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Location notes
Located about midway on the Leeds to Carforth. Hellifield is also about 3 miles south east of Settle junction and Located about 10 miles North West of Skipton. Hellifield Pond is on a small but busy for the area road heading out of Hellifield.
For more information on the Settle and Carlisle line please see the Settle - Carlisle Partnership website and consider joining Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line.
For more information on the Settle and Carlisle line please see the Settle - Carlisle Partnership website and consider joining Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line.
Railway type and traffic
Most of the local services to Carlisle are operated by 158 multiple units. Local services to Morecambe are operated by 142s, 144s or 156s.
There are a number of freight services operated by DB Schenker/Freightliner/GBRf.
DRS operate the autumnal RHTT trains over the route.
There are a number of freight services operated by DB Schenker/Freightliner/GBRf.
DRS operate the autumnal RHTT trains over the route.
Environment
Hellifield is situated on the western side of the Pennines. The weather may change at any time. It would be advisable to have warm clothing to hand, although at this location you are never far from your car should the weather change. The station is a different matter.
Road directions
Coming north on the main A65 turn off to the right on the road signposted Otterburn. If you reach the middle of Hellifield you have gone too far.
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Hellifield Pond map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Hellifield Pond map co-ordinates
Parking
Following the road until it goes over the railway, from the Hellifield direction, you will see a field entrance that has space for a couple of cars without blocking access to the field. There is also one space on the other side of the road on the Hellifield side of the bridge. Other parking may be found further along the road towards Otterburn.
Public transport
There is a train roughly every 2 hours in each direction to Leeds and Carlisle. There are also 4 trains a day from Lancaster and Morecambe. From the station it would be a good twenty minute walk.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There are no amenities at the location but Hellifield boasts a number of shops and pubs. There is also a cafe on the station.
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.
Hellifield Pond
Streetmap links
Hellifield Pond general view map
Hellifield Pond close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Hellifield Pond
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Hellifield Pond
Googly map
Hellifield Pond general view map
Hellifield Pond close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Hellifield Pond
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
There are two eastbound shots at this location and one westbound. By following the road back towards Hellifield it is possible to get a shot of the trains just passing a small pond and trees, hence the name for this location. There are also east and westbound shots from on top of the bridge itself. The eastbound shot is best in the morning, and on a cloudy day the westbound is good then. In the afternoon the wrong side shot is still favoured for the westbound shot. From the pond shooting spot it is just possible to see the semaphore signal protecting the crossing which will give you enough notice that a northbound train is approaching – it is also possible to see the westbound trains in the distance for a mad dash back to the bridge.
General views - All photographs © Richard Tearle unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west
Eastbound shot from over the 'pond', taken with a 50mm lens on a typical S&C day (dull and cloudy!). Note the firs at the bottom of the picture that in a few years will make this shot unobtainable.
Fig 2 - Looking west
From the bridge, taken with a 60mm lens, again on a typical S&C day – although a little bit brighter than the last shot. Again the firs are encroaching on this shot as well.
Fig 3 - Looking east
Westbound shot from the bridge, taken with a 50mm lens, again on a typical S&C day.
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.
