Fell Beck is a stream near the foot of Ingleborough, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is notable for running into Gaping Gill, the second-largest natural cave shaft in the UK (after Titan).[1] As it falls down the shaft for 110 metres it is the tallest unbroken waterfall in the UK.[2] At times it is blocked off by a temporary dam to allow members of the public to descend the Gaping Gill shaft on a winch.[3]

Fell Beck
Fell Beck above Gaping Gill
Physical characteristics
Mouth 
 • coordinates
54°08′58″N 2°22′57″W / 54.1495°N 2.3826°W / 54.1495; -2.3826
Basin features
ProgressionWenning, Lune
River systemLune
Gaping Gill: the natural cave shaft down which Fell Beck falls

It later emerges as Clapham Beck in Beck Head Cave, adjacent to Ingleborough Cave. This was confirmed by cave divers in 1983, and by fluorescent dye tests many years before.[2] Beyond the village of Clapham, Clapham Beck flows into the River Wenning, which in turn flows into the River Lune and thence to the Irish Sea.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "About Gaping Gill". Craven Potholing Club. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Yorkshire Dales guide to Clapham". YorkshireNet. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Gaping Gill Winch". Bradford Potholing Club. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Clapham Beck | Catchment Data Explorer". Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Retrieved 17 April 2024.