Few walks capture the character of the Yorkshire Dales quite like a climb up Ingleborough. With its distinctive flat-topped summit, it’s a hill that feels both dramatic and welcoming, all 723m of it. You might know Ingleborough from the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge but for this particular hike, I have added a small detour; one that leads to the hidden world of Great Douk Cave. This cave entrance is blocked by a huge boulder with a disappearing steam and feels like a hidden gem even though it is just off the main Yorkshire Three Peaks path. Check out all the route details and download the route map below.
At a Glance
Difficulty: Moderate - generally good paths with one steep, grassy section. This can get slippery. The descent down from Ingleborough is stepped.
Distance: 8.76 km/ 5.4 miles
Total Ascent: 438m
Est Time: 3.5+ hours
Starting location: Free layby parking on Low Sleights Road (B6255)
Facilities: Philpin Farm snack bar is a short walk away from the parking area and there is The Station Inn at Ribblehead Viaduct for food and drinks.
Dog friendly: Yes but beware of livestock and keep them on a lead.
Ingleborough and Great Douk Cave Circular Hike
From the free parking area, Ingleborough towers in front of you - it’s impossible to miss. Its lower slopes are a patchwork of limestone scars and its summit is crowned with a distinctive, flat plateau. It looks both imposing and inviting; a classic Yorkshire Dales silhouette.
Start the hike by crossing the road and walking downhill for a minute or so until you see a gate on your left and a wooden public bridleway signpost for The Yorkshire Three Peaks and Great Douk. Follow the stony track which leads directly towards Ingleborough passing through two gates. At the second gate, you’ll see a wooden sign pointing to your left for Great Douk. Follow the grassy path until you see a stone wall with some trees. There is a gap in the wall with stone steps to help you cross through. This is the location of Great Douk Cave.
Great Douk Cave
After crossing over the wall, there is a steep path down to the base. Great Douk Cave sits in front of you at the bottom of this large, collapsed shakehole. The entrance is blocked by a huge boulder and a stream pours out the entrance as a small waterfall before quickly disappearing back into the limestone beneath your feet.
To the left of where the stream disappears you can see an entrance used by cavers to lower down into the underground passageways but unless you’re with professionals (or are on yourself) this isn’t something to be attempted. It’s worth a little wander up to the cave entrance and there is a shelf you can get onto to get a little closer. I’ve written a little about how you can safely explore the inside of this cave at the end of this blog.
Once you have had a look at the cave, head back up to the gap in the wall and cross back through it.
Hiking Route towards Ingleborough
Once you have crossed over the wall, don’t head back down to the main path. Instead, take a left immediately after crossing the wall and follow the faint path, following the main farm wall on your right. You’ll pass through another gate and from here the farm wall starts to curve around to the left and straight up the hillside.
This section looks impossibly steep but there is a path all the way and it isn’t as bad as it looks. As you start to ascend the hillside, you can cross the wall via the stile and continue following the path uphill.
It is important to stick to the obvious path here. This is an area of underground cave systems and there are plenty of large holes in the ground to fall into if you are not careful. The path continues to rise with Ingleborough to your right and eventually you pop out onto the flat ridge line.
Ingleborough is a notoriously windy mountain and even if it was calm and peaceful don't be surprised if the wind really picks up towards the summit. It's always important to carry extra layers so as not to get cold; a good pair of thermals for colder days, gloves and a fleece are a must for extra warmth.
Ingleborough summit
Once you are on the flat ridgeline, follow the path towards Ingleborough. On a nice day, the views here are excellent and from your high position you can see Whernside and Ribblehead viaduct behind you.
The path is easy to follow and well maintained and soon enough you pass through a gate and head up the stepped path to the summit of Ingleborough. The summit is a large flat plateau and you’ll see the trig marking the highest point ahead.
If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see all the way to the coast at Morecambe Bay as well as into the Lake District and the other two peaks of Pen-y-Ghent and Whernside that make up the Yorkshire Three Peaks.
Descending Ingleborough
Once you’re finished on the summit, head back down the steps the way you came to the final gate you passed through. Here, take a left and follow the stepped path straight down the side of Ingleborough. This is quite steep so take your time here and hold onto the surrounding rocks if needed.
Once you’re at the bottom, the path is paved over the boggy moorland. There is only one way to follow here so you can’t go wrong. When you reach the next gate at the wall, pass through it and take a right. The path here winds alongside the Braithwaite Wife Hole, an ancient collapsed shakehole and partially filled by glacial till before it leads you back to the main path and back to your start point.
Ingleborough and Great Douk Cave - download the route
Download the Ordnance Survey route and map here.
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Starting point from free lay by parking on Low Sleights Road
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Detour to Great Douk Cave (keep an eye out for the signpost) - the cave is hidden over a wall behind the trees
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Start of the steep path up towards Simon Fell
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The beginning on the ridge line that takes you to the summit of Ingleborough
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The summit of Ingleborough marked with a trig point
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The descent down via stone steps from Ingleborough - follow the one path back to the car parking area
Komoot App
Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the route for his walk here.
Is there public transport to Ingleborough?
Yes. Ingleborough is served by a train station at Ribblehead where you could walk to the start of the walk.
You can also get the Northern DalesBus 832 that stops at Ribblehead. This service stops over winter but you can check the timetable for the rest of the year here.
Going inside Great Douk Cave
Heading into Great Douk Cave is an adventurous experience that’s perfect for anyone curious about caving without the need for specialist skills. The cave’s limestone passages follow a stream for around 900m with a few scrambles and low crawls. Unless you have the relevant experience to do it yourself, book a local guide to show you around. Check out the likes of Yorkshire Dales Guides or Lost Earth Adventures to help you with this.
For additional UK outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, check my other blog posts here on MY URBAN TRAIL and follow me @Wild_0utdoors on Instagram.
Happy adventuring!
Izzy