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View Full Version : Report - Gaping Gill, Yorkshire Dales - 24.05.09

MADMAX
May 27th, 2009, 09:36
The Info
Gaping Gill is perhaps Britain's most famous and most complex cave systems.
From the moor on the flanks of Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales, Fell Beck plunges 105 metres (360 feet) into the Main Chamber; Britain's biggest known cave chamber.

Every year, non-cavers have the chance to see a truly awe- inspiring underground scene; the Main Chamber of Gaping Gill. As well as being Britain's biggest known cave chamber, the water from Fell Beck landing on the chamber floor is Britain's highest unbroken waterfall. Descending the 105m Main Shaft (Britain's deepest surface shaft) is an experience never forgotten. The Chamber is floodlit, allowing the public and cavers alike a view not normally available outside winch meets.

The Experience
Myself and Turkey set of from our Bradford base very early on Sunday morning in an attempt to beat the crowds and avoid a long wait.
We had an epic fail straight away though, when my car wouldn't start :rolleyes:
So Turkey had to drive, not ideal because he had a bigger hangover than me from our epic Beer and Curry mission the previous night.

A good run up to Clapham in the Yorkshire Dales and we off into the hills in good time.
The scenery was truly breath taking and the one hour trek up into the hills was an very enjoyable.
Finally reaching the Bradford Pothole Club base camp near the bottom of Ingleborough, we we're surpried how busy it already was.
They had only been winching for 30 mins, but we were told it would be a one hour wait.
Anyway two and a half hours later! We were stood ready to finally take the 360 feet/66 second plunge.

I think the pictures probably speak for themselves, so all I need to say is that it was definately worth the wait.
The only downside was how wet it was down there - Cameras and water don't really mix :(
I was having to wipe my lens in between each shot and my Lowepro was soaked from the spray during the winch journey.
We had a good hour down there before being thrown back up into the daylight.
We both kept our cameras out for the walk back down to just dry them out in the sun :D
So it was an epic experience, good weather and a great day out was had by all.

Up the Valleys on the journey to Gaping Gill
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/MADMAX28DL/DSC_0396.jpg

Turkey suited and booted
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/MADMAX28DL/DSC_0410-1.jpg

Turkey about to take the 360 feet winch plunge
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/MADMAX28DL/DSC_0418-1.jpg

Just stunning!
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/MADMAX28DL/DSC_0430-2.jpg

The twin Waterfalls had us on moisture watch
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/MADMAX28DL/DSC_0447.jpg

Trying to grasp the scale of it!
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/MADMAX28DL/DSC_0432-3.jpg

Self portrait time - it had to be done
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/MADMAX28DL/DSC_0453.jpg

Leaving the Base Camp after an epic experience
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/MADMAX28DL/DSC_0457-2.jpg

The lonely Cloud shot - Taken while my Camera was drying out lol
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r73/MADMAX28DL/DSC_0465.jpg
cat_bones
May 27th, 2009, 10:42
Really nice pics mate! I went there a couple of years ago with some of the Darkplaces guys... the place is amazing and that winch-ride is excellent... not sure I'd fancy abseiling in! Did you go for a crawl around the system or did you stay in the main-chamber?

One point though... I thought that GG's status as having the biggest chamber had been superceded by Titan?
MADMAX
May 27th, 2009, 11:13
Did you go for a crawl around the system or did you stay in the main-chamber?

One point though... I thought that GG's status as having the biggest chamber had been superceded by Titan?

Didn't bother going for a crawl mate because we had all our Camera gear with us.

Don't know about Titan, I just took the info off the BPC website.
Bugsuperstar
May 27th, 2009, 11:36
:thumb:thumb:thumb your photo's are great! this place looks amazing!! ive heard about it but never seen pictures before, i am definately going to try and see this next time they open it up for public, plus the winch ride looks great! pic 6 is awesome mate! thanks for sharing. bug
flyingmonkeycorps
May 27th, 2009, 11:54
Awesome! I've always wanted to go down there but I always seem to miss the winch day. Is there a website? When do they announce the one for next year?
BusStopWilly
May 27th, 2009, 12:50
Pardon my french, but that's fucking beautiful. Great pics.

BSW
cat_bones
May 27th, 2009, 12:59
Didn't bother going for a crawl mate because we had all our Camera gear with us.


Nevermind... the best bit is definitely that chamber! I've only looked at part of the system and tbh, it's not really that picturesque... it's a little bit of a let-down after the main chamber!
MADMAX
May 27th, 2009, 15:25
Awesome! I've always wanted to go down there but I always seem to miss the winch day. Is there a website? When do they announce the one for next year?

This is the link to the BPC website: http://www.bpc-cave.org.uk/gaping_gill.htm

Doesn't look like they are doing it again this year.
Other clubs might do it too though, who knows.
Bunk3r
May 27th, 2009, 15:57
^looks like the winch is in place and open for business till 12 noon on the 29th of this month.

Quality pictures, I have heard of this place in my youth and had pretty much forgotten about it. I was always told it was free to go down but they charged to bring you back up haha.
MADMAX
May 27th, 2009, 16:37
^looks like the winch is in place and open for business till 12 noon on the 29th of this month.
I was always told it was free to go down but they charged to bring you back up haha.

Yes, they're winching until Friday.
It was a Tenner to go down (and back up) :D
Squirrell 911
May 27th, 2009, 16:42
Yes, they're winching until Friday.
It was a Tenner to go down (and back up) :D

Not teh first time you have been asked to go down for a tenner!! :p
LittleMike
May 27th, 2009, 17:01
It's incredible down there! The most awe inspiring place I have ever been by an absolute mile, highly recommended. Although, you really should join a caving club and do it the proper way :thumb

Titan is indeed substantially bigger, but also involves a mission of pitches just to get to the top of the cavern alone. Not fit enough for that one yet lol. What probably is worth mentioning though is that the waterfall is the largest single span waterfall in the uk!
turkey
May 27th, 2009, 17:58
Echoing what Littlemike said..

Easily one of the most awe-inspiring and impressive places ive been. I thought it would be as good as Cathedral in Box, but it beats it on the "WOW" factor for me everytime.

just 3 from me....

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l224/trukey3/gga.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l224/trukey3/ggb.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l224/trukey3/ggc.jpg

turk ;)
cactusmelba
May 27th, 2009, 18:21
flippin ACE!

great shots guys, looks like a great way to spend a soggy afternoon...
snappel
May 27th, 2009, 21:56
Now that really is epic! I did a fairly big cavern in the Peaks, and it's a pretty unique feeling to be suspended above a colossal void underground like that.
Yohan_of_inverkip
May 27th, 2009, 22:19
ive visited it before wee entered via small mammal, looks fantastic all lit up. nice1 guys
Brick_Man
May 28th, 2009, 11:24
WOW, never even knew they did this! Certainly sounds like a good day out to me :)

so its £10 to go down, and then its highest bidder gets a lift back out then? ;)
LittleMike
May 28th, 2009, 11:37
An extreme rock-climb (graded E3, 5c) is possible up the main shaft which requires very dry conditions. It was first pioneered in 1972 with ten points of aid. The first free ascent was made in 1988.

Urggg, that makes me feel sick
Converse1
May 28th, 2009, 14:15
Wonderful pictures there chaps, a truly amazing place. :thumb
danensis
May 30th, 2009, 20:48
We used to go in via Bar Pot - a couple of nice pitches, and they're always rigged when there's a winch meet. I seem to recall they winched you out for free as long as you booked a tally before you went in.

Clapham club used to do one Bank Holiday, and Bradford Club another, as I recall.

I'll try and find my pictures - all in B&W I'm afraid.
fortknox0
June 6th, 2009, 16:17
youv both got some really good pictures there. Would love to visit here
steveekay
June 7th, 2009, 15:42
like the pics, looks a real mission getting down there!
cpcnick
August 9th, 2009, 22:55
hi all cravens pothole club is opening it back up for the public to go down all 354 feet of it it costs nothing to go down but a tenner does help gettin back up Ha Ha park up in clapham and walk the nice walk up to GG if your lucky i or one of the members of cravens will take you on a look around some of the passages. Oh dates as follows August 2009 22 to 31 winch meet i'll be there sometime on the 22nd till the 24th if u need any more info or owt to do with caving give us a pm.... have fun
tucker
August 10th, 2009, 11:43
As soon as i saw Gaping Ghyll, knew it had to be done! A couple of us are planning to visit, would be very interested in having a look at some of the different passages you mention as well! :) Do you have an email address i can contact you on?
doubleboost
August 11th, 2009, 22:12
Truly a magnificent place
We used to do exchange trips from bar pot , the prussic back up is a real bastard ,you have time to reflect on what you are actually doing for fun