The Craven Pothole Club was founded in 1929; we currently have about 240 members, who come from all walks of life and many parts of the world. The objects of our club are to promote a wide range of outdoor activities, for the benefit of members, including the exploration of caves and potholes, mountaineering, fell walking, rock climbing, skiing and other similar pursuits. Caving activities are centred in the Yorkshire Dales, with regular visits to other caving areas and climbing and walking trips to the Lake District and Scotland.
Our headquarters are located in Horton-in-Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire, next to the Crown Hotel, and these provide members and their guests with low cost accommodation in the heart of the Dales caving area.
The Club's formal activities are organised around an annual programme of meets at approximately fortnightly intervals during the summer and less frequently during the winter months. Meets cover all the principal activities of the Club with caving, walking, and foreign expeditions suitable for both the beginner and the connoisseur. Social highlights include the August Gaping Gill winch meet and the November AGM and Dinner. Informally, our members are active most weekends, caving, prospecting for new caves, walking and cycling, often using the cottages as a base.
We publish a quarterly magazine, The Record. This keeps members informed of club activities, local and international caving news and provides the means to record the activities of club members and articles of a more scholarly nature. The Club maintains a comprehensive library of books and journals and an extensive photographic archive.
The Club has a policy of keeping abreast of developments in the caving world, on a local and national scale through representation on the Council of Northern Caving Clubs and membership of the British Caving Association. The Craven Pothole Club is committed to the conservation of the underground environment, and takes an active part in the restoration and conservation of caves.
