Christmas Pot
(Gaping Gill)
Hazards and Warnings
Warning 5 years ago
We have received a report that during a trip in late November 2016, there may have been a serious collapse of the ledge above the second pitch. Cavers are urged to take extreme care and to assess the situation carefully throughout the cave. Please report to us any observations. Update December 2016: Report received from recent group. The collapse was at the 2nd re-belay of the first pitch series, where 2 large boulders are balanced above the 3rd re-belay, making getting to the 3rd re-belay slightly awkward as the rope tugged on one of the boulders a bit. The boulders looked a bit dodgy (as if they could fall if given a good enough kick) but stayed put and the gap left was large enough to easily abseil through. All visiting groups are urged to take extreme care.
Noticed a hazard in this cave? Click here to report it here.
Access
Book online
Advanced online booking is required. You can also email the booking seretary.
Access to this cave is available to everyone all year round, but must be booked prior to your trip to satisfy the landowner’s requirements for managed access (and out of courtesy to other cavers too). One booking may be made per cave entrance per day. The CNCC has created a simple online booking system to allow individuals to book access to this (and other) caves using an intuitive calendar-based approach.
Note: First time users will need to register before being able to log into the system. The process should be self-explanatory but if you have any questions please email our system administrator via the address below.
Bookings made via the online system are live immediately.
Anyone wishing to book access without using the online system can do so by emailing the system administrator. Please include details of which cave you would like to book and what date:
booking@cncc.org.uk
Please note that if you are arranging your booking by email, rather than via the online system, you MUST wait for confirmation from the system administrator that your chosen date is available and the booking has been finalised BEFORE visiting the cave. Please allow two weeks’ notice in the eventuality the administrator is on holiday.
This cave is on access land. Click here for more information.
Location
NGR: SD 75735 72695
Lat/long: 54.1494998805849, -2.37299617342303
Please note that locations are correct to the best of our knowledge however are often taken from old books so they may not be absolutely accurate and are shown simply as a guide.
Entrance Photos




Fixed Aids
Christmas Pot is equipped with resin bonded anchors installed as part of the the BCA Anchor Scheme.
More information about CNCC resin anchors
Rigging Topos and Descriptions
Rigging topo: Christmas Pot (PDF)
Route description: Christmas Pot (PDF)
A description of the route to the Grange Rigg sump via Christmas Pot.