Settle/Carlisle Railway



We make our way to the beautiful town of Kirby Lonsdale in south Cumbria for a one hour break and refreshments ,


Kirkby Lonsdale is a small and relatively unspoilt market town situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Flanking the three counties of Cumbria, Lancashire and North Yorkshire as it does the town offers a tranquil and picturesque base from which to explore the English Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the Forest of Bowland. Kirkby Lonsdale itself is a historic, quaint market town with a growing reputation for high quality independent shopping


We then travel up the M6 north passing through the fabulous Howgill range of mountains ,


We come off at Tebay and take the tourist road to the magnificent Market town of Appleby for lunch and a leisurely stroll around the town.


Appleby-in-Westmorland lies in a loop of the river Eden and is overlooked by the Pennine range with the Lake District Fells showing on the western horizon, just a few miles away . Appleby is also only 2 miles from the Western Dales extension in the Yorkshire Dales National park so is an ideal base for a touring holiday.


The town is the starting point for many dozens of walks over the surrounding fell countryside and along the river eden. It has kept its old world charm and the people of Appleby are amongst the friendliest you can find. With Castle and Keep at the brow of the main street and the town at its foot, it seems as if time has stood still..


We are then taken by coach to the railway station for are fabulous train journey to Settle passing over the world famous Ribblehead viaduct.



Ribblehead Viaduct



The Ribblehead Viaduct or Batty Moss Viaduct carries the Settle–Carlisle railway across Batty Moss in the Ribble Valley at Ribblehead, in North Yorkshire, England.


The viaduct, built by the Midland Railway, is 28 miles north-west of Skipton and 26 miles south-east of Kendal. It is a Grade II* listed structure.


Ribblehead Viaduct is the longest and the third tallest structure on the Settle–Carlisle line.


The viaduct was designed by John Sydney Crossley, chief engineer of the Midland Railway, who was responsible for the design and construction of all major structures along the line.


The viaduct was necessitated by the challenging terrain of the route. Construction began in late 1869.


It necessitated a large workforce, up to 2,300 men, most of whom lived in shanty towns set up near its base. Over 100 men lost their lives during its construction. The Settle to Carlisle line was the last main railway in Britain to be constructed primarily with manual labour.


By the end of 1874, the last stone of the structure had been laid; on 1 May 1876, the Settle–Carlisle line was opened for passenger services.


During the 1980s, British Rail proposed closing the line. In 1989, after lobbying by the public against closure, it was announced that the line would be retained.


Since the 1980s, the viaduct has had multiple repairs and restorations and the lines relaid as a single track.