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CLAPHAM , four miles north of Settle at the southern foot of
Ingleborough, makes a fine introduction to the region. Pop into the
National Park information centre (April-June & Oct daily 10am-4pm; July-Sept
10am-5pm; Nov-March occasional Sat & Sun 10am-4pm; tel 01524/251419),
alongside the car park, for a leaflet on the nature trail through
Clapdale Woods to Ingleborough Cave (March-Oct daily 10am-5pm; Nov-Feb
Sat & Sun 10.30am-dusk; £4.50), the Pennines' oldest show cave. Follow
the footpath beyond the caves, and after a little over a mile you reach
Gaping Ghyll , 365ft deep and 450ft long, probably the most famous of
the Dales' many potholes; carry on another two miles northwest from here
and the summit of Ingleborough looms - a more interesting approach than
the haul up from Ingleton.
Clapham train station (on the Leeds/Skipton-Lancaster line) offers
another entry to the Dales, but lies over a mile south of the village.
There's a post office, general store, and the riverside New Inn (tel
01524/251203; £60-70), with cheaper rooms available at Arbutus House ,
on Riverside (tel 01524/251240; no credit cards; £40-50). At Anne's Café
, the invitation at the door is "relax and be happy" (closed Mon & Tues).
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