~Ribblehead to Dent Village~
11th August 2012
I chose to find a walk that would revisit territory last seen in the winter and also seek another route available to Settle - Carlisle travellers. And there was the usual Saturday steam train due up the line, plenty to look forward to!
Blea Moor Tunnel
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
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Hellifield Railway Station |
Ribblehead Railway Station |
The Journey by Rail
I catch the 09:40 service for Carlisle. Soon enough the rather full train arrives at Ribblehead. Whernside looms large behind the train and this will be only my second ascent of Yorkshire's highest peak. Izzy the Dog is with me today.
Runscar Hill
For a change, we cut the corner and head for Great Scar on Runscar Hill. This part of Batty Green is quite damp and not a route I can recommend. A photographer is stood alone on the scar awaiting a view of the steam train over Ribblehead Viaduct.
Ingleborough
The walking party is probably on a guided tour of the viaduct and the site of the shanty towns where the viaduct builders lived during construction. If I could be a time traveller, I'd nip back to the 1870's to witness the drama of the railway's construction.
Back on the main track and heading for Blea Moor Tunnel and the start of the Whernside ascent.
Izzy The Dog
Cooling off in the beck.
Force Gill Aqueduct over the Settle-Carlisle Railway
The lady trainspotter eagerly awaits the celebrity train, her husband is closer to the Ribblehead viaduct.
Viewing Point above Blea Moor Tunnel
I stood with three others and we waited patiently for the steam-hauled charter train. However, it "failed" and never arrived. That's bad enough for me, but I'm on a longish walk. One other chap had travelled from Birmingham; spare a thought for the passengers. The photo below is a reminder of the view from here when an express is charging up the line.
70013 Oliver Cromwell on Feb 11th 2012
The engine which failed was the Duchess of Sutherland and she had a "Hot Axle Box", discovered at Hellifield.
Blea Moor Tunnel
Whernside Ascent
Ah well, time to move on. Many of the ascenders will be "Three Peak" walkers on peak 2 of their challenge. The path is well repaired and it should make for comfortable walking in most weather conditions.
Ribblehead Viaduct from Whernside
I took some photos on the ascent, but the view was to the south and the visibility rather poor due to haze.
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Whernside Summit in Summer, 2,415ft asl |
Whernside in Winter |
After lunch in the shelter of the wall, avoiding the brisk wind, it was due west for a sharp descent to Deepdale Lane.
To Deepdale Lane
Basically a case of follow the wall, avoid the sink holes and soon enough we find Deepdale Lane. In the photo, to the right is the start of the fell road; it skirts the flank of Great Coum and becomes Green Lane in the area above Dent.
Deepdale
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Fellside Road |
Green Lane |
It's a four mile hike around the flank of Great Coum and not one for pushchairs or families with small children.
Dent from Green Lane
Flintergill
The path to Dent is well signposted, via Flintergill.
The Wishing Tree
Curious treescape just above Dent. Soon enough we are in Dent Village. Flintergill is largely hidden by trees; running through limestone it was dry for most of the way.
Stone Close Cafe
One of two cafes in Dent, both admit dogs.
Cobbled Main Street
The Sun Inn
Me 'n two pals stayed in here once and I seem to recall having a good time c.1983. One of two pubs in the village.
The George And Dragon
The other pub, which brews its own ale under the Dent Brewery title.
Waiting For The Bus
At Dent Bus Station and awaiting the 564A service to Dent Station. Izzy is in the shade behind my rucksac. The whole walk plan relied on the 17:05 bus to take me to the railway station. It duly arrived, more than half full and all passengers got to the train in time.
Dent Railway Station
It transpires that more than one walking group had planned walks culminating in a finish at Dent Railway Station. I counted 35 persons on the platform, could this be a record for Dent Station?
The 17:32 to Leeds
A fine linear walk using public transport links. Freedom of speech allows you to leave comments below. Strange comments occasionally appear and I tend to leave them in place, unless foul language is used or they are insulting to anyone.
Walkers: Me and Izzy The Dog.
Time taken: 6hrs 15mins from Ribblehead Station to Stone Close tearoom, over a distance of about 12 miles.
Route: Ribblehead Sation, Runscar Hill, Blea Moor Tunnel, Whernside, Deepdale Road, fell road to Green Lane, Flinter Gill, Dent.
Weather and Conditions: Hazy sunshine and warm. Cooling breeze on top of Whernside.
Greetings Count: Lots of folk on Whernside and then only one party of four ascending Whernside from the west and one other party of about eight on the fell track.
Richard's Refreshment Review: I had a cream tea in Stone Close tearoom. Attractively presented food in a quaint tearoom. Dogs welcome and large tables for mapreaders and those wishing to peruse the house newspapers.
Useful Links:
Dalesbus: A deep and wide website with lots of stuff about rail and bus links
Friends of The Settle-Carlisle Railway
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2012 ©
Take me back to the start ....