75 MINUTES FROM PATELEY BRIDGE
Settle & Ribblehead Viaduct
Settle is the gateway to the Settle-Carlisle line, one of the great scenic railways of England, and a handsome market town in its own right. A few miles up the line, the 24-arch Ribblehead Viaduct strides across the open moor at the foot of Whernside, one of the most photographed railway sights anywhere in the Dales, especially when a steam excursion happens to be crossing it. About 75 minutes from Pateley Bridge.
Visit information
- Location
- Settle, North Yorkshire BD24
- From Pateley Bridge
- 75 minutes via Skipton and the B6480
- Open
- Town open year-round, viaduct viewpoint accessible at all times
- Entry
- Free to visit the town and viaduct, train tickets for the Settle-Carlisle line
- Dogs
- Welcome in the town and on the viaduct footpaths
- Facilities
- Shops, cafes and pubs in Settle, visitor centre at Ribblehead
A railway built against the odds
The Settle-Carlisle railway was built by the Midland Railway in the 1870s after a rival company blocked an easier route north, forcing engineers to drive the line over some of the highest and most exposed terrain in England. The result is widely regarded as one of the most scenic railway journeys in the country.
Ribblehead Viaduct, the line's most famous structure, took five years to build and required a shanty town of workers' huts on the open moor, with a death toll from accidents, disease and the harsh conditions that is still commemorated by a small monument near the site.
The line came close to closure in the 1980s before a determined local campaign saved it, and it now carries both regular passenger services and regular steam excursions, the latter drawing photographers from across the country to capture trains crossing the viaduct.
Making the most of your visit
Settle itself rewards an hour or two of wandering, with independent shops and cafes around the market square, plus the chance to spot the curious Folly on Kirkgate. From there it is a short drive or a train ride up the line to Ribblehead.
At Ribblehead, a path leads from the small visitor centre to good viewpoints beneath and beside the viaduct, popular with both railway enthusiasts and walkers heading up onto Whernside or around the wider Three Peaks.
Combining a train ride up the line with a walk back down, or simply driving to both Settle and Ribblehead in the same day, makes for one of the most memorable outings within easy reach of Pateley Bridge.
What to see
The Settle-Carlisle Railway
One of the great scenic railways of England, the line climbs from Settle up over the high fells to Carlisle, built by Victorian engineers against huge odds through some of the most remote and beautiful country in the north.
Ribblehead Viaduct
A magnificent 24-arch viaduct striding across Batty Moss at the foot of Whernside, built between 1870 and 1874 at considerable cost in workers' lives. It remains one of the most photographed railway structures in Britain, especially with a steam excursion crossing it.
Settle Market Town
A handsome stone-built market town with a Saturday market that has run since medieval times, plus independent shops, cafes and the curious Folly, a 17th-century house with an eccentric, asymmetrical facade.
Walking the Three Peaks Country
Settle and Ribblehead sit at the heart of Yorkshire's Three Peaks country, with Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent all within reach for walkers wanting a proper day on the fells.
A bigger day out, 75 minutes away
Settle and Ribblehead are free to visit, with train tickets needed if you want to ride the Settle-Carlisle line itself.
