Ribblehead

RIBBLEHEAD TRAIN STATION, VIADUCT AND BLEA MOOR TUNNEL

Distance: 5 miles.

Difficulty: Easy.

Weather: Mixture of blue skies and cloud; mainly dry with some light drizzle.

Walkers: Mickey Barrett, Chris Corps, Tom Cunliffe, Colin Davison, Lawrie Fairman, Alan Hart and George Whaites.

Leader: Appointed guide Mike. Diarist: Hart.

Starting point: Platform of Ribblehead railway station, North Yorks.

Starting time: 10.35am. Finishing time: 1.55pm.

There was no chance of getting lost on this walk ! After the unintentional perambulations of the previous week, we had an experienced guide this time to lead us not only round the sights but back in time to the 1860s when the Settle to Carlisle railway line was built.

Tom had persuaded us to take this trip down memory lane to the site of Britain’s iconic railway viaduct and the golden age of steam.

Colin, released from the complexities of an ordnance survey map, showed he could handle a road map as he sped along the motorways, A-roads and country lanes of Cheshire, Lancashire and North Yorkshire at a pace which made Lewis Hamilton look positively sluggish.

It was well worth the extended journey to see some of our country’s loveliest scenery and to admire the amazing achievements of our Victorian forefathers.

Our knowledgeable local guide brought to life the sights and the atmosphere of those bygone days when in just six years a team of engineers conquered the contours of this landscape to build a rail link on budget and on time.

We learned about the shanty town where 3,000 people lived in the harshest conditions, and where smallpox and numerous diseases posed more threat to human life than the gale-force winds which blasted men working 200 feet above ground.

He showed us where the stone was collected, where the bricks were made and where the horse-drawn trams carried materials and supplies for the workforce.

We also enjoyed the sight of a steam train – the Lancashire Fusilier Black 5 MT – chugging across the magnificent viaduct where 100 men lost their lives during its construction.

After our lunch break we took a look at Blea Moor Tunnel, which is one and a half miles long and 500 below ground at its deepest level. It was here that the tunnelers used dynamite for the first time as they burrowed through the hillside.

Back at The Station Inn in Ribblehead we enjoyed pints of locally-brewed Stallion cask bitter at £3-25 before the long journey home.

Our thanks to Tom for suggesting this break from tradition and to Colin for his chauffeuring skills.

The following excellent pictures are courtesy of Mickey Barrett

And this picture by Tom Cunliffe

For the record and better late than never. Geoff and myself parked near Gawsworth church, walked past the main gate to the Hall, turned left and after 100 yards or so climbed a stile on the left. Geoff’s new hip was a revelation. Crossed a large field and then entered lane directly opposite and proceeded forward for a mile or so then left over a stile, across a large field into woods. Shortly after a left turn took us past what was described as a nature reserve – more like a moonscape. Amazingly we met a chap wearing a deerstalker hat and equipped with powerful bins looking across the wasteland. On enquiring if he had seen anything, he replied in the negative. It turned out that his real interest lay in dragonflies and damselflies, none of which were about and who could blame them. Just then a damsel came by with a lovely puppy, one of whom was happy to receive lots of strokes and tickles. Unfortunately it was the dog. After crossing over the railway line via a bridge, we turned right along the canal for a midway pint at the Fool’s Nook. Disaster! Pub closed and for sale on building. Another business opportunity. Turned right along a road opposite the Pub and headed back to Gawsworth. After a mile or so, left across several fields and back to the car. The Harrington Arms was doing business, possibly supplementing regulars with frustrated nookers. When MANU supporters with centre-right leanings are in conversation with Geoff, the topics of football (for the last few years at least) and Maggie Thatcher are best avoided. Geoff managed to raise the subject of the opening Premiership games and offered sympathy. You could cut the Schadenfreude with a Messer. If that wasn’t enough, we learnt from the Gawsworth Hall brochure in the pub that Michael Portillo had given a talk at the Hall entitled “All stations to Westminster”. Isn’t ironic said Geoff that Portillo’s dad rescued Michael from one fascist only for him to finish up working for another. Poor Maggie RIP. The Unicorn beer was in good fettle and reasonably priced at £2.90. Distance as Sparrow staggers (suffering from balance) about 4.5 miles. Apologies were received from Tony (Poynton Show duties) and Wally(w---king). Next week Geoff(hols ) and myself (domestic duties) are missing, over to Tony and Wally.

Next week’s walk will start from the George and Dragon Hotel in Charlesworth at 9.50am, stopping for a bracer in The Harewood Arms, Broadbottom, around 12.20pm, returning to The George and Dragon about 2.20pm.