Northern Caves

Culture \ Publications \ Northern Caves

These series of guide books are considered to be the definitive guide to the Northern Pennines and outlying areas, following earlier publications such as Norman Thornber's 1953 Pennine Underground. There are two series, consisting of a number of volumes covering different geographical areas. Both series were published by Dalesman Publishing Company Ltd.

Original Series


The Original Series was published in the 1970s and early 1980s and consisted of five A5 paperback volumes. All volumes have long been out of print, but the occasional copy can be obtained from Ebay or Amazon Marketplace. The volumes in the series, together with their different editions, are:  Northern Caves Volume 1. Wharfedale and Nidderdale. (1972) D. Brook, R.G. Coe, M.Davies, M.H. Long. ISBN 085206134X  Northern Caves Volume 1. Wharfedale and Nidderdale. (1975) D. Brook, R.G. Coe, M.Davies, M.H. Long. ISBN 0852063008  Northern Caves Volume 1. Wharfedale and Nidderdale. (1979) D. Brook, R.G. Coe, M.Davies, M.H. Long. ISBN 0852064985  Northern Caves Volume 2. Penyghent and Malham. (1976) A. & D. Brook, G.M. Davies, M.H. Long. ISBN 0852063504 Northern Caves Volume 2. Penyghent and Malham. (1982) A. & D. Brook, G.M. Davies, M.H. Long. ISBN 0852066597 Northern Caves Volume 3. Ingleborough. (1975) A. & D. Brook, G.M. Davies, M.H. Long. ISBN 0852063121 Northern Caves Volume 3. Ingleborough. (1981) A. & D. Brook, G.M. Davies, M.H. Long. ISBN 0852066546 Northern Caves Volume 4. Whernside and Gragareth. (1975) D. Brook, G.M. Davies, M.H. Long, J.R. Sutcliffe. ISBN 0852062591</li> Northern Caves Volume 5. The Northern Dales. (1974) D. Brook, G.M. Davies, M.H. Long, P.F. Ryder. ISBN 0852062355 </li> Northern Caves Volume 5. The Northern Dales. (1977) D. Brook, G.M. Davies, M.H. Long, P.F. Ryder. ISBN 0852064512 </li> </ul>

Volume 4 was re-published as two separate volumes: <ul> Northern Caves Volume 4A. Scales Moor and Kingsdale. (1983) D. Brook, G.M. Davies, M.H. Long. ISBN 085206747X</li> Northern Caves Volume 4B. Leck and Casterton Fells. (1983) D. Brook, G.M. Davies, M.H. Long, J. R. Sutcliffe. ISBN 0852067488</li> </ul>

New Series


The Original Series was replaced in the late 1980s and early 1990s by the New Series, which consisted of three A5 paperback volumes with water resistant covers. There was some reorganisation of geographical areas, particularly with the regions in the original Volume 5 - Northern Dales being split between "Wharfedale and the North-East", and "The Three Counties and the North-West" volumes depending on which side of the Pennine watershed they lay. The three volumes have been out of print for some time and are quite difficult to obtain, and consequently attract a high price when they do occasionally appear on Ebay or Amazon Marketplace. The volumes in the series are:


 * Northern Caves 1. Wharfedale and the North-East, (1988) D.Brook, G.M. Davies, M.H. Long, P.F. Ryder. ISBN 0852069278
 * Northern Caves 2. The Three Peaks, (1991) A. & D. Brook, J. Griffiths, M.H. Long. ISBN 1855680335
 * Northern Caves 3. The Three Counties System and the North-West, (1994) D. Brook, J. Griffiths, M.H. Long, P.F. Ryder. ISBN 1855680831

The Future
A third edition is reputedly to be in production, publication date unknown.