Yorkshire and the Humber, England
Badge Unlock
Ribblehead Arches
Complete this challenge to add this badge to your collection.
250
XP
1 day
The Settle–Carlisle Line: Ribblehead and the Long Drag
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
Finding nearby campsites...
About Yorkshire and the Humber
Loading region info…
Explore more about Yorkshire and the Humber:
Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
250 XP
Potential total
250 XP
Stop 2 of 2 · Ribblehead and Bowland
2 nights · 3 things to do · England, Yorkshire and the Humber
Two nights and 121 kilometres across the Yorkshire Dales: Malham Cove and Gordale Scar, the 24 arches of Ribblehead viaduct, and the single road through the Trough of Bowland.
Stop 7 of 9 · Malham and the Dales
13 nights · 20 things to do · England, North West
Thirteen nights in a loop from Holyhead: walled Conwy, then Hill Top, the Ullswater steamers and Catbells in the Lakes, Malham Cove and Ribblehead in the Dales, and Castleton's caverns in the Peak.
More challenges nearby
within 100km

The Yorkshire Dales Dark Sky Reserve: Malham, Pen-y-ghent and Ribblehead
England · Yorkshire and the Humber
nature
medium
1d
7 km away

The Yorkshire Three Peaks: Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough
England · Yorkshire and the Humber
adventure
hard
1d
8 km away

Hawes and the Buttertubs: Wensleydale Cheese and the Butter Holes
England · Yorkshire and the Humber
food
easy
1d
15 km away

Malham: The Cove, Gordale Scar and the Limestone Pavement
England · Yorkshire and the Humber
scenic
easy
1d
21 km away

Aysgarth and Bolton Castle: Three Falls and a Queen's Prison
England · Yorkshire and the Humber
history
easy
1d
27 km away

Kendal: The Auld Grey Town, Its Castle and Its Mint Cake
England · North West
history
easy
1d
27 km away