The world of Gaping Gill
THE chance to see something seldom glimpsed always appeals.
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It was that thought that kept me going as I descended 340 foot on a tiny metal seat into one of the largest caverns in the UK.
I was officially 'potholing' - something I thought I would never do.
But there I was, on a hydraulic lift whizzing down a shaft into the darkness with my knees just centimetres from the rockface.
Within seconds I could see the immense cavern below me - large enough to house York Minster.
I had been apprehensive - not particularly liking heights or dark places. But this was exhilarating.
This was the world of Gaping Gill - full of waterfalls and otherworldly light effects.
It was muddy and very damp, but looking up into the opening with a shaft of sunlight penetrating the chamber, it was magical.
The whole effect was of a dark fairytale, a story from the Brothers Grimm. Even the woman who took our wristband number was dressed as a fairy.
Her name was Val, a member of Craven Pothole Club who open up the cavern once a year to the public.
The atmosphere above ground was like a mini festival. Up to 100 members of the club camp on the land near the gill opening (more than an hour's walk from Clapham on the way up to Ingleborough in North Yorkshire).
When photographer Steve Pendrill and I got there on the Friday before the August Bank Holiday, there was already a two hour wait.
Everyone had paid 10 to be lowered, have a 20 minute tour and then be winched back up. People were laying on the grass, eating their packed lunches, waiting their turn.
The lift travels at a very smooth 6ft a second and although it looks scary, the whole experience was very professional and reassuring.
When I got to the bottom of the cavern, potholer Steve Kirk, from Ilkley, took us on a small tour.
He told us how five years ago there was a flood risk during one of the public open days and everyone had to do a bit of minor potholing to ascend at Bar Pot.
You can see Bar Pot as you walk up to Gaping Gill, it's on the left hand side as you climb over the double stile.
On the off chance that the winch fails, it can still be done manually.
He also told of the winter of 1947 when members of the club descended and found a human skeleton. They had to winch the coroner down the next day.
The body has never been identified, Steve told us, obviously used to entertaining an audience.
Then, all too soon, it was time to ascend into the daylight.
Entering Gaping Gill is an unusual way to spend a day...but for sheer novelty value, it's definitely worth it.
The history of Gaping Gill
*The cavern was until recently the largest in the UK. But a bigger one has recently been found in Derbyshire.
*It was first explored by frenchman Edouard Martell. using a wooden ladder and a rope.
*According to Craven's club secretary Pat Halliwell, Yorkshire Ramblers Club used a pedal powered winch to get people down there.
*Craven Pothole Club held their first winch meet in 1932
*The current hydraulic lift was built about 20 years ago with money bequeathed from a former club member.
*Every year the club goes up on to the land, spending about 5,000 'man hours' damming up the stream and setting up the winch before opening it to the public over the August Bank Holiday.
*Gaping Gill is on land owned by Dr Farrer, a relation of the famous botanist Reginald Farrer
*It takes 11 days for water from the Gill to come out at Ingleborough Cave - it's also possible to pothole the entire route but diving equipment is needed
If you want to descend into Gaping Gill the next chance is the Spring Bank Holiday at Whitsun.
Every year Bradford Pothole Club opens it at Whitsun and then Craven install their winch over the August Bank Holiday.
Children over the age of seven are allowed to go down, but it's discretionary.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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