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The Settle–Carlisle Line: Ribblehead and the Long Drag

Yorkshire and the Humber, England

easy
scenic

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Ribblehead Arches

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250

XP

1 day

The Settle–Carlisle Line: Ribblehead and the Long Drag

easy
scenic

250 XP

The Midland Railway built the Settle–Carlisle line in the 1870s to have its own route to Scotland, free of its obstructive rival the LNWR, and navvies drove it through some of the bleakest country in England: 73 miles with 14 tunnels and 22 viaducts, among them Ribblehead striding 24 arches across the moor. Northbound trains climb 16 miles at 1 in 100 from Settle to Blea Moor — the Long Drag. British Rail tried to close it in the 1980s; the campaign to save it succeeded in 1989, and it still carries trains.

Required Activities

1

of 4

Stand under the 24 arches of Ribblehead viaduct

2

of 4

Ride the line over the viaduct from Ribblehead station

3

of 4

Find the earthworks of the navvy camps and the brickworks on Batty Moss below the viaduct

4

of 4

Walk up Whernside from the viaduct

  • Stand under the 24 arches of Ribblehead viaduct

  • Ride the line over the viaduct from Ribblehead station

  • Find the earthworks of the navvy camps and the brickworks on Batty Moss below the viaduct

  • Walk up Whernside from the viaduct

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Challenge Location

XP Breakdown

Challenge XP

250 XP


Potential total

250 XP

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