Child in cave entrance with light pouring in and holding a torch

Yordas Cave, Kingsdale

An ex Victorian Show cave, this place is BEYOND spectacular inside! And a great little introduction to cave exploration.

Just make sure you pack a powerful torch, as no phone torch will touch the sides of this mahoosive cavern!

Yordas Cave is a great introduction to a classic Yorkshire Cave

JUST… because this cave is a stone’s throw from the border with Cumbria!

As an ex-Victorian show cave, this cavernous…. well, cave…. will take your breath away! Standing at 55 metres long and 15 metres wide, the main cavern is simply stonking. To put it in ‘Yorkshire’ tongue… it’s reyt MASSIVE.

Running through the middle is a beck. Usually a gentle stream you can expect to get your feet wet if you’re not in wellies, but after heavy rain it can be an absolute raging torrent. Turn right after entering the cave and head to the far left hand corner and you’ll find the Chapter House, which is a little chamber and the home to a 25 foot cave waterfall.

You can see why the Victorians loved it right?

Having visited on a number of occasions, please be advised NOT to enter the cave after prolonged heavy rain. Whilst you can get in through the entrance, you will find what is more or less a lake. The water drains into a tiny outflow on the left hand side which becomes overwhelmed in flood and it is not advisable to even try to enter the water because of the currents at play and the fact it can reach up to 2 metres in depth. JUST DON’T ALRIGHT? That’s my mum voice right there!

In the right conditions? It’s a place of absolute wonder. Ooh and REMEMBER THE TORCH (don’t say I didn’t tell you… twice!)

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Thank you for taking the time to have a look at my website and for reading this now!

I set up the Reluctant Explorers and maintain the website and attached social media accounts in my spare time, around mum-life and two jobs. It was designed to provide access for parents to free resources to help get more families outside and exploring in nature. These walks have all been created by myself and the kids and we have walked each one ourselves (and re-walk them regularly to keep the information as up to date as we can).

If you would like to support us and can afford a few pennies, you can make a donation to our ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ page. Simply tap the button below to head there!

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Yordas cave in flood

Our first visit to Yordas Cave was thwarted by the beck being in spate. This is the entrance to the cave (beck almost visible behind)

What are the walk details for Yordas Cave?

Distance: Less than 1km. Yup, this one is one you can 100% call an adventure rather than a walk!

Terrain: Grassy hill, muddy in parts. Rocky cave that is uneven underfoot and obviously very dark! Headtorch/ Torch required to fully explore the cave. You will need sturdy footwear and probably wellies are best for kids as they will get wet feet. BE AWARE: caves come with a risk of falling rock and flooding. Wear a cycle helmet and do not enter after heavy rain as the water in the cave can rise quickly.

Parking: Verge-side, outside Yordas Cave. This cave is located on public access land where you have the right to roam. Whilst it is privately owned by the nearby farm, you are able to freely explore. Permission is not required BUT be respectful of the land, any livestock, signage and when parking do not block access. Follow the Countryside Code and don’t ruin it for everybody else.

Is it too busy? Yordas is regularly used for school groups, who use the lay-by. If you find it too busy, head to nearby White Scar show caves for your very own tour of the longest show cave in the country or if you want to experience a cave ‘in the wild’, then try our nearby Kinsey Cave or Jubilee Cave walks.

Public Transport: Nope sorry, it’s in the absolute back end of nowhere! But you can get to Ingleton, which is simply marvellous (still a bit of a trek to Yordas though)

Dog friendly: Yes, be respectful of any signage regarding livestock as there are regularly sheep grazing in the area around the cave.

Location: Kingsdale, near Thornton in Lonsdale near Ingleton.

Map: OS explorerOLO2 Yorkshire Dales Southern and Western

What 3 Words: dabbled.suspends.hopeless

Toilets/ Baby Change: No

Nearest Cafe/ Amenities: Thornton in Lonsdale/ Ingleton

Shining a torch into Yordas Cave

The waterfall in the Chapter House, if you step over the stone lip, there is a shallow pool on the other side, but you will get wet!

How to get to Yordas Cave

Directions to Yordas Cave. The cave is on open access and at the time of writing no permission is required from the farmer to access the cave. Check the link to the CNCC website for any updates.

  1. The hard standing parking is found approximately half way along the Kingsdale road between Thornton in Lonsdale and Dent (Thornton Lane). This is a narrow road with passing places. It is an obvious and reasonably lengthy parking area (NOT a passing place - don’t park in those or you’ll cause absolute carnage) room enough for 3-5 cars. There are often mini-buses parked there for school parties. Make sure you leave room for cars to pass, including emergency services who require access at all times and don’t block gateways.)

  2. You’ll see a wide five bar gate into the area around Yordas Cave adorned with various signage. Head through this. Ahead you’ll see a cluster of trees around a u shaped gully.

  3. Head up the right hand side of the gully, heading upwards. As you near the drystone wall, you’ll see a further gate. Go through this, and on the left hand side you will see the remains of the Victorian steps which enter the old show cave.

  4. You’re there! Be aware that after heavy rain, the beck in the cave pools and can reach depths of around 2m, as the water funnels into the narrow exits to the left. Do not enter in these conditions or after heavy rain.

  5. In dryer weather, you can explore the extent of the old Victorian show cave with a strong headtorch/ torch (we normally take at least 2). As you enter the cave, turn right and walk to the waterfall in the chamber on the right called the Chapter House you will hear it before you see it.

  6. You can explore the rest of the area, but be aware of sharp drops There are entrances into the cave above it, but do not enter unless properly experienced.

Last walked June 2025

Helpful Information!

⭐ We hope you enjoy our walks, but please exercise common sense as routes can change with the weather conditions and seasons! The routes have been walked by our own two feet, but you know your own limits. Always take a back-up map, don’t rely on GPS alone, wear appropriate clothing for the weather and take adequate snacks and refreshments with you (although as a parent, I know you already know that bit!)

⭐ Leave no trace! Take nothing away and leave nothing behind, take all rubbish home with you.

⭐ Caves can be dangerous. We do not enter without being properly prepared, and do not go anywhere that requires scrambling, crawling, or climbing. Caves can flood unexpectedly.

Child standing with headdtorch looking into a cave with a waterfall in the dark
Exploring the walls of Yordas Cave

What’s cool for kids on this walk?

✨ Should I geek out about limestone? I’M GONNA GEEK OUT ABOUT LIMESTONE! The Yorkshire Dales is cave country and Yordas is no exception. Yordas (like many other caves in the Dales) looks as though it was blasted or man-made (a bit like the quarries of the Lakes) but it is entirely natural (look at Scoska Cave, the entrance is very similar, but natural as well). As with most of the caves in the Dales, it was formed by water, purely because limestone is soluble and therefore erodible. You are standing in a geological marvel.

👻 Yordas Cave or Yorda’s Cave is reportedly named after a Norse Giant, who lived there. It was also said to be the inspiration for Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Fairy Cave’ from Jayne Eyre, after she paid a visit herself. But if you aren’t swung by the Giant legend, then what about a ghost army? Kingsdale where Yordas is located is reportedly haunted by a ghostly army which pours from the steeply scarred hillsides. I mean if you aren’t picturing that scene from Lord of the Rings right now…… If you want to find out more about the Folklore and Legends of the Yorkshire Dales, head to the blog!

🍔 The Marton Arms is a family friendly pub located in Thornton in Lonsdale and is a 10 minute drive away. It serves top pub grub!

🌳 This is short and most of your walk will be exploring the cave (provided it hasn’t been raining too heavily!) Take your torch and make sure you bring some for the kids. If my two are exploring with a torch, then it is FAR more fun! And in this case absolutely essential as you will not get very far without it!

child standing in a cave in front of rock formations with a information sheet hard hat and clipboard

Staying in the Ingleton area?

We have a Visit with Kids guide to provide you with all the family friendly inspiration you need! Think family friendly walks, local attractions and importantly, where to find the ice cream (and the play park!)

There are two guides covering this area and the nearby areas so why not check out our…

Visit Settle and Ribblesdale with the Kids Guide

Visit Sedbergh, Dentdale and the Westmorland Dales with the Kids Guide

Tap here to head to our visit with kids guides

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

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Leave No Trace

The Yorkshire Dales is our home, and the home of so many others who care deeply about this beautiful space.

Should you visit, make sure to:

Take home anything you bring, leave no rubbish behind.

Make the world a better place by picking up any rubbish you see, even if it isn’t yours.

Leave everything else as you found it.

Help us to protect our wild spaces.