THE RIBBLE WAY
by
Dennis and Jan Kelsall
2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY
About the Authors
Both natives of Lancashire and living not far from Preston, Dennis and Jan Kelsall are no strangers to the Ribble Way and the splendid countryside through which it runs. As professional outdoor writers and photographers, they have written and illustrated many guides covering some of the country’s most popular walking areas. They also contribute to various magazines, and for many years produced a weekly walking feature for the Lancashire Evening Post.
Their enjoyment of the countryside extends far beyond a love of fresh air and open spaces and an appreciation of scenery. They also have a keen interest in the environment and its geology, flora and wildlife, as well as a passion for delving into the local history that so often provides a clue to interpreting the landscape.
Other Cicerone guides by the same authors
The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path
Walking in Pembrokeshire
The Yorkshire Dales: South and West
The Yorkshire Dales: North and East
© Dennis and Jan Kelsall 2005
First edition 2005
ISBN-10: 1 85284 456 6
ISBN-13: 978 1 85284 456 1
Reprinted 2010 (with updates)
Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Photos by Dennis Kelsall
Front cover: Heading north beside the Ribble from Clitheroe
Acknowledgements
Dennis and Jan Kelsall greatly appreciate the help and information they were given by rights of way staff at Lancashire and Yorkshire county councils and the Yorkshire Dales National Park while they were researching this guide. Thanks are also due to the staff of the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board, and the Preston, Ribble Valley, Settle and Horton in Ribblesdale tourist information offices. Many other people have also contributed in a host of different ways, offering advice, information and hospitality in true northern fashion. To them all, the authors wish to extend a very warm thank you.
Advice to Readers
Readers are advised that, while every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Please check Updates on this book’s page on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk) before planning your trip. We would also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 Longton to Penwortham Bridge
Chapter 2 Penwortham Bridge to Ribchester
Chapter 3 Ribchester to Brungerley Bridge
Chapter 4 Brungerley Bridge to Gisburn Bridge
Chapter 5 Gisburn Bridge to Settle
Chapter 6 Settle to Horton in Ribblesdale
Chapter 7 Horton in Ribblesdale to the Ribble’s source
Appendix 3 Accommodation Listing
INTRODUCTION
Although Lancastrians might like to claim it as their own, the River Ribble actually springs from limestone high on Cam Fell in the heart of Three Peaks country, in the Yorkshire Dales. Gathering water from the countless streams that spill from this sombre upland, the river quickly asserts its identity as it forces a passage between high, rugged moorland hills. Eventually breaking free to meander through gentler countryside south of Settle, it still has another 10 miles (16.1km) to go before broaching the boundary with Lancashire. And Yorkshire folk with long memories will remember an older border between the rival counties that ran south of Sawley, and they might say that the river remains in Yorkshire for a further 10 miles (16.1km).
By then the river has assumed a completely different character, winding lazily through alternating