Chamber.

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Out Sleets Beck Pot

A description of the route down Out Sleets Beck Pot to the sump to accompany the rigging topo.

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Aquamole Pot

A description of the route down Aquamole Pot to accompany the rigging topo.

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Black Shiver Pot

A description of the route down Black Shiver Pot to accompany the rigging topo.

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Calf Holes, Old Ing and Birkwith

A description of the route from Calf Holes to Browgill Cave to accompany the rigging topo, plus the route through Birkwith Cave and Old Ing Cave.

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Great Douk and Middle Washfold

A description of the route from Great Douk to Middle Washfold Cave, a popular through-trip.

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Heron Pot

A description of the route through Heron Pot, including the traditional and high level traverse SRT routes, to accompany the rigging topo.

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Nick Pot

A description of the route down Nick Pot via Thornber

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Penyghent Pot

A description of the route down Penyghent Pot to the downstream sump.

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Sell Gill Holes

A description of the Wet (Goblin) and Dry routes down Sell Gill Holes to accompany the rigging topo.

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