Yorkshire Dales, Great Britain · about 5 km from Kirkby Lonsdale
Gavel Pot
- Max depth64 m
- CertificationFull cave
- SpecialSidemount
Diving and fills
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The dive
Gavel Pot lies in a large, tree-filled shakehole on Leck Fell.
Profile and sections
Gavel Pot lies in a large, tree-filled shakehole on Leck Fell. You descend between huge boulders into a lofty passage, then follow the stream, crawling, stooping and walking, with a side route to the well-decorated Glasfurd's Chamber. After that it becomes a classic pothole, with a dramatic and sometimes wet descent, until the final pitch lands by a sump pool in a draughty chamber.
Gavel Pot is part of the Three Counties System, at ~90 km the longest cave system in the UK, spanning the borders of Cumbria, Lancashire and North Yorkshire. Water from Notts II has been traced to the upstream sump, and the cave drains to Leck Beck Head. In 1885 Gavel Pot was explored upstream into Short Drop Cave, and in 1970 it was descended to the bottom for the first time; the CDG extended it from 1971 to 1989. Divers linked it to Lost Johns' Cave in 1975 and to Pippikin Pot in 1989.
Practical: you can also enter through Short Drop Cave for the full through trip; to exit at Gavel Pot, its entrance pitch must be rigged from above beforehand. The CNCC publishes a route description and rigging topos, and the pitches have BCA Anchor Scheme anchors.
- Depth and profile
- Cave 1.97 km long and 114 m deep, dived to 174 m below the entrance (Northern Caves). It holds the lowest point of the Three Counties System: the upstream sump has been dived to -64 m (Wikipedia). The final pitch lands by a sump pool (CNCC).
- Configuration
- Sidemount is the British norm (CDG); everything has to go down pitches and through crawls to the sump. A rebreather only if you can get it there; no backmount (estimate).
- DPV: Not DPV-suitable (estimate)
- A scooter would have to go down pitches and through crawls to the sump: of little use.
- Gas
- Trimix from 45 m
Who can dive where
- At least Full cave
- Configurations: Sidemount / CCR
- Goes down to 64 m (trimix or deco may be needed)
- Ropework (SRT) needed
- Experienced divers only
This is how the planner decides who in your team may dive this cave. Rules your own trip adds (organizer, a mail, the AI) show with your trip.
How to get there
On access land, but all year only after booking in advance with the CNCC (online, or by email and then waiting for confirmation), for the managed access the landowner requires; one booking per entrance per day. Park at the first lay-by on Leck Fell, 700 m after the cattle grid, and follow the wall on the same side down the fell for ~600 m until a large enclosure with trees appears ~100 m to the left: that is Gavel Pot. Take care on the approach.
Around Gavel Pot
FillsNo fill station known nearby
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Other sites4 within 42 km
News
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Nearby
Articles about cave diving that name a place within 25 km of this site, but no cave by name. They're not necessarily about this site.
Access and rules change: check what applies locally right before your trip. Source: GDELT Project and the news feeds of diving magazines. Search for more news ↗ Searched automatically, last on 5 Nov 2026.
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