This is a spot that’s been on my list for quite a while. I’m surprised I haven’t done it before as it’s only an hour away from where I grew up. Keep reading for all you need to know about a trip to this wonderful trail!
History:
Ingleton has been known for it’s beautiful scenery and caves since the 18th century, however it wasn’t until 1885 that the paths and bridges were built to open up the trail to the public. The original entry fee was 2d (2 pennies) and thousands of visitors came from the neighboroughing cities including Bradford, Leeds and Manchester. It is recorded that in June 1888, there were 3840 visitors in just one day. Natural England declared the Ingleton Glens as a site of special scientific interest, due to wide variety of geological features and plant life found in the area.
Entry and Parking:
There is an entry charge of £8 for adults and £4 for children, but free parking is available onsite for ticket holders. The trail opens at 9am all year round, but the closing times vary depending on the time of year, so make sure you check out their website for the most up to date information and plan your trip accordingly. You can also purchase activity packs for £1 from the ticket office.
*Prices correct as of October 2022
The Walk:
The trail is approximately 6.5Km/4.5miles and took us just under 2.5 hours to complete. It is a beautiful trail which takes you through a mix of woodland, fields and rocky landscapes. The route is very well marked out, but does involve a lot of steps! It is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs and it can be uneven and slippy at times.
The Waterfalls:
There are six different waterfalls along the trail, all of which are pretty impressive! I think this place would have a completely different feel to it throughout the seasons and with the varying water levels. Some of the falls are so open and light, whereas others are tucked away in darker canyons, where the rocks have been eroded. There are plenty of bridges and viewing platforms throughout the trails, which give you some great photo opportunities of all of the different waterfalls.
Dipping:
I am a sucker for a coldwater dip and had come prepared with my costume under my clothes in the hopes of finding the perfect dipping spot. There hasn’t been a huge amount of rain recently and therefore I think the river levels were lower than at some times in the year. We picked a waterfall that was easily accessible from the path (no scrambling or walking on bits off the trail) and that had a very gradual walk in with easy access and no sudden drops. The water was cool, but not as cold as my dip in pool in the Lakes the week before.
Thankfully we had a lovely day for it and the air temperature wasn’t too cold. We did have a few passers by who were probably wondering what on earth we were doing, but it’s hard to explain to people who haven’t tried it, just how invigorating it can be.
If you’re keen to start dipping, you can check out my tips on wild swimming in winter here.
*After returning home and reading through the information leaflet in full, it does say ‘no swimming in the river’*
Facilities:
There are toilets and a cafe in the main car park and there is a second set of toilets half-way around the trail, at Beezley Farm. The trail takes you back through the village center where there is a wide choice of shops and cafes. There are also plenty of benches and picnic spots along the trail, so why not take your own lunch and make a pit stop on route whilst you take in the views.
I enjoyed this walk so much more than I thought I would. I was a little reluctant at first due to the entrance fees, but personally I think it’s well worth it. There is such a mixture of difference scenery and you can’t help but be impressed by the scale of the falls. You can find out more at the trails website here.
In the Area:
There is so much to explore in this area, so why not make a full day of it and see some of the other bits on offer. Some places you could check out include:
– Ingleborough: The second highest hill in the Yorkshire Dales and one of the ‘Yorkshire three peaks’. It’s quite a distinguishable peak due to the large plateau at the summit (you can see it peeking out from the tree in the picture). There are several popular routes to take, with plenty of options to check out on komoot.
– Ingleton Outdoor Swimming Pool: An open air, heated pool in an idyllic location…what’s not to love!
– White Scar Cave: The longest show cave in Britain with guided tours covering 1 mile and taking around 80 minutes. There are many underground features to explore including waterfalls, intriguing rock formations and a rather tight section, known as ‘The Squeeze’.
Happy adventuring! x
Lisa Outdoors 
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