It lies within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, 6 miles (10 km) north-west of Settle, and just off the A65 road.

The village and church were burned during a Scottish raid following the Battle of Bannockburn in the early 14th century.

In the 14th century John de Clapham, who took his surname from the village, was a supporter of the Earl of Warwick and lived at Clapdale Castle.

The family owns, and is responsible for, much of the land, walls, woods, fields and moors of the village, surrounding countryside and farms.

Local caving clubs set up a winch down Gaping Gill during the Spring and August bank holidays, when it is open to the public.

The Cave Rescue Organisation, which serves people and animals above and below ground across a wide area of the Dales, is based in the village.

In some places he fired seeds at cliff faces from a shotgun, to give a 'natural' spread to his rock plants.

[5] In 2015 Historic England commissioned a measured survey and analytical assessment of the fabric, layout and history of Farrer's Clapham garden to inform the future repair and management of the site.