VISITORS to the Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail in Clapham can now learn about the area’s fascinating history thanks to a series of interpretive panels.

The trail, which leads to Ingleborough Cave, Trow Gill and Gaping Gill, is a popular destination for many looking for a trip underground, or for a hike further up the valley.

The trail leads to Gaping Gill, which is just under 100 metres deep and arguably the country’s most well known potholes, limestone pavements and the Norber Erratics, as well as Ingleborough - the second highest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks. Fell walker and writer, Alfred Wainwright, described the route up Ingleborough as ‘the finest of all, a classic’.

The panels, which have been part-funded by Stories in Stone, developed by the Ingleborough Dales Landscape Partnership and led by the lottery funded Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, as well as being factual, include funny anecdotes, photographs and illustrations.

Andrew Jarman, manager of the cave and trail, said: “We have so many enthusiastic visitors of all ages and abilities, and we want them to understand the story behind our beautiful trail.

“Creating these interpretive panels has been an exciting project, and they will make a big difference to the experience of all our visitors, particularly families, educational groups and special interest groups.”

Access for visitors has long been an important part of the philosophy of the Ingleborough Estate since James Farrer first discovered Ingleborough Cave in 1837.

In recent years, the trail has undergone extensive improvements, with accessibility for all at the forefront of the works, including an all terrain wheelchair with access to the cave.

Mr Jarman added: “We look forward to welcoming both new and regular visitors and we hope they enjoy the chance to get to know more about the sights, the sounds and the mysteries of this beautiful area.”

The trail is dedicated to the renowned plant collector and writer Reginald Farrer, whose childhoodwanderings in the limestone landscapes around Clapham prefaced an adventurous life of exploration in search of new plants. His died in 1920, in Myanmar, at just 40 years old. The panels celebrate the significant contribution he made to alpine gardening both at home and abroad.

Next year, there will be a series of events to mark the centenary of his death.

Debbie Boswell, the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust’s interpretation officer, said “The panels provide loads of really interesting information about the nature trail, the heritage and what you can see along the way.

“ I’m really pleased with the designs and how they look in the landscape, these will really enhance the significance of the setting and improve knowledge for local people and visitors.”