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Location notes
Ais Gill is at the summit of the Settle and Carlisle line between Garsdale and Kirby Stephen.
Railway type and traffic
The Settle and Carlisle has a roughly two-hourly local service and in between run freight trains, mainly anglo-scottish coal and gypsum to/from Newbiggin. The line is also used as a diversionary route for the West Coast Main Line and sees regular railtours.
Environment
Being one of the highest points of any railway in England it is naturally quite open and at times windswept. Warm clothes and some form of shelter is essential at any time of year as sunshine can turn to Blizzards and rain in a matter of minutes.
Road directions
From the M6, Junction 37:
Take the A684 east through Sedbergh towards Hawes. After passing under the railway north of Garsdale station turn first left at the Moorcock pub onto the B6259 towards Kirby Stephen. The road runs parallel to the railway, passing underneath it after about 2 miles. A further mile or two brings the road over the railway just north of Ais Gill. This road can also be reached from the north from Kirby Stephen which is on the A685 linking Junction 38 of the M6 to the A66 at Brough between Penrith and Scotch Corner.
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Ais Gill map co-ordinates
Take the A684 east through Sedbergh towards Hawes. After passing under the railway north of Garsdale station turn first left at the Moorcock pub onto the B6259 towards Kirby Stephen. The road runs parallel to the railway, passing underneath it after about 2 miles. A further mile or two brings the road over the railway just north of Ais Gill. This road can also be reached from the north from Kirby Stephen which is on the A685 linking Junction 38 of the M6 to the A66 at Brough between Penrith and Scotch Corner.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Ais Gill map co-ordinates
Parking
There is parking by the side of the road before the bridge.
Public transport
Amenities
There are no amenities in the area, the nearest toilet being at Garsdale station (5/6 miles), the nearest pub the Moorcock (3/4 miles) or shops in Kirby Stephen (8/9 miles).
Accommodation
The Moorcock Public House does have Bed and Breakfast accommodation.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Ais Gill
Streetmap links
Ais Gill general view map
Ais Gill close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Ais Gill
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Ais Gill
Googly map
Ais Gill general view map
Ais Gill close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Ais Gill
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Light is best here in the afternoon for southbound trains. These can be seen approaching along the valley giving a few minutes warning. Photos can be taken at the bridge though the field to the left is better. Northbound trains can be taken from the verge of the road by the bridge.
General views - All photographs © Mark Bearton unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
From the field
Fig 2 - Looking south
Fig 3 - Looking north - Image © Richard Tearle
Location Video
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
