Clapham is a pretty linear village set alongside both sides of the village stream and once lay on the main route between Kendal and Skipton. The village now has a bypass and is a peaceful and atmospheric place to visit and stay in.
Refreshments
The New Inn was once an eighteenth century coaching inn but now welcomes travellers coming in by both car, train and bike. The tiny Croft Café is also popular with cyclists on the Way of the Roses and Yorkshire Dales Cycle Way which passes through the village as does the Pennine Bridleway. The village has a variety of interesting shops selling everything from knitting yarn to locally-made crafts. The village shop and post office is now operated as a community shop.
Edwardian delights
Ingleborough Hall, now an outdoor centre, was once the home of Reginald Farrer, the great Edwardian botanist and plant collector. Many of his specimens are still to be found on the estate around the lake which still provides hydro-electric power for the estate wood-yard.
Walking
There's a fine walk through the estate (fee applies) to Ingleborough Cave, one of the finest of the Dales' show caves, or onwards up Trow Gill to the shoulders of Ingleborough itself, where strong walkers can continue past the terrifying chasm of Gaping Gill to ascend the summit of the most famous of the Three Peaks.
Getting here
There is a regular bus service between Skipton and Kirkby Lonsdale calling at Clapham and additional services during the summer months. Clapham railway station on the main Leeds to Morecambe line is just over a mile's walk away from the village centre. A National Park car park and toilet facilities are available in the centre of the village
More information
The Clapham village website includes a wealth of local information for visitors, including a village events calendar along with all the latest village information.
