CNCC response to High Birkwith access issues, November 2022
For many years, cavers visiting High Birkwith had enjoyed consented access and parking thanks to the generosity of the previous landowner, as several of the most popular caves up there are not on Access Land. These caves include Calf Holes, Browgill Cave, Dismal Hill Cave, Old Ing Cave and Birkwith Cave.
These are sites of particular interest to novices and experienced cavers alike and were enjoyed by hundreds of people each year.
Following the sale of High Birkwith Farm in late 2018, our Access Officer at the time, Tim Allen, called up to see the new owner, Paul Hallam, to present a copy of Caves and Karst of the Yorkshire Dales as a gift, and to explain the significance of the caves on and around their land.
Unfortunately, in a series of events through 2019, parking and access to the caves were gradually withdrawn, and post-Covid efforts have culminated in a total refusal of access.
With the door closed to a mutual agreement, the CNCC has been exploring our options at High Birkwith. We are not prepared to accept loss of access to these sites, which are on moorland or pasture which is already transected by two major public rights of way. The Hallams will receive considerable Countryside Stewardship payments, funded from the public purse, so we do not believe these important sites should be out-of-bounds to responsible visitors.
To try to move this situation on, we have been looking carefully at land maps to ensure we can accurately advise cavers on the situation on a cave-by-cave basis.
The following 100m+ Birkwith-area caves may be accessed without any advanced permission.
- Calf Holes #
- Red Moss Pot #
- Canal Cavern (Access land)
- Coppice Cave (Access land)
- Fairbottom Caves (Access land)
- Poverty Gill Cave (Access land)
- Foxholes (Access land)
# Not on Access Land however the landowner (Scales Farm) has been unobjectionable to access without calling at the farm. We recommend approaching most of the way to the entrances by public footpaths.
The problematic situations remain those caves on non-Access Land, and which are owned by High Birkwith Farm, where consented access is currently unlikely to be granted:
- Birkwith Cave
- Old Ing Cave
- Dismal Hill Cave
- Browgill Cave
Birkwith, Old Ing and Dismal Hill Caves are all very close to the Ribble Way footpath, however access to these sites nonetheless necessitate a minor infringement from the public right of way.
Browgill Cave is a popular exit for those venturing underground at Calf Holes. We advise that if exiting at Browgill, a few hundred metres walk down the stream will reach the public footpath at God’s Bridge or a few hundred metres over the hill behind the entrance will meet a path just above Calf Holes. Both allow public rights of way to be quickly and discretely regained without fuss.
In the unlikely event you are challenged accessing these non-access land caves, be courteous and return to the nearest public right of way.
The access details and cave descriptions on the CNCC website for each of these caves has been updated.
With respect to parking for these sites, CNCC has an informal arrangement with Low Birkwith Farm for a small number of vehicles to be parked for a modest fee. However, the navigability of the track and the number of vehicles that can be accommodated are limited so this is unlikely to be suitable for large groups or minibuses. The arrangement is very informal and may be withdrawn at any time, so you may wish to call ahead to verify the situation.
The alternative is a pleasant 3km approach on foot from the Alum Pot green lane at Selside where parking is free. The footpath runs past Selside Farm and then along the south side of Coppy Gill and through Low Birkwith Farm and is marked on Ordnance Survey maps.
Obviously, if passing High Birkwith Farm on the Pennine Way while in caving gear and you are challenged, please be polite, but remember your own rights as outlined above.
We would like to emphasise that the CNCC supports any cavers accessing any of these caves, providing you do so according to the countryside code and with respect for anyone you meet. We have no interest in supporting these access restrictions or encouraging cavers to support them.
Finally, we are urging you to write individually, or as a club, to the Yorkshire Dales National Park to express your concern about the loss of consented access to these sites. We suggest citing examples of your historic access, and/or include your perspective on the impact to visitors of the National Park that arises from the loss of access. Emphasising the importance of these sites as novice-compatible caves to initiating public engagement with the National Parks is a worthwhile angle. Alternatively, you may have a different, more personal angle to put forward.
Ensuring the National Parks are aware of the strength of feeling on this matter will be very helpful to us in exploring other avenues and alternative solutions to this situation.
There are various contact details on the YDNP website.
Council of Northern Caving Clubs
Photo: The magnificent entrance pitch of Calf Holes, beautifully captured by Mark Burkey.
Parking update: 22nd December 2022
We are pleased to confirm with the landowner that parking for cavers at Low Birkwith Farm remains available (as originally advertised in CNCC Newsletter #10).
Low Birkwith Farm can be reached via the farm track (navigable to most vehicles) on the left just before you reach High Birkwith Farm.
Please park in front of the stone barn wall where there is an honesty box for payment attached to the wall (see images which have been added to this news article).
The fee is £5 for cars, £15 for minibuses. Please bring an envelope and put the cash into this, write your registration number on the front, and post this into the honesty box.
There is no need to call at the farm, but if anyone is around, do say hello (they are very friendly).
Parking at Low Birkwith means it is less than 1km (15 min walk) to most of the High Birkwith area caves via a footpath that runs initially along the side of Coppy Gill (cutting the corner and avoiding a walk back along the farm track). This is instead of the 3km approach from the free parking on Alum Pot green lane at Selside.