Natural beauty, world famous rescuers, wool champions and plant collectors: Clapham is a small, perfectly-formed Dales village that quietly goes about its business, yet is has several claims to fame. You may know it already as the starting point for the Ingleborough Cave and nature trail, or proximity to Gaping Gill? It was once home to the remarkable Reginald Farrar, the Edwardian plant collector who used his gun to shoot seeds into hard-to-reach crevices!
Speaking of hard to reach, Clapham is the headquarters of the Cave Rescue Organisation. Established in 1935, they were one of the first such rescue services in the world and their volunteers enjoy a world-wide reputation.
If you prefer something more gentle you might want to wander up to Oxenber Woods or over to Austwick, passing the beautiful moss-covered drystone walls on your way.
There's another organisation based here, which has had a profound effect on the Yorkshire Dales: Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust who describe themselves as "a small charity doing big things". They help look after the Dales landscape and support rural communities.
Most of the village buildings are clustered around the beck, so there are some lovely places to sit and enjoy the views, perhaps with a picnic made of ingredients from the community-run Clapham Village Store. Alternatively you could pop into the New Inn.
Don’t miss Glencroft Countrywear who use 100% British wool and recently created their Clapdale Wool, from wool sourced from within a 5 mile radius of Glencroft’s home of Clapham.