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Ibbeth Peril Cave |
| locality:- |
Dentdale |
| civil parish:- |
Dent (formerly Yorkshire) |
| county:- |
Cumbria |
| locality type:- |
cave |
| coordinates:- |
SD74108645 (?) |
| 1Km square:- |
SD7486 |
| 10Km square:- |
SD78 |
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hearsay:-
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The witch of Dentdale was called Elizabeth, Ibby for short, and lived in the cave
now known as Ibbeth Peril cave.
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It is said that she waylaid drunkards walking home past her cave, and would lead them
with womanly promises into the river gorge. If the drunkard was not favoured she just
let him drown in the pool below the waterfall. Otherwise he was led into the cave
to sleep off his drink; awaking, with a hangover, he had to find his own way out.
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Ibby is said to be buried in the Dent churchyard.
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The cave is entered beside the riverbed of the pool, in dry weather. You might have
to clear flood debris from the entrance and in the long passage. This is a serious
warning, floods can fill the cave in a very short time; there are strict rules for
exploring this cave. The half mile passage is sometimes only 18 inches high, but leads
to a magnificent chamber of stalactites and stalagmites.
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