After our visit to Sheffield to see my daughter Jenna and the
new arrival, we returned to Loes's house in Harewood.
Next day we took our time and headed back to Cumbria via the
Dales.
Rather than take the A65 from Skipton all the way to the M6 we
diverted north through Settle, Stainforth and Dent.
Our route took us through the Yorkshire Dales National Park
via Horton in Ribblesdale.
We stopped at the roadside parking and this was the view back
as we started our short walk to the viaduct
The area is famous for the Three Peaks Challenge, which involves
walking all three of the highest peaks within twelve hours.
You can begin to see the she size of the challenge, as that
fell in the distance is Pen-y-Ghent, one of the three big summits.
The impressive stone viaduct on the Settle to Carlisle Railway
stretches across the valley ahead.
The second of the three Yorkshire Peaks is Whernside, some
2392 feet (736 m) high, cab be seen behind it.
Dylan and Dougal provide me with a little foreground interest.
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The third peak is Ingleborough, its distinctive escarpments
hidden from view apart from glimpses through the arches.
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The 3 Peaks Challenge is 24-miles (38.6km) round
trip route
and includes 1585m (5200ft) of ascent.
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But we've chiefly walked over to marvel at the grandeur of
this iconic
railway bridge
The Viaduct has twenty-four magnificent arches
that carry the railway line 104 ft above the moor.
[ An adventure group have parked by the viaduct,
but the youngsters were enjoying their activity with their feet
firmly on the ground.]
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A British
Rail maintenance crew were also on site. |
Beneath is a memorial
to the men who built and worked on the viaduct. |
It was a classic piece of Victorian engineering,
built between 1870 and 1875 but nearly closed in the 1980's.
It provides as important north south rail link
and so was saved from closure and renovated instead.
It now also forms an important tourist route
favoured by steam enthusiasts worldwide.
It is the longest and third tallest structure
on the Settle-Carlisle line.
Suitably impressed by the structure, the size
of the limestone masonry and the location, we turned and headed
back to the car.
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The railway heads north over Blea Moor, through
a long tunnel and then skirts the Dent Valley, heading north.
Our route however, turns west and passes beneath
another impressive railway viaduct, on the way back to Sedbergh
and the M6.