Ribblehead

Ribblehead is a small hamlet in the civil parish of Horton in Ribblesdale, in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Yorkshire Dales and is situated in the Ribble valley along the Settle-Carlisle railway line. The area is known for its proximity to the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct, a defining feature of the landscape.

Ribblehead Viaduct is a masonry railway viaduct that carries the Settle-Carlisle line across a broad valley. Built between 1870 and 1876 by the Midland Railway, the structure comprises 24 limestone arches, rising about 104 feet (32 meters) high and stretching roughly 440 yards (403 meters) in length. The viaduct was constructed to facilitate a northern route to Scotland and required a temporary workforce settlement in the area during its construction.

Today, Ribblehead remains a small settlement with scattered cottages and nearby facilities serving visitors to the viaduct. The viaduct itself is a major tourist attraction and a popular site for walking, photography, and rail enthusiasts, accessible via public footpaths and viewpoints. The Settle-Carlisle line remains in active rail service, with trains passing the viaduct, though Ribblehead itself has no dedicated passenger facilities. The landscape around Ribblehead is characteristic of the English Dales, featuring limestone geology, open moorland, and dramatic valley scenery.