UKC

Currently camped in Dent and thinking about heading to Raven Scar (Chapel-le-Dale) tomorrow for a few hours trad climbing. This is based on the hope that it would be in the shade in the morning at least. Is this a good choice or does anyone have better suggestions without driving too much further?

Ta.

Raven's OK - I was involved in a lot of the early development there so have a soft spot for it. It's not as continuous as Twisleton but you won't fry in the sun. The left wall of Trow Gill (all sport) is shady if you can handle the grades but the gill may be midgey. It's a bit of a walk up from Clapham but quite pleasant. If you're in Dent it's quite an interesting walk/scramble up the Dee around Hell's Cauldron up to Ibbeth Peril.

Cheers for that, much appreciated. Climbing day after tomorrow now and a walk tomorrow. Like your river scramble suggestion, might do that when it's scorchio tomorrow afternoon.

In fact, have you got any other suggestions like that? Tomorrow could be a great day for playing about in rivers. Thanks.

If you've got some decent lighting there are caves in the river bed but you'd also need a guidebook to know what's what - some are desperate, others not so much ..... Over the hill in Barbondale several of the gills on the east side are interesting scrambles. By the road that goes over to Kingsdale and Ingleton there's a nice waterfall with a big pool which we used to jump into after caving nearby. You'll probably find a campervan blocking the layby though? I was going to tell you about Hebblethaite Hall Gill which is in the FRCC Eden/South Lakes guide and is not far from Sedbergh. It's another spot I developed and it's got a very shady wall but is definitely 'esoteric'. It is a very pleasant and unusual place to walk to though - limestone tilted up by the Dent Thrust and there's a little cave to explore. Go and see Cautley Spout a few miles north of Sedbergh if you haven't been but it's far better in spate. Nice tea room at the Cross Keys where you park. Have you walked up Flinter Gill above Dent yet? If not, go up (to the Occup[ation Road at least) for the views. If it's not boiling your blood go up to the Megger Stones above for a better view.

Just remembered, a bit further afield is Hell Gill at the top of Mallerstang which is a gorge walk, scramble, wade - did it years ago when caving nearby so had a wetsuit on but it'd be quite refreshing on a day like today. Just like caving with the lid off in daylight. Park right near the Cumbria/North Yorkshire border and easy walk over.

Magic, loads of options there, thanks again.

If it's just after the steep bits heading down into Deepdale (Gastack Beck?) then we did that today!

That's the one. The gill below the road was quite good fun too.

The yorkshire limestone definitive guide has a few gill scrambles in the back, with a few near kettlewell. Some are on Ukc too.

Just remembered. If you head up and over into Kingsdale on that road, just past the first farm on the right, is Yordas Cave. You need a good light to really appreciate it but it's easy to get into. Just walk down a few steps into the big chamber. Turn right (stream on floor) to the Chapter House chamber where the stream enters. A good light will pick out lots of formations on the roof. Great place on a hot day. You can scramble up the dry gill to the upper entrances but you need ropes etc for a through trip. 

Esoteric scramble in Brackens Gill (SD666892) - NE facing and in the trees. A lot of moss, but the final and longest pitch is cleaner and about Mod/Diff. 

Went up Gragareth today then wandered round and did the above. Interesting for us as we're not used to that sort of limestone scenery. Thanks for the recommendation.