The darkness beckons. The breeze is whistling through the students' helmets and rustling their red nylon oversuits as they stand facing a hole beneath a small rocky outcrop. Uncertain, unfamiliar and impatient they receive their instructions before the headlamps can be turned on and they can peer into a different world. Inside the subterranean environment they are huddled together, seeking common strength and confidence. It is quiet, cool but windless, dark and earthy. Fabulous shapes grow from the walls, the ceilings and the floor. Nervous chatter erupts again and the group are off walking down a canyon passage, a trickle of a stream lapping their wellies. Sometimes they have to turn sideways or stoop or scramble over a boulder but they all stop and stare with eyes as big as meat-plates as the instructor invites them to try the 'smartie-tube'. Not all are keen but all are intrigued. The fearless first sets off into the unknown, rounds the first bend like a worm and disappears from view, the others clamour to join her, some walk round to witness the beaming smile of accomplishment at the other end and all will remember their first cave...

... The Yorkshire Dales is the premier caving region in the British Isles with a vast area of exposed limestone 'karst' landscape playing host to a huge variety of horizontal caves and deep vertical pot-holes. This allows the Ingleborough Hall instructor a choice of suitable caves for any ability, experience or learning need. As an introductory experience it probably rates consistently most-enjoyed amongst the students out of all the instructed activities on offer here because it is unlike anything else. As alien as scuba-diving or space-travel but available to anyone it's appeal to participants is obvious, especially for children who discover the unexpected bonus of being able to get as mucky as they like and no-one will shout. Squirming through holes is a challenge many love to try but a trip underground is never complete without some understanding of one of the UK's few remaining untouched natural environments. As such it is a beautiful captivating environment in which to learn about the geology of these underground watercourses with direct links to the National Curriculum. The attraction of 'dirty-learning' loses some of its gloss for kids only when the hose-pipe squirts their oversuit and the clean-up of equipment begins. As well as these protective suits students are provided with their own wellies, helmets, headlamps, belts and battery packs and should the selected cave dictate, fibrepile or fleece undersuits are available too. The Centre is fully equipped for technical caving such as single rope technique and ladder and lifeline trips in potholes as well as having it's own SRT training platform and practice tree.