Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line

Leeds-Settle-Carlisle and the national rail network

This is the website of the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line (FoSCL), one of several organisations supporting the Settle-Carlisle section of the main line from Leeds to Carlisle.  This is not a heritage railway, but part of the national rail network with its passenger trains operated by Northern Rail.  We do NOT run steam trains, but steam and diesel charters frequently travel along the line, see www.railtourinfo.co.uk for details. 

Together with our partner organisations, we support the railway line that runs from Settle Junction in the south to Carlisle in the north, a total of 72 miles (115 km) in length.  The Settle-Carlisle partnership has adopted all ten stations between Settle and Carlisle, tends the station gardens and carries out minor maintenance work.  Three of the stations are leased from Network Rail and have a variety of uses intended to encourage people to visit the area.  For more information on the wide range of activities we undertake to promote and develop the Settle-Carlisle Line, see About Us. 

Signage at Horton-in-Ribblesdale station with Pen-y-ghent beyond.

Stay at a Station

Stay at a Station

Virtual Visit

Virtual Visit

Membership

Membership

Guided Walks

Guided Walks

News Items

chapel-le-dale

Ribblehead: Footsteps in Time


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. 

Walkers at RHD

First Shanty Site visit

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.  

Shanty town & viaduct

Railway Builders at Ribblehead

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

Bird's eye primrose

Botany Events at Ribblehead

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 

Hell Gill Force

Rocks and Rails

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.  

Older news items can be viewed via the 'News' page. The FoSCL 'News' feed is also available via RSS. RSS Feed Symbol

User Group Activities

Train Services

We are continually monitoring Northern Trains's performance in detail:  punctuality, reliability and cancellations.  Every month this information is summarised and distributed to The Friends' board and Northern.  Read more.

The Hellifield Clitheroe line: We have a long-running campaign to reinstate regular passenger services to Manchester along the existing railway line between Hellifield and Clitheroe.  The infrastructure is there, it just requires the will to run passenger trains along it! Read more.

Improvements to the passenger service: the new timetable in May 2018 was the biggest change in 25 years.  There are a few more services and on balance we think it's a step forward.  It could still be improved and we have an ongoing campaign to achieve this. Read more.

Integrated Transport in the Settle-Carlisle corridor: we are strongly supportive of rural bus services which connect with the railway line. There is hardly any funding from either Cumbria County Council or North Yorkshire County Council.  FoSCL has contributed but we can't do it all ourselves.  An excellent and comprehensive paper on integrated transport has been written by John Carey, FoSCL Committee Member.  Read more.

Diary Dates

The Settle-Carlisle Railway Conservation Area (SCRCA)

A small group of volunteers is creating an illustrated guide to the Settle-Carlisle Railway Conservation Area (SCRCA). To find-out more - or to 'virtually explore' this unique and fascinating area - visit https://scrca.foscl.org.uk/

A montage of seven photographs taken within the Settle-Carlisle Railway Conservation Area (SCRCA).

FoSCL Christmas Lunch

The 2018 FoSCL Christmas Lunch will take place at the Golden Lion, Settle on Saturday 1st December.  Guest speaker is Edward Album on the subject of the attempt between May 1988 and April 1989 to privatise the line.  

For full details, menu and booking form click on the Events tab on the home page.

Early morning trains now stop at Dent

FoSCL campaigned for the early morning southbound train to stop at the smaller stations along the line when through trains in each direction were introduced in the last franchise.  Eventually Garsdale, Langwathby and Lazonby were added, leaving just Dent without a service until after 10 am!

FoSCL met Northern Rail's timetabling manager and pointed out that there were 4 minutes slack at Ribblehead and that a stop at Dent would only add 1 1/2 minutes.  Nothing happened for a while.  Finally, 5 years later, this train and the northbound one will stop at Dent.

Dent Station up for sale

Dent Station building, right next to the platform of England's highest mainline station, is up for sale.  Present owner Robin Hughes writes:

"After 11 years of thoroughly enjoyable ownership, I am downsizing at Dent by retaining the Snow Huts and selling the Station which comes on to the Market on 1st June.

Dent Station is a fabulous property and restoring it and owning it as a holiday let over many years has been a great pleasure.We've had many lovely guests over the 11 years.

FoSCL Guided Walks Relaunch

Due to the RMT strike the Guided Walks scheduled for Saturday May 26th to relaunch the FOSCL Guided Walks have been cancelled.



The programme will now relaunch on SUNDAY MAY 27th



The  FREE 10 mile Explorer walk starts at Horton Station at 1016 upon the arrival of the 0859 train from Leeds. It will be a Moderate walk through Arcow, Oxenber Wood and Feizor before traversing Giggleswick Scar and descending into Settle for the 1644 train to Leeds. Fine views all the way with moderate climbs and descents and several stiles.


FOSCL GUIDED WALKS RESUME

Following the confirmation of the new train timetable and the appointment of new Co-ordinators the popular FoSCL GUIDED WALKS will resume from SATURDAY MAY 26th.



FREE Walks with experienced knowledgeable friendly guides will be offered every Saturday and some Sundays to give the opportunity to explore places around the line on foot. Some walks will use bus links to explore places further afield like Hawes and Swaledale.


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