Hurnel Moss Pot
Tall Dave, Billy and Sophie
In the midst of the great heatwave of July 2026 (which I’m sure we used to just call “summer”), Myself, Sophie and Billy met at a slightly earlier time than usual in Clapham to head up to Hurnel Moss Pot on the side of Ingleborough. Starting the walk up in a cool 25°C we had opted for the longer but more gradual and shaded route up via Clapham beck rather than from Newby Cote. This proved to be a wise decision, and definitely not just because of the cafe halfway. The showcave was just opening up as we passed so an already very welcome can of pop was bought and then we continued the sweltering trudge up through Trow Gill and on to the moss, to a very welcome breeze.
The shakehole was easy to find, being at the foot of an obvious stream cutting diagonally down from Ingleborough and we were greeted into it by a dozen beautiful dragonflies of quite an impressive size, whirring around, pondering the new arrivals.
I went first into the snug entrance, rigging the first short but awkward pitchhead and sliding like an unathletic seal off the edge into the first small drop.
From here a boulder slope drops down towards the main chamber and another very short rebelay swings you out over the abyss and onto the first traverse. This is described as being technical and lacking footholds however we all agreed that the perfectly placed crack at foot height all the way along seemed to suffice just nicely and we were soon at the Y-hang. From here the view is dramatic with the full height of the upper chamber on show, the anchor on the side of a huge hanging buttress of rock and the start of a stunning fluted shaft within the end of the chamber. In normal conditions when there is more than a tiny trickle of water, the stream drops 30m down a perfectly eroded shaft and hits a seemingly impenetrable flat layer of rock, flowing off over the lip into the final drop.
From here, an upwardly angled ramp on the left wall took us to the next pitchhead, Billy taking over the rigging with a new rope and expertly facilitating the next descent. Once again we enjoyed another straight drop down a picturesque fluted and layered wall with the lower chamber opening up as we descend.
The water at the bottom descends through a huge boulder choke which we down climbed and then rigged a short rope from a natural thread to reach the streamway. An awkward downclimb took us through to almost the furthest limit however not to be outdone I could see a large space through a gap in the boulders up a 6 foot climb. My first attempt consisted of me grabbing what turned out to be mud and not rock, my foot slipping and landing in an unceremonious heap back down in the stream way. Attempt number two, this time spotted by Billy allowed me to see further on both above and below but both options were a bit tight for me.
Admitting defeat but knowing it didn’t go much further we returned up to the main chamber and began the climb back out. Derigging went like a dream and we soon found ourselves unceremoniously thrutching and grunting through the awkward pitchhead and into the sunlight.
The walk down was much more pleasant but we still felt obliged to support the local businesses and fill up on fizzy drinks and ice-creams on the way back to the cars.
Another great trip.
