Major city · United Kingdom
Clapham
Base here 1 night if you want Ingleborough Cave and Gaping Gill; otherwise day-trip from Settle or Kirkby Lonsdale. No Sunday bus.
Clapham is a Dales village of about 600 people, off the A65 between Settle and Kirkby Lonsdale. Its pull is underground: Ingleborough show cave and the Gaping Gill pothole complex. The village is small, the weather is wet, and the bus runs six days a week. Most travellers use it as a half-day stop or a single night before walking Ingleborough.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- GBP
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep
- avoid Jul–Aug weekends (A65 congestion), Nov–Feb (short wet days)
- Airports
- LBA · MAN
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Clapham999 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Clapham, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £).United Kingdom-wide
- SIM or eSIMEE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines…United Kingdom-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.United Kingdom-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.United Kingdom-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United Kingdom-wide
- SafetyA quiet Dales village with low crime.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 (≈ US$2) or are card-only.United Kingdom-wide
- Emergency numbers999 police, fire, ambulance · 112 EU emergency number · 111 NHS non-urgent
- Sundays & holidaysShops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 or 11:00–16:00 or 17:00).Shops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM–4:00 PM or 5:00 PM).United Kingdom-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportLBA Leeds Bradford (About 1 h 30 min by road via Skipton; no direct rail link to Clapham.).
- Getting aroundOn foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at the Village Store£2.50–4 (≈ US$4–6)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week£6–12 (≈ US$8–16)
- Museum or sight ticketIngleborough Cave admission£15–20 (≈ US$20–30) (check)
- Budget bedCampsite pitch (tent), a night, per room£15 (≈ US$20)
- Mid-range bedB&B or inn double room, a night, per room£120 (≈ US$160)
- High-end bedB&B or inn double room, a night, per room£180 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £75 (≈ US$100) · High £130 (≈ US$180)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- LBA Leeds Bradford (About 1 h 30 min by road via Skipton; no direct rail link to Clapham.) · MAN Manchester (About 2 h by road; rail via Lancaster or Leeds with changes.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Feb
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Mar
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Apr
Best
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
May
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Jun
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Jul
Avoid
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Aug
Avoid
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Sep
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Oct
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Nov
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Dec
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Nov–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C) low), wettest Jan (16 rain days), driest Apr (12). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Clapham: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
16 rd
Feb
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
13 rd
Mar
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
14 rd
Apr
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
12 rd
May
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
12 rd
Jun
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
12 rd
Jul
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
13 rd
Aug
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
14 rd
Sep
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
13 rd
Oct
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
15 rd
Nov
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
16 rd
Dec
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
16 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
On foot. The village is tiny; the cave trail starts at the top of Riverside. Clapham station is 1.5 miles west with no ticket office, no toilets and a footbridge to Platform 2 with no step-free route. Lonsdale Bus 581 links Kirkby Lonsdale, Ingleton, Austwick, Giggleswick and Settle, six days a week, no Sunday service. Dales Bus 832 runs Sundays April to mid-October from Hawes via Settle and Ingleton.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 40 min
Lonsdale Bus 581, about 25 min; or train from Clapham station with a change
Market town with shops and cafés; feels busy after Clapham.
Kirkby Lonsdale
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Lonsdale Bus 581, about 25 min
Market town on the road to the Lake District.
Ingleton
goDoor to door: About 15 min
Lonsdale Bus 581, about 10 min
Waterfalls walk and another cave; the 832 also calls here.
Horton-in-Ribblesdale
cautionDoor to door: About 20 min
Train from Clapham station, one stop east
Base for the Three Peaks; trains run every two hours.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Village centre (Old Road / Main Street)
New Inn Hotel is the only catered beds in the village; book ahead in summer.
Giffords campsite
Camping and caravan site across the river from Clapham station, 1.5 miles west of the village.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- £45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
- Mid
- £70–110 (≈ US$95–150) excl. bed
- High
- £110 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| B&B or inn double room1 × 1 night × £120 | £120 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £75 | £150 |
| Clapham Beck trail toll2 × £3 · 2025 price; rolled into Ingleborough Cave admission | £5 |
| Lonsdale Bus 581 day return to Settle2 × £8 · check | £16 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × £8 | £16 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | £31 |
| Trip total≈ £169 per person per day, bed included | £338≈ US$500 |
2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Clapham excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at the Village Store | £2.50–4 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Hot food at the Village Store | £5–9 (≈ US$7–12) |
| Pub meal at the New Inn | £12–20 (≈ US$16–30) |
| Ingleborough Cave admission | £15–20 (≈ US$20–30) (check) |
| Clapham Beck trail toll | £2.50 (≈ US$4) adult / £1 (≈ US$2) child (2025) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | £6–12 (≈ US$8–16) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The A65 is congested on summer weekends; use the Dales National Park pay-and-display car park.
- Clapham station has no ticket machine: buy on board if your journey starts there.
- Platform 2 at Clapham station is reached by a footbridge with no wheelchair work-around.
- Mountain and cave emergencies: call 999 if you have signal; cave rescue may be mobilised.
- Vodafone 4G is patchy; no 5G in the area as of late 2025.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 999
- EU emergency number
- 112
- NHS non-urgent
- 111
- Police non-urgent
- 101
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
ClaphamClapham
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance999
- EU emergency number112
- NHS non-urgent111
- Police non-urgent101
Embassy
No embassies in Clapham; US, Canadian, Australian and Irish embassies are in London.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Lonsdale Bus 581 Clapham → Settle: about 25 min, six days a week, no Sunday service (check)
- Train Clapham → Leeds: about 70 min, every two hours (check)
- Clapham Beck trail toll: £2.50 (≈ US$4) adult / £1 (≈ US$2) child, 2025
Say or show
- Excuse me / Sorry — Excuse me / Sorry
- Thank you — Thank you
- Please — Please
- How much is it? — How much is it?
- Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
English is the only language you need here.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Clapham. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep · avoid Jul–Aug weekends (A65 congestion), Nov–Feb (short wet days) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for LBA and MAN: last rail connections field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: village centre, cave trail, station and Giffords.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Ingleborough Cave, Gaping Gill, Clapham Beck trail) and eat pages with last orders.
- Sunday and hostile-weather fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialYorkshire Dales National Park
- officialIngleborough Estate Nature Trail
- officialLonsdale Bus (581)
- officialDales Bus (832)
- officialNational Rail
- officialClapham Village Store
- officialOld Sawmill Cafe
- secondaryWikivoyage: Clapham, revision 5300649 (CC BY-SA 4.0)