Ribble Way

The Ribble way is a long-distance walk between the Lancashire coast and the Yorkshire Dales National Park largely following the course of the River Ribble.

The route begins in Longton and ends at the source of the Ribble at Gayle Moor near Ribblehead, it is around {{Convert|116|km}} in length.

The route passes through a variety of landscapes including tidal marsh, open moorland and limestone gorges. It begins to the south of the Ribble estuary, the route then runs through Preston and on to the historic town of Clitheroe. Next it heads up into the Pennines to reach its source on remote Cam Fell.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

History

The idea of opening a walk along the Ribble called the Ribble Way was first suggested back in 1967 at the inaugural meeting of the Preston and Fylde branch of the Ramblers' Association.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} The Guardian reported in 1972 that the Ramblers Association were planning Britain's first riverside long footpath called the Ribble Way. At that time, the route being discussed was {{Convert|103|km}} from the estuary of the River Ribble at Walmer Bridge close to Preston to its source near the farmhouse of Far Gearstones in the West Riding of Yorkshire fells; just {{Convert|45|km}} of the planned route was designated right-of-way.{{cite news|last=Morris|first=Michael|title=Ribble Way planned|newspaper=The Guardian|date=6 October 1972}} The idea eventually attracted official support and was opened in 1985.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} The Ribble Valley is an area of {{Convert|632|km2}} of natural beauty from the north-west coast to the Lake District.{{cite news|last=Purcell|first=Steve|title=Ribble rouser; Steve Purcell goes back to his Lancashire roots|url=http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/retrieve.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28TX%2CNone%2C10%29ribble+way%3AAnd%3ALQE%3D%28AC%2CNone%2C8%29fulltext%24&sgHitCountType=None&inPS=true&sort=DateDescend&searchType=BasicSearchForm&tabID=T004&prodId=SPN.SP00&searchId=R1¤tPosition=6&userGroupName=cam_earl&docId=CJ128504329&docType=IAC|access-date=10 October 2010|newspaper=The Mirror|date=12 February 2005|page=56}}{{subscription required}} The official course of the Ribble Way that is marked on the Ordnance Survey (2010) OS Openspace maps starts at Longton, the mouth of the River Ribble just west of Preston, {{Convert|5|m}} above mean sea level and finishes at Grove head, just north of Cam Fell, {{Convert|558|m}} above mean sea level. Grove head is actually the source of the Gayle Beck which feeds into the River Ribble near Ribblehead.{{Cite map |publisher = Ordnance Survey |title = OS Openspace (Online)|url = http://openspace.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/openspace/index.html|edition = 2010|access-date = 10 October 2010}}

Route

File:Stile on Ribble Way - geograph.org.uk - 937452.jpg

File:Ribble Way Stainforth - geograph.org.uk - 1384278.jpg

File:The Ribble Way and Sikesdale Gill - geograph.org.uk - 658243.jpg

The official start of the Ribble Way is the Dolphin Inn on Marsh Lane in Longton.

The Ribble Way connects with several other long-distance walks, including the Dales Way, the Pennine Way, the Pennine Bridleway and the Round Preston Walk.{{cite web|title=Ribble Way|url=http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/name/r/ribble.htm|publisher=Ramblers|access-date=10 October 2010}}

=Settlements=

Longton
Preston
Frenchwood{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}
Ribchester
Little Town
Winckley Hall{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}
Clitheroe
Horrocksford{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}
Paythorne{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}
Rathmell{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}
Giggleswick{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}
Stainforth{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}
Horton in Ribblesdale{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}
Chapel-le-Dale{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

After which the route joins the Dales Way

References

{{cite book|pages=89|title=The Pennine Way: a practical guide for walkers|series=Brit Long-distance Series|author=Martin Collins|edition=2nd|publisher=Cicerone Press Limited|year=2003|isbn=978-1-85284-386-1}}

{{cite web|url=http://gandljdean.co.uk./ribble/ribwy.html|title=The Ribble Way|year=2006|work=Graham and Lin Dean's home page|author=Graham Dean|access-date=11 October 2010}}

{{cite book|pages=156|title=The UK Trailwalker's Handbook|author=Paul Lawrence and John Sparshatt|edition=8th|publisher=Cicerone Press Limited|year=2010|isbn=978-1-85284-579-7}}

{{cite web|publisher=North Yorkshire County Council|work=Walking|title=Rights of way – long-distance routes|url=http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=12931|access-date=8 October 2010}}

Ribble Way

History

Route

=Settlements=

References

Further reading