HORTON IN
RIBBLESDALE AND THE VALLEY OF RIBBLESDALE Population: 428 | Grid Reference: 807726 | Co-ordinates: 54.1497,-2.2961 |
Horton in Ribblesdale with
Pen-y-Ghent in the background
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Ideally located in Ribblesdale
between Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent mountains,
this pretty Dales village is usful as a base from
which to explore the Three Peaks. It is the most
popular starting and finishing point for the
Three Peaks walk and also the present terminus
for the annual Three Peaks Race. Horton
in Ribblesdale is one of the most easily accessible villages in the
National Park as it has a station on the Settle to Carlisle Line, ideal
for visitors who do not have access to a car. The village is laid out in such a way
that it has two focal points with few houses in
between.Pen-y-Ghent
Café
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At the north end of the village is the
railway station, the Crown
Hotel and car park used by
walkers visiting the Three Peaks. Here the road
twists, double-crossing the River Ribble and a
small road leads off to the Birkwith caving area.
Behind the Crown the Pennine Way track leads
north, past Sell Gill Holes. At the south end of the village the
houses cluster round St. Oswald's church and the Golden Lion
Hotel. Adjacent to the Golden Lion is Holme Farm
campsite and bunk house accommodation is
available at the pub.St. Oswald's Church
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RIBBLESDALE
Steam train crossing Ribblehead
Viaduct
The River Ribble rises at Ribblehead before
starting it's journey down through Ribblesdale then
Lancashire and England's newest city of Preston before
finally emptying into the Irish Sea. Here is the most
spectacular of the viaducts on the Settle to Carlisle
line, Ribblehead (or Batty Moss) Viaduct. | Halfway
between Ribblehead and Horton in Ribblesdale is the tiny hamlet of
Selside. Here a bridleway leads up to Alum pot, one of the classic
potholes in the Yorkshire Dales. The large open pot along with it's
associated network of caves are popular with both novice and
experienced cavers who either abseil down into the main shaft or take
one of the routes into Alum Pot. Lower Long Churn Cave is an ideal
training ground for novices and a good introduction to the sport. Above
Lower Long Churn Cave is Upper Long Churn Cave, an interesting through
trip featuring the climb above Dr. Banister's Handbasin. Dr. Banister's Handbasin, Upper Long Churn Cave. |
After
Selside is Horton in Ribblesdale, described above, then the small
hamlet of Helwith Bridge with it's Inn that is well worth a visit and
adjacent campsite.Continuing south you come to Stainforth then Langcliff before arriving in the small town of Settle.
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