Straight on is easy walking, passing under Little Douk Pot, an alternative pothole entrance, and 70 metres (230 ft) beyond beneath another skylight to the surface.

Straight ahead the passage chokes, but a hole in the roof enters a dry bedding which leads to a junction.

[1] Great Douk must have been known for a very long time, but the first reference to it may be found in John Hutton's Addendum to the second edition of Thomas West's Guide to the Lakes published in 1780.

[11][12] The connection with Middle Washfold was made on 1 August 1936 by Norman Thornber and E. J. Douglas of the British Speleological Association and F. King of the Northern Cavern and Fell Club.

[2] The connection with Middle Washfold Sink was made by members of the University of Leeds Speleological Society (ULSA) in February 1966.