Did you know that?
carries the Carlisle-to-settle railway over Batty Moss along the River Ribble, with Whernside, the second of the
Three Peaks, towering above.
It was designed by engineer John Sydney Crossley and built by the Midland Railway. Work on the Grade Ii-listed structure was begun in 1870 and it took 1000 men, who established settlements in the surrounding area, four years to build.
The land beneath and around the viaduct is a scheduled ancient monument, and the excavations here have unearthed remains of those settlements, known as Batty Wife Hole, Sebastopol and Belgravia, and the construction camp. The ITV period drama Jericho was based on the building of the Ribblesdale Viaduct.
The AA has published an easy five-mile walk under and around the viaduct, taking in local places of interest. This is also the start of the Whernside section of the Yorkshire Three Peaks walk.
As it was lunchtime, we went into the Ribblehead Station Visitor Centre. Sadly, the exhibition room was closed, but the friendly volunteers provided a welcome cup of tea and a key to the toilet.
This station is leased by the Settle and Carlisle Railway Trust, which has restored and refurbished it. During our visit, there was a train going in each direction; we managed to photograph the one going towards Carlisle as it crossed the viaduct.
River Ribble just a dribble
Heading back to the site, we decided to stop in Horton-in-ribblesdale to photograph the third summit of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, Pen-y-ghent, and the attractive village of Stainforth with its waterfall, the Stainforth Force. Unfortunately when we visited, the fall was not very spectacular, because of low water levels on the River Ribble.
We returned to the site just in time to wander around the Fodder Farm
Shop, stocking up on cheeses and some venison, and making use of the campsite’s 10% discount voucher.
Our trip was over. We had an easy drive home and reflected on what a good choice North Yorkshire had been. We’ll be back!