Yordas Cave

Cave entrance at base of limestone cliff with overhanging trees

Reputedly once the lair of the infant-devouring Norse giant* "Yordas", Yordas Cave is a former Victorian show cave in Yordas Wood in Kingsdale near Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales.

[* = Quite how a giant is supposed to have got in and out through the human sized but usually dry main entrance is unclear, and an alternative theory for the origin for the name is that it is derived from "Yord ass" or "Jord ass" - ancient Norse for "earth stream" - possibly after the stream which flows through the inner part of the cave. The name is usually written as "Yordas Cave" rather than "Yordas' Cave" or even "Yorda's Cave"..]

Large chamber in Yordas Cave

Beyond the main entrance the cave opens up in to a large main chamber called the "Great Hall of the Giant Yordas" (pictured above).

limestone formations in Yordas Cave underground waterfall in Yordas Cave

The stream flows across the floor, having entered through a smaller chamber called the "Chapter House" where there is a fine waterfall (pictured above) which connects with Yordas Pot and Yordas Sinks in Yordas Wood on the surface above. Routes through these parts of the cave require climbing equipment and are for experienced cavers and potholers only.

Yordas Cave Yordas Cave Yordas Cave Yordas Cave

The stream itself disappears after crossing the floor of the Great Hall, and is believed to feed in to the Kingsdale Master Cave system to eventually re-emerge at the Keld Head rising further down Kingsdale.

Cave entrance at base of limestone cliff with overhanging trees

Yordas Cave was open to the public at the time of the Brontes, and it is believed by some to have provided inspiration for the "Fairy Cave" which is referred to in "Wuthering Heights". Emily Bronte attended the Clergy Daughters' School in nearby Cowan Bridge and it is likely that she knew of the existence of - and perhaps even visited - the cave during her time there.

Please click here for more information about caves, caving and potholing in the Yorkshire Dales.


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