Our second ‘Grand Day Out’ is in and around the beautiful village of Clapham in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It’s an easy 15 minute drive up the A65 and is a fantastic place to visit at all times of the year.
It’s one of our favourite places to visit, whether it’s just for a coffee and bacon sandwich from the fabulous Old Sawmill Café, a gorgeous walk through Ingleborough Nature Trail up to the cave, or to stock up on local supplies from the award-winning Clapham Village Store.
Clapham is a traditional estate village and many homes and a few farms are still owned by the Farrer family, who have made their home in the village since the 1740s. The Farrer family provided community buildings and facilities, remodelled parts of the village, and increased the size of the lake and built waterfalls to generate electricity and provide water to the village. Clapham has a fascinating history, but the village has a vibrant community and lots to offer visitors.
Here’s what we’d do on our Grand Day Out in Clapham –
- After parking on the National Trust car park, we’d head up through the village towards Ingleborough Nature Trail. We’d call into The Old Sawmill Café – just next to the trail entrance – for a cup of coffee and a bacon sandwich. (The last bacon sandwiches we ate here were so fresh and delicious!) There are immaculate toilets here; a wise stop before heading out for the day. (There are also toilets on the National Trust car park.)
- We’d buy the modestly-priced tickets from the café for the privately-owned and run nature trail. The path as far as the cave is suitable for pushchairs – there are no stiles or tree roots. It’s only a 1.3 mile walk up to the cave, so great for children of all ages.
- We’d make sure that we had a decent rain coat and adequate footwear. When we walked the trail last year, we were very foolish and set off (six of us) along the trail without any rain coats, as it was a lovely day. Just before the cave entrance, the heavens opened and we were all utterly soaked to the skin. (See the photos below!) We learned the very important lesson of always making sure that we have a decent coat and shoes. My daughter and her partner had to get straight onto a train from Settle to London in their wet clothes!
- If we were feeling adventurous, we’d head into the cave and venture 500 metres beneath the mountain of Ingleborough. It’s easily accessible by foot – there’s just a little bit of bending forward to pass through a low section! In December, you’ll even find Father Christmas in the cave, with elves to escort families to his grotto! We took our youngest daughter Kitty quite a few years ago and it was great fun.
- From Ingleborough Cave, it’s possible to take a number of different routes, or just turn back and return along the way you came. We’d probably walk a little way past the cave entrance, take a footpath on the right up a steepish little hill to reach the road running parallel to the nature trail – Long Lane. This takes you back eventually through Clapham Tunnels, which are fun to walk through. It wouldn’t really be possible to take this path with a pushchair, as the hill is steep and grassy.
- If it was time for lunch or afternoon tea, we’d eat at either The Old Sawmill again, the Lakehouse Cafe next to the entrance of the car park, or we’d enjoy the hospitality at The New Inn – a lovely pub in the centre of Clapham.
- Without a doubt we’d be visiting the wonderful Clapham Village Store, just next to the bridge in the village centre. Clapham Village Store is run by volunteers from the local community and they’re what makes the store unique. There’s soooo much available in the shop and it’s well worth a visit to top up food and drink supplies, buy a gift or maps of the area, or just to pick up a hot drink while you’re passing or to enjoy in the store’s garden.
- We don’t have young children, but if we did we’d finish the day at the playground, just in the village alongside the beck. It’s a lovely playground in the beautiful location and has an adjoining space to kick a ball around. Perfect for wearing the little ones out before bedtime!
