Rat Hole Sink

Location
Grid Reference: SD 7510 7274.

Altitude: 403 m

An obvious sink located in the right bank of Fell Beck about 10 metres above the equally obvious Rat Hole.

Description
Rat Hole Sink is an inlet feeding the Gaping Gill main shaft complex.

The entrance is normally covered with a grating. Below this a squirm downwards leads straight into the upstream passage of Rat Hole. When the stream is diverted, Rat Hole Sink provides easier access to the Rat Hole pitches than the traditional entrance.

Access
Permission for access should be obtained from the Ingleborough Estate Office

History
It was identified as a major sink by the Yorkshire Ramblers Club (YRC) in 1912 whilst they were conducting a survey of Fell Beck, its sinks, and associated passages. It was referred to as both P14 and Rat Hole Sink.

It was dug out by the Craven Pothole Club (CPC) in 1984, and the name was confirmed.

References and Further Reading

 * 1) Brodrick H. 1912. "The Streambed of Fell Beck above Gaping Gill" Jnl YRC 4 No. 12, pp 44-53
 * 2) Cordingley J. & Gough S. 1984. "The Rat Hole 1984" Jnl CPC 6, No. 5, pp 211-218
 * 3) Halliwell R.A. 2003 "Rat Hole and Rat Hole Sink" CPC Record, no. 72 pp 18-21
 * 4) Rule A. 1910. “Gaping Ghyll: Exploration & Survey: Spout Tunnel and Rathole”. Jnl YRC Vol 3 No 10, pp 186-192.