News

If you haven't visited Horton-in-Ribblesdale station recently you're in for a pleasant surprise, it's changed out of all recognition.  The new bridge to replace the rather dangerous foot crossiing blends in remarkably well.  And if you're there on a Friday or Saturday, check out the new cafe/bar on the southbound platform, excellent beer and coffee and tasty food as well.

September 10th

This free event starts at 11 .00  in the Ribblehead visitor centre on the platform with a talk on railway incidents over the 150 years of  train travel on the line. The cafe is open by 10.15 until 15.30 or later. There are photos and exhibits inside the visitor centre throughout the day.

Something for everyone .

The team provides a wide range of walks talks and exhibits along with an outdoor theatre production at several events. We aim to provide something for everyone. Please get in touch if you’re planning a visit that may need additional support. 

We have two more events this season 

Wednesday 27th August 

Shanty site, viaduct 4 miles followed by outdoor theatre with a new ‘Mischief in the Navvy Hut’. Limited parking nearby. 

Border TV showed a clip on 12 August 2025 featuring the story of Ruswarp, the border collie owned by Graham Nuttall and whose statue stands in gardens at Garsdale Station. The statue commemorates the part played by Ruswarp in the battle to save the line from closure in the 1980s, and his dedication in remaining by his master's side after Graham died whilst out walking in the Welsh mountains. Those on the clip include Les Gilpin, one of the FoSCL On Train Guides, all of whom tell the story to coachloads of travellers throughout the summer months.

Check out our fabulous revamped quarterly magazine.  Something for everyone, rail services, history, guided walks from trains, station gardens, in fact anything to do with the world-famous Settle-Carlisle Line.   See the August 2025 edition here 

Footsteps in Time 

Join our free heritage event

Navvy Hike Wednesday 13th August 

This 8 mile hike leaves at 11.00 from the station yard. Our exhibits are on display in the visitor centre and the theatre takes place approximately 12.30 . This is available to all with parking at the church. 

We explore the landscape between Ribblehead to Chapel le Dale stopping to hear about the Viking settlement area and Great Douk cave , one of many in the cave system underneath the area. 

The Cumbria in Bloom judges visited the northern stations on the S&C recently for our annual appraisal.  The Armathwaite station gardener reports that they were very positive and we live in hope of a result at least as good as last year when we were awarded 4 out of 5, thriving.  A written report is expected in September.

The West Coast Main Line will be closed for extended periods in early 2026. It seems likely that some Avanti services will be diverted along the S&C from Wigan to Carlisle.  Nothing is yet certain, but the signs are good and it's no doubt a case of watch this space!

Ribblehead Footsteps in Time: our next event is Limestone Botany on Wednesday 30th of July.

We explore the botany of the Ribblehead quarry with its stunning lily pond . Onto Gauber pasture taking in the Viking Long House and landscape features. All  shadowed by Ingleborough with a view of the viaduct as it gently curves to meet Blea moor tunnel.

Geoff Marshall visits every station on the Settle-Carlisle Line in just one glorious June day.  He departs from Leeds at crack of dawn and returns on the last train in the evening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGbtl3i5WBI  

This must surely become the definitive modern video of the line.

Unique new views of life on the Settle-Carlisle Railway available on webcam. 

Horton in Ribblesdale station has witnessed some fabulous new developments in the life of the famous Settle-Carlisle Railway line and now you can see firsthand the activity, live from your living room, with the introduction of three new webcams at the station. 

A 6 mile walk to Thorns  which returns over the shanty site tramways shadowed by the Ribblehead viaduct. Walk introduction at the visitor centre before leaving from the station yard at 11.30. Exhibitions , talks and cafe open 10.15 to 3.30. 

Wednesday, 18th June.

What a brilliant day we had at the welcoming  visitor centre, on the scenic Navvy walk and when taking part in the latest production ‘mysteries in the graveyard’ at St Leonard’s, Chapel Le Dale. 

Thank you everyone for coming along to share it. 

Our next event is on Wednesday 2nd July when we discover the abandoned village of Thorns and the impact of the railway on the drovers and  community there. 

Ribblehead: Footsteps in Time

Our first Railway builders and shanty site event of 2025 jwas a huge success on Wednesday21st.

The happy group of walkers were treated to unusually dry terrain and a warm wind free day at Ribblehead. A visiting group of children to our exhibition were stunned to learn that girls their age worked long hours in the brickworks  and boys were working on menial tasks  in all weather.  

Ribblehead: Footsteps in Time

Free event Wednesday 21st May 2025. 

The theme is the railway builders at Ribblehead with  a guided tour of the shanty area to discover its industrial past. To enhance the experience we have an outdoor theatre production following the tour. This involves walking approximately 4.5 miles over varying terrain. 

Something for everyone 

Ribblehead visitor centre and cafe open 10.15. Closed 3.15pm

Ribblehead : Footsteps in Time

Footsteps in time are preparing for the free to join limestone botany treks at  Gauber quarry and pasture opposite the Ribblehead visitor centre. Here’s a few of the amazing flowers seen recently on our recce. Many have yet to fully emerge

Special  thanks to Pete Shaw for his help in searching and identifying the amazing collection of species that thrive in the harsh conditions and altitude at Ribblehead 

Wednesday 7th May 

Rocks and rails is a geology based free  guided walk and tour of the features of the landscape. Discover how the area provided the raw materials for the building of the iconic Ribblehead viaduct as the navvies reshaped the land to create this main-line through the dales.  

A successful first event which was also  a new event this season. We also had a view of the LSL ‘The Chairman’s Train’ as it  crossed Ribblehead viaduct on its way to London Euston. 

Following  a talk on navvy life  and the glory of the coming of the line through Ribblehead, we set off to Thorns to share a different message. The rise of the railway had its part in bringing the end of droving and the eventual abandonment of Thorns 

Discover Thorns with the Footsteps in  Time team . The first of our new seasons events is on the 23rd April starting from Ribblehead visitor centre at the station. 

The 6 mile walk will leave the station yard at approximately 1130. Please read our important information so that you are able to safely join us.

This now abandoned village was in a thriving location and a regular stop for the drovers  , who were also skilled veterinarians, as they made their way from north to south with livestock, goods and news. 

The Case for Integrated Transport on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle Line Corridor 

The paper referenced at the bottom of this news item has been well received by the local press and CPRE.  Please click on the link to read the full report.