Ribblehead viaduct ~ medium walk

Ribblehead Viaduct ~

Medium Walk

A satisfying walk with the spectacular Ribblehead Viaduct as its focal point. This Victorian marvel is a great backdrop to the walk which includes walking on farm tracks and fields. At the very start and the end of the walk you get a brilliant close up of the viaduct which is fully functional and was the subject of the recent ITV drama Jericho. This is definitely a walk that train buffs will love! If there has been recent rain a walking stick is an essential accessory to take with you.

Getting There  From Middlesbrough follow the A66 to Darlington and then head onto the A1southbound. Look for the Harrogate turn off which is junction 47. Follow the A59 through Harrogate itself and then stay on the A59 to Skipton. When you come into Skipton itself you can take a pitstop and then double back out of Skipton on the A65 or alternatively you can drive through Skipton and turn right onto the A629 and then take the exit on the roundabout onto the A65. Follow the A65 into the village of Ingleton. Take a right turning into Ingleton and follow the B6255 to the Ribblehead Viaduct. Parking is can be found just after the road junction with the B6479.

Map of the Ribblehead Viaduct walk

The Walk From the car park cross the road and follow the track signposted as the Whernside Trek. This will take you towards the Ribblehead Viaduct but at the start of the walk you will continue to pass by it.

Continue your walk following the track to the side of the viaduct and a short climb so you are walking parallel to the railway line.

Follow the path until you come to a railway signal and then go under the railway bridge to your left following the public bridleway sign.

Follow the path down to a stream and then follow the path to the left parallel to the stream and head towards the farmhouse Winterscales.

Go through a gate to pass through the farm buildings and over a small humpback bridge below a cottage. Follow the lane over a cattle grid and then take the path that forks to the right which is almost straight ahead.

Keep following the path to pass an isolated cowshed and continue onto the next farm which is Ivescar farm.

Walk past the farmhouse and through a gate and then bear left through a gate and walk across fields until you walk over a small bridge made from railway sleepers.

Immediately after the bridge turn right and follow the track to a small gate. Keeping a straight course walk over fields heading for Broadrake Farm.

 When you reach the farm turn left down a track away from the farm.

When you come to a cattle grid and as the track bends to the right go over the cattle grid and then turn left round the fence onto a track to reach a bridleway sign which points you to a ladder stile.

Go over the ladder stile and follow the track to cross a stream bed. Be careful on this part of the walk and use your walking stick to check you don't stand on marshland, you will be fine if walking during the summer.

Stay on the track until you come to the stream bed and cross over it heading to the right of the stream. You will eventually come to a road which you should join.

Back on solid ground, follow the road to the left and over a bridge. The Ribblehead Viaduct is now clearly ahead in the distance. Where the road divides go right towards the viaduct.

Follow the road towards another farm and go through the gate and turn right over the footbridge to pass underneath the viaduct and back to the car park.