Skirwith Cave

Location
Grid Reference: SD 7097 7381

Altitude: 270 m

Entrance is a small hole about 60 metres behind the crag.

Description
Up to the end of the old show cave, Skirwith offers easy caving suitable for novice parties. Beyond the waterfall, the trip becomes distinctly damp, and wetsuits or neofleeces are recommended.

Down the entrance slope and past the wedged open gate you enter a rift passage which is followed along level floors. The stream is joined, and old wooden duck boards are sometimes usable - others have been dislodged and some are marginally rotten.

A boulder choke is overcome near the roof - the steps once used to bypass it can be seen below! The continuing passage soon arrives at a pool and waterfall. This was the end of the old show cave, but the fall can be climbed to enter a lengthy stream passage which finishes in a decorated chamber, just beyond a duck.

Access
For permission call at; Landale, Cold Cotes, Clapham, Lancaster, LA2 8HZ.

History
It was probably first explored by local people in about 1934.1

It was developed as a show cave, and was opened to the public in Easter 1965.2 The opening hours were 10.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends, with admission set at 2s. It was likened to Bagshawe Cavern, being closer to actual caving than other show caves. It closed in 1974.

References and Further Reading

 * 1) YRC Committee (1936) Cave Exploration. Yorkshire Ramblers' Club Journal Volume 6 Number 22: pp349-357
 * 2) Stainforth R H A, Speleologist 1, January/February 1965, page 23.