Ease Gill Caves
| Ease Gill Cave System | |
| Lancashire, Westmorland | |
|---|---|
 Easter Grotto | |
| 6640&y=4 8072&z=120 SD 6640 8072 | |
| Co-ordinates: | 54°13’16"N, 2°31’0"W |
| Depth: | 449 feet |
| Length: | 216,535 feet |
| Geology: | Limestone |
The Ease Gill Cave System is the longest,[1] and most complex cave system in the United Kingdom,[2][3][4][5] with around 41 miles of passages, including connections only passable by cave diving. The caves span the valley between Leck Fell in Lancashire and Casterton Fell in Westmorland, between them runs Ease Gill after which stream the caves are named; the stream here marks the county border. The water from the caves resurges into Leck Beck, the river which the gill becomes as it widens and enters Lancashire.
The first-discovered entrance to the caves, Lancaster Hole, was found by George Cornes and Bill Taylor on 29 September 1946. A small draughting opening on Casterton Fell, Westmorland, opened immediately onto a 110-foot shaft. Passages from the base of the shaft were explored over the succeeding weeks and months by members of the British Speleological Association. The underground course of the Ease Gill (the local master cave) and high-level fossil passages above it were found and followed upstream to a series of complex inlet passages. In succeeding years, these have been connected to surface caves, including Top Sinks, County Pot and Pool Sink.
The cave passages adjoining the Ease Gill main streamway were connected to Link Pot and Pippikin Pot in 1978, and Pippikin was itself connected to Lost John's Cave by diving in 1989.
With its many entrances, the Ease Gill system offers cavers a wide variety of through trips; the Ease Gill streamway is regarded as one of the finest in the UK.
Entrances
Entrances include:
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Outside links
- The Red Rose Cave & Pothole Club - Ease Gill
- Selected Caving Routes in the Yorkshire Dales - directory
References
Books
- Aspin, J., Gemmell, A., Jowett, A. (1952). The Caves of Upper Easegill. Northern Pennine Club, Greenclose House, Clapham, Lancaster LA2 8HW, UK. http://www.pennine.demon.co.uk/NPC/CUE/MENU.HTM.
- Waltham, A.C., Simms, M.J., Farrant, A.R., Goldie, H.S. (1997). Karst and Caves of Great Britain. Chapman & Hall, 2-6 Boundary Row, London SE1 8HN, UK. pp. 29–38. ISBN 0-412-78860-8.