Walks and Treks
7 days
ModerateThe Ribble Way is a 72 mile (116km) long-distance footpath that follows the tranquil journey of the River Ribble. It stretches from the river’s mouth at the Ribble Estuary in Lancashire to its source high in the Yorkshire Dales, offering walkers a stunning and varied tour through northern England’s landscapes.
Walking the Ribble Way is a varied experience, offering picturesque river valleys, industrial heritage, and stunning limestone scenery in the Yorkshire Dales. Popular sections include the Dales stretch near Settle, with highlights like Stainforth and Catrigg Force waterfalls, Romans sites and medieval abbey ruins.
Please select from Optional Extras at checkout.
Getting There:
By road: A59 or A582 and local roads to Longton
By public transport: Longton railway station is on the Preston-Blackpool line offering regular train service. Preston is a mainline station from London, Manchester and Liverpool
Local bus services available from Preston and surrounding villages
By air: The nearest airports are Manchester airport and Liverpool John Lennon airport
Getting Away:
By public transport: There is a train service from Ribblehead railway station (on the Settle to Carlisle line) going to Leeds and Carlisle both of which are mainline stations
Check traveline.info for the latest public transport information
You can purchase evening meals either at the accommodation or nearby. When our adventure travel planners send you the schedule with your itinerary you could prearrange directly with the accommodation or during the walk.
For lunches we would suggest bringing some of your own favourite snack bars and then asking the accommodation for a packed lunch for the following day and also supplementing that at stops en-route.
Accommodation is generally at B&B, guest houses and small hotels. Once booked in, your adventure travel planner will send you a list of your booked accommodation. It is possible to adjust according to preference at this stage so please mention it if you wish to change.
If you would like to bring your four-legged friend, then we will do our best to source dog friendly accommodation. It is usually possible but if it were not, then we would suggest a change of date to enable it. There may be a small surcharge for the overnight stays. Therefore, once booked in, please alert your adventure travel planner that you would like to bring your dog and we can proceed from there.
If you would prefer to have a guide for your walk, even for just one day, then we are happy to help. We can provide a qualified leader (also first aid qualified) to lead your trek or alternatively for only one of the sections. Please just ask us.
A guide can not only take the stress out of navigation, but you will also find them a great asset in terms of providing an insight into all things environment and nature.
For available dates please see the ‘book now’ option on the left hand side on desktops or at the bottom on mobiles. You can reserve your space via this route.
After placing your booking with us, you will in the first instance receive an automated email from our system confirming receipt of your reservation. If you don’t receive your confirmation, it would be worth checking your spam/clutter folder.
In the process of placing your booking, you will generally set up an access password to our online gateway where you can review the details of the booking.
Your personal adventure travel planner will then be in touch with you to start to confirm the details. This contact will usually be taken up in the working day after receipt of your booking, but may, in busy times, take a little longer. The adventure travel planner will then liaise with you regarding the details of the course. If you have any specific requirements, please do mention it at this stage.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end at some point and when you arrive at the end of the trail, some people like to treat themselves to a night’s stay at the end. And why not? You’ve earned it. You can arrange this as an optional extra with your adventure travel planner.
Arrive at your accommodation
From Longton, walk approximately 1¾ miles to reach the official start of the Ribble Way at the Dolphin Inn, also known as the Flying Fish.
The path follows the River Ribble from Longton to Penwortham Bridge, a popular section for hikers due to the varied scenery and points of interest along the way include the Preston docks area, which is now a marina.
Approx. 8 miles (13km) and 190ft (60m) of ascent
This section follows the river as it flows northeast, passing through various rural landscapes towards the historic village of Ribchester. Part of the path is a former early 19th century tramway route. The path offers views of the Ribble Valley and the surrounding hills, including Pendle Hill and the western Dale.
Approx. 12 miles (20km) and 720ft (220m) of ascent
This section features a mix of fields, farms and varied terrain, and views, including the nearby Pendle Hill, heading upstream along the River Ribble from the Roman village of Ribchester to Brungerley Bridge, near Clitheroe.
Approx. 12½ miles (20km) and 900ft (275m) of ascent
This section of the route passes through fields and farmland with views of Pendle Hill and the distant Yorkshire Dales peaks of Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent.
The Georgian era Brungerley Bridge was built in 1816 to replace a wooden structure destroyed by flooding, it crosses the River Ribble which is known for its healthy populations of salmon and sea trout.
Approx. 9½ miles (15km) and 760ft (230m) of ascent
The route continues through fields, depending on weather it’s not uncommon to encounter wet or marshy ground along this stretch. Nearing Settle, the terrain opens up, providing panoramic views north towards the Yorkshire Dales and peaks like Pen-y-Ghent. The last part of the walk through the flat valley bottom below Settle can be a highlight.
Approx. 12½ miles (20km) and 740ft (225m) of ascent
For the penultimate leg of the long-distance trail, this route follows the upper reaches of the River Ribble, offering peaceful river paths and views of the surrounding hills. The path closely follows the river, offering a peaceful walking experience with views of waterfalls. The route passes through the small village of Stainforth, with its medieval packhorse bridge and the cascading Stainforth Force waterfall just north of the village. The trail continues through limestone pavements and hillside quarries to finish in the well-known village of Horton-in-Ribblesdale located beneath the peak of Pen-y-Ghent, and the traditional starting point for the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge.
Approx. 7 miles (12km) and 890ft (270m) of ascent
The final day follows the route to the river’s source; a small, undramatic trickle of water near the Pennine Way. This is a challenging but significant stretch of the Ribble Way and the Pennine Way through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. The route includes substantial elevation and remote moorland. From the village of Horton-in-Ribblesdale head north along the Ribble Way, pass Sell Gill Holes, and under the magnificent Ribblehead Viaduct which carries the Settle-Carlisle railway line. The route continues north and west to Blea Moor and on to Gayle Moor. Once at the source of the river, a confluence of two small streams: Gayle Beck and Cam Beck, retrace along the outbound route or return via the Pennine Way to Ribblehead Viaduct.
Approx. 17 miles (27km) and 2020ft (615m) of ascent
This is where your trip with us will end unless you have booked an extra night of accommodation
Please note: This itinerary is a guide only. Timings and mileages are approximate.
We will always endeavour to accommodate you in the locations detailed in the above itinerary. Due to very high demand, some accommodation providers may occasionally have limited availability and so we may need to accommodate you in an alternative location, nearby. In this case, we will arrange a taxi transfer for you to take you from the trail to your accommodation and back again the following morning. An additional charge may be payable. We will notify you of this when confirming your booking.
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