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Location notes
A classic S&C southbound late afternoon shot high up in the hills.
This location requires a long steep climb and once at the top you will be pretty cut off from anyone else. Please consider this before attempting this shot.
Also note this location is not on public access land or on a footpath, but the owner of the land is used to photographers using this as a location. Please be responsible and check in at Raygill Farm on the way up as a common courtesy (i.e. do not spoil it for the rest of us!)
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.
This location requires a long steep climb and once at the top you will be pretty cut off from anyone else. Please consider this before attempting this shot.
Also note this location is not on public access land or on a footpath, but the owner of the land is used to photographers using this as a location. Please be responsible and check in at Raygill Farm on the way up as a common courtesy (i.e. do not spoil it for the rest of us!)
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.
There are a number of freight services operated by DB Schenker/Freightliner/GBRf. DRS operate the autumnal RHTT trains over the route.
Environment
Really in the middle of no-where, with a good 30 minute walk back down to your car. Some of the trees in the plantation might provide some cover.
Road directions
From the M6, Junction 37:
Follow the A684 east through Sedbergh and follow the road for some while. You will cross over the River Rawthey several times on the way out from Sedbergh, but you will be near the location when the river is very close to the road on the left hand side. If you get to Garsdale you have come too far.
From Kirkby Stephen, head south on the B6259 past Ais Gill, and turn right onto the A684 at the Moorcock Inn. The parking layby is close to the second left hand public turn off this road.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Risehill Tunnel, North Portal map co-ordinates
Follow the A684 east through Sedbergh and follow the road for some while. You will cross over the River Rawthey several times on the way out from Sedbergh, but you will be near the location when the river is very close to the road on the left hand side. If you get to Garsdale you have come too far.
From Kirkby Stephen, head south on the B6259 past Ais Gill, and turn right onto the A684 at the Moorcock Inn. The parking layby is close to the second left hand public turn off this road.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Risehill Tunnel, North Portal map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a small layby just after the farm entrance if you are coming from the Garsdale direction that has space for one car – just where the road is very close to the river. Parking is very difficult along here due to the high walls and narrow nature of the road.
Once parked head up the farm track, passing Raygill farm (where it is polite to make yourself known) on the way up and continue up. Past the farm the track continues road to the right but there is a gate straight ahead to enter the plantation. Pass through this gate and follow the path up the side of the hill, there is only really one direction through the plantation and eventually, after a good 10 to 20 minute climb, you’ll reach the top of the hill and the line and tunnel mouth will be visible in front of you.
I have heard that it is possible to access this location from the coal road from Dent and descend down to the location, but I’ve not tried this.
Once parked head up the farm track, passing Raygill farm (where it is polite to make yourself known) on the way up and continue up. Past the farm the track continues road to the right but there is a gate straight ahead to enter the plantation. Pass through this gate and follow the path up the side of the hill, there is only really one direction through the plantation and eventually, after a good 10 to 20 minute climb, you’ll reach the top of the hill and the line and tunnel mouth will be visible in front of you.
I have heard that it is possible to access this location from the coal road from Dent and descend down to the location, but I’ve not tried this.
Public transport
There is a train roughly every 2 hours in each direction to Leeds and Carlisle. The nearest station would be Dent, and this would be a good couple of hours 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, or even very near. There is a shop and pub in the village of Dent, or in the other direction at Garsdale.
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.
Risehill Tunnel, North Portal
Streetmap links
Risehill Tunnel, North Portal general view map
Risehill Tunnel, North Portal close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Risehill Tunnel, North Portal
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Risehill Tunnel, North Portal
Googly map
Risehill Tunnel, North Portal general view map
Risehill Tunnel, North Portal close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Risehill Tunnel, North Portal
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The only real view from here is the southbound view; there is not much of a northbound shot due to the curvature of the line out of the tunnel mouth. Once up on the hill there are a variety of positions along the wall to get shots.
General views - All photographs © Richard Tearle unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
A southbound train taken on a misty spring early afternoon, the distant mountains would be visible if it wasn’t for the haze. This shot was taken too early (the sun had not got round far enough), and really the shot is at its best in the late afternoon.
This was taken with a 50mm lens.
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.
