Walking through the countryside surrounding the Victorian marvel the Ribblehead Viaduct

1. Ribblehead
Viaduct ~
Medium Walk

2. 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.

3. Getting There
From Middlesbrough follow the A66 to Darlington and then head
onto the A1
southbound. 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.

4. Map of the Ribblehead Viaduct walk

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

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

11. 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.

12. 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.

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

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.