Ribblehead Viaduct

Built 1870 - 1875
Grade II Listed
Part of the Settle-Carlisle Conservation Area

The Ribblehead Viaduct carries the Settle-Carlisle Railway across Batty Moss


Photograph used with permission of Settle Photographic Group.
 

Designed by John Sydney Crossley (Chief Engineer of the Midland Railway), 
the viaduct is the longest and third tallest structure on the Settle-Carlisle line.

The  Viaduct has twenty-four magnificent arches that carry the railway line 104 ft above the moor.

Two thousand three hundred men (navvies) were involved in the construction of the viaduct and the nearby Blea Moor tunnel.

The navvies lived in shanty towns built in the area near the base of the viaduct. 
This area is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Over 100 men died during the construction of the viaduct.

 

 


Steam Train on Ribblehead Viaduct
(Photograph used with permission of Settle Photographic Group)


Ribblehead Viaduct with Ingleborough in the background
(Photograph used with permission of Michael Cardus)


Ribblehead Viaduct with Whernside in the background
(Photograph courtesy of Where2Walk)



 


​WALKS...

Ribblehead - a short walk

"The Ribblehead viaduct is one of the most impressive engineering projects in England.
It is also sat in wonderful scenery and this short Ribblehead walk will do it full justice.
The extension to Blea Moor tunnel only adds to it."

Route details at where2walk.co.uk
 

Whernside from Ribblehead

"The climb of Whernside from Ribblehead is one of the most popular walks in the Yorkshire Dales.
Any walk combining the superb viaduct at Ribblehead with the highest point in Yorkshire must be good."

Route details at where2walk.co.uk

 

FIND OUT MORE ...

exploremoresettlecarlisle.co.uk

historicengland.org.uk
 

NEARBY ...