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Written by Richard Tearle - 25 Sep 2007
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Location notes
Selside – Low Moor is a good location for afternoon trains in both directions. Those travelling northwards will have Pen-y-gent as a backdrop.
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.
There are a number of freight services operated by DB Schenker/Freightliner/GBRf. DRS operate the autumnal RHTT trains over the route.
Environment
Selside 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 as you are a good 10 minute walk from your car. The old farm entrance to the north of the field is substantially warmer than the rather exposed hill to the south.
Road directions
From Settle, take the main B6479 north, signposted Horton-in-Ribblesdale and continue through Langcliffe, Horton-in-Ribblesdale and continue to the follow the road under the railway. Driving north look for the parking lay-by and field entrance on your right. There is a farm entrance to the left directly opposite the parking spot.

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Selside Low Moor map co-ordinates
Parking
There is parking to the next field entrance, which without blocking the actual entrance to the field, would accommodate at least 3 cars. Failing that you could park on some of the wider verges.
If you are parked in the lay-by/hard standing, do not enter this field as it is private land and it is not the easiest route to the location anyhow.
Walk north to the next field and enter that field via the gate and follow the wall roughly eastwards until you come to the corner of the wall and you should see the photographic spots at this location.
This land and access to it is Open Access land as defined under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Rights can vary depending on the time of year, and it’s best to use Natural England’s website to check if planning a visit.
Public transport
There is a train roughly every 2 hours in each direction to Leeds and Carlisle. The nearest station would be Horton-in-Ribblesdale, and this would be a good 30 to 40 minute walk.
Dalesbus operate the 581 bus which runs between Settle and Horton-in-Ribblesdale, but you would still have quite a walk.

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Amenities
There are no amenities at the location but Horton-in-Ribblesdale boasts a small number of shops and pubs.
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.
Selside Low Moor

Googly map
Streetmap links
Selside Low Moor general view map
Selside Low Moor close up map

Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Selside Low Moor



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Railway Gen Group
Settle Carlisle
Photographic notes
There are two main spots at this location with a couple of minutes walk between them. Both locations offer both north and southbound views of trains. The first is an old farm crossing, no longer in use, to the north of the field quite near to the access to the field. The other is further south in the field on top of the hill easily visible once in the field. Be careful in the field as there are a number of pits and shake-holes to injure the unwary.
If you have a longish zoom lens, around 100-400mm, there are a number of different shots to be had to the north of the field accessed from the entrance to the field. Walk some way east from the entrance to the field and you will see the shot where the line is dead straight coming towards you. You can walk north at this point until the ground goes down rather steeply. From here you can get a variety of shots of southbound trains panning round as they make their way south.


General views - All photographs © Richard Tearle unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north


Fig 1 - Looking north

A north facing view of a southbound train taken on a misty afternoon in May from the top of the small hill to the south of the location; taken mid afternoon with an 85mm lens.

Fig 2 - Looking south


Fig 2 - Looking south

A south facing view of a northbound train taken 10 minutes after the previous one, this time with a 50mm lens at the same spot.
Note that this train only runs over this route when the West Coast is shut. With this spot it is possible to get a shot of the train with Pen-y-gent in the background, but the length of the train is quite limited.

Fig 3 - Looking north


Fig 3 - Looking north

A north facing view of a southbound train taken on a clear sunny afternoon in September, from the old farm crossing to the north of the field. It is possible to get slightly higher shot than this if required.

Fig 4 - Looking south


Fig 4 - Looking south

A south facing view of a northbound train taken on a clear sunny afternoon in September from the old farm crossing to the north of the field. Again, it is possible to get slightly higher shot than this if required, but not high enough to not obscure Pen-y-gent.

Fig 5 - Looking north



Fig 5 - Looking north

From the north near the entrance to the field taken on a clear sunny afternoon in September with a 400mm lens.

Fig 6 - Looking north



Fig 6 - Looking north

Taken at the same position as the last shot, panning round as the train heads south, with 200mm lens.

Fig 7 - Looking north



Fig 7 - Looking north

Taken at the same position as the last shot, panning round as the train heads south, with 100mm lens.

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