Upper Hackergill Cave Trip Log: Pitch Previews, Route Descriptions & Video. [ Cave Info ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk) [Cave Directory](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/caves) [Interactive Cave Map](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/cave-map) [About](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/about) Yorkshire Dales - Three Counties / DentdaleUpper Hackergill Cave ===================== Can only be done in very dry weather. Tight squeezes, 6ft drops and some very sparkly passages. Spiders in the entrance! Grade 3 Routes Completed 1 Visits 1 SRT Cave? No Access No Restrictions Access Land (CRoW) refers to land where you have a right to roam on foot. In caving, this often means the entrance is located on such land. [ ![Cave Entrance](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/112/conversions/01KZEYK2SNRFRMKY7A6E1V8V8G-optimised.webp) ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/112/conversions/01KZEYK2SNRFRMKY7A6E1V8V8G-optimised.webp) [ ![Upper Hackergill Cave - Riverbed approach](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/111/conversions/01KZEYCT99JGVJBR65Q5C95BGW-thumb.webp) ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/111/conversions/01KZEYCT99JGVJBR65Q5C95BGW-optimised.webp) [ ![Upper Hackergill Cave - Cave Spiders tending to their egg sacks!](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/113/conversions/01KZEYQGDTXBPJ181ER8E076HQ-thumb.webp) ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/113/conversions/01KZEYQGDTXBPJ181ER8E076HQ-optimised.webp) [ ![Upper Hackergill Cave - Sparking Flowstone](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/114/conversions/01KZEZ6H7P2HNP02Y0SSSBDWR6-thumb.webp) ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/114/conversions/01KZEZ6H7P2HNP02Y0SSSBDWR6-optimised.webp) [ ![Upper Hackergill Cave - Beautiful Formations.](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/115/conversions/01KZEZ6H9AHF5QZPBQ12Y6Z31D-thumb.webp) ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/115/conversions/01KZEZ6H9AHF5QZPBQ12Y6Z31D-optimised.webp) - Directions / Parking - Routes - Visits - Videos - Weather Directions and Parking ---------------------- About 20 mins walk Around 0.50 miles / 0.80 KM Satnav: Sedbergh, LA10 5TG - https://maps.app.goo.gl/2KPc12f8Q7sdKLJy5 ### Parking The parking spot is the same one as Ibbeth Peril, The approach to the car parking is along narrow, single lane roads, so be prepared to have to pull over or reverse back into a passing place. There's a large-ish lay-by right next to the cave, which holds about 9 - 10 cars depending on size. Maybe more if you're willing to block a few of your fellow cavers in. [ ![Upper Hackergill Cave](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/107/conversions/01KZE8ED1ZHF526Z3EZ0WBR1JM-thumb.webp) ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/107/conversions/01KZE8ED1ZHF526Z3EZ0WBR1JM-optimised.webp) ### Walking Unfortunately, Upper Hackersgill Cave is just shy of 1km away, not like Ibbeth Peril which is a stones throw away. In the middle of the car park there is a walking route which quickly takes you to a wooden foot bridge over the river Dee. Cross over this and you'll find yourself in a nice green field, The path should be obvious, just follow it forwards until you reach a gate on a road. Turn right here (don't forget to close the gate behind you) and follow the road down for about 400m until you reach a small stone bridge. Be mindful of cars and farm traffic along the way. At the stone bridge you want to pass the fence on the right hand side of the road and make your way down into the riverbed. There's a sheep trap (Big, somewhat heavy wooden gate like thing) under the bridge. You don't need to lift it up, you can simply go the left hand side of it and push it to your right to make some space to squeeze by. Now to follow the riverbed for another 200 or so meters. The entrance will be on your left hand side. Just a hole in the side of the riverbed. You might need to clear out some debris before entering. [ ![Upper Hackergill Cave](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/108/conversions/01KZE8ED3BS9W0QHWGV8WDH23A-thumb.webp) ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/108/conversions/01KZE8ED3BS9W0QHWGV8WDH23A-optimised.webp) [ ![Upper Hackergill Cave](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/109/conversions/01KZE8ED3YHHWNZE0DZW57QQMZ-thumb.webp) ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/109/conversions/01KZE8ED3YHHWNZE0DZW57QQMZ-optimised.webp) [ ![Upper Hackergill Cave](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/110/conversions/01KZE8ED4FQ9692Y4HZ1QF45RA-thumb.webp) ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/storage/110/conversions/01KZE8ED4FQ9692Y4HZ1QF45RA-optimised.webp) ### Interactive Map The map shows the walking route and parking spots. You can also download the data in GPX and KML, which you can then import into OS Maps. [ Download GPX ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/caves/upper-hackergill-cave/directions/gpx) [ Download KML ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/caves/upper-hackergill-cave/directions/kml) Route Descriptions ------------------ #### General exploration [ Print ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/caves/upper-hackergill-cave/routes/general-exploration/print) Upper Hackergill is a great little cave to explore. It does, however, need a long spell of dry weather before it's safe to visit, as the entrance sits right beside the riverbed. The entrance immediately drops you into a crawl - only a short one, before the passage opens up enough for you to stoop. Watch out for the spiders, though. There were quite a few lurking about, with egg sacs hanging from the ceiling. My advice? Don't look up, just keep moving! The passage soon returns to crawling. A few people chose to follow the stream passage itself, but it looked incredibly tight in places. I'd recommend taking the upper route instead. It's still a crawl, but there's a little more room to manoeuvre. Before long, you'll reach the end of the crawl, where you're greeted by a drop of around six metres. It can be free-climbed, although it looks a little intimidating at first. I found the easiest way down was on the right-hand side of the split, where there are more footholds and better opportunities to wedge, or *thrutch* your way back up afterwards. It's also worth leaving a tackle bag, or even a sizeable rock, at the bottom so you can easily identify the correct route back up after you've finished exploring. Once you're down in the stream passage, you have a choice: left or right. I headed left first and followed the main passage for a while. There is a lower passage branching off to the left, but I decided to stick with the main route. Along the way, we came across a section of flowstone that sparkled brilliantly whenever our headlamps caught it. It was absolutely beautiful. The passage also contains some lovely formations. Eventually, you'll reach a section where crawling becomes necessary again. The ceiling here is adorned with delicate stalactites, making it one of the prettiest parts of the cave. Beyond this point, the roof lowers considerably until it reaches a point where it didn't really seem worth pushing any further. The right-hand passage didn't have a great deal to offer from what we saw, although I suspect we didn't spend enough time exploring it properly. It may well reward a more thorough look on a future visit. My Visits --------- Caving journal### 12 July 2026 Personal rating ★★★ 3/5 Party 8 people Time Underground 1h 35m Walk To Entrance 0h 20m Total outing 1h 55m Route completed General exploration Conditions Bone Dry Would do again? Yes #### Trip profile Navigation 3/5 Tightness 4/5 Exposure 3/5 Water 1/5 Physical 3/5 #### Notes We visited when the weather was absolutely scorching, which is what's needed if you are to attempt this cave - dry for ages beforehand too. To my dismay, as soon as you go into the entrance there are big fat spider sacks hanging from the ceiling, but they are easily avoided and luckily weren't in the direct path. I'd absolutely lose it if i had to walk through them. Anyway I’m just being a wet lettuce, don't let that put you off. Pretty much as soon as you clear the spiders, you're into a tight crawl. Now I love tight crawls so this was right up my street, however a few people weren't so keen and decided to go back. I'm gonna say you're crawling for about 25 - 30 meters before you come out at a 6ft drop down. This can look a little intimidating, especially if you're not that tall, but it's fairly easy to slide down once you find your footing. There were a few ladies on the trip, and some needed help getting back up. I offered my shoulders to one to help her climb up. You'll need a bit of upper body strength here. There's a few formations and flow stone in the route to the left when you drop down, a very sparkly section too. It was easy going through here and eventually it got to crawling where it looked like it just sumped out. Walking back to the right hand passage from where you drop down, again was easy stream path, we didn't spend too long here. There was definitely more to explore, but without the VMC John (who had turned back due to a bad back) we didn't really know where we were going. I would come back again, as I'd like to push the areas we didn't explore. I've heard that you can go as far as Ibbeth Peril if the conditions are right and you don't mind some very tight crawls through water and silt. One for next time perhaps! Videos for Upper Hackergill Cave -------------------------------- Rainfall report for Upper Hackergill Cave ----------------------------------------- This uses Environment Agency rainfall data from the real-time data API (Beta) and is provided for reference only. Please note the **“Distance from cave”** metric, as measurements are often several miles from the cave. Always check local forecasts and confirm the cave is safe to enter before going. Instrument Type Tipping Bucket Rainguage Distance from cave Approx: 4.54 miles Location of instrument 54.217501 -2.333500 Latest Reading 0mm at 12/10/2026 15:00:00 Met Office forecast### Weather forecast Yesterday through the next 6 days #### Sun 11 Oct 2026 High / low 11°C / 9°C Wind 4 mph Rain chance Day 9% Night 17% Heavy rain Day 0% Night 6% #### Mon 12 Oct 2026 High / low 16°C / 13°C Wind 6 mph Rain chance Day 57% Night 94% Heavy rain Day 34% Night 93% #### Tue 13 Oct 2026 High / low 16°C / 13°C Wind 9 mph Rain chance Day 95% Night 35% Heavy rain Day 94% Night 22% #### Wed 14 Oct 2026 High / low 15°C / 12°C Wind 8 mph Rain chance Day 35% Night 66% Heavy rain Day 19% Night 47% #### Thu 15 Oct 2026 High / low 16°C / 12°C Wind 7 mph Rain chance Day 89% Night 78% Heavy rain Day 87% Night 76% #### Fri 16 Oct 2026 High / low 12°C / 9°C Wind 6 mph Rain chance Day 8% Night 3% Heavy rain Day 5% Night 1% #### Sat 17 Oct 2026 High / low 12°C / 9°C Wind 3 mph Rain chance Day 2% Night 3% Heavy rain Day 0% Night 1% ### More Caves Cave #176#### Sell Gill Holes (Dry) A popular choice for people wanting to get their SRT stripes. A short cave with some nice formations. [ View Cave → ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/caves/sell-gill-holes-dry) Cave #201#### Runscar Cave (4) A short but sweet cave. Can be done in about 6 minutes flat. You might get a bit wet. [ View Cave → ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/caves/runscar-cave-4) Cave #203#### Thistle Cave (2) A very short and easy cave. Great for beginners and younger cavers. [ View Cave → ](https://www.caveinfo.co.uk/caves/thistle-cave-2) Cave Info © 2026 caveinfo.co.uk Website by [ACO Digital](https://acodigital.co.uk/)