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Location notes
Blea Moor, just north of the Ribblehead Viaduct, is one of the 'classic' location on the Settle and Carlisle line and also home to one of the most remote signal boxes in the UK. This location is about 1.5km from the nearest place with Road Access and is a walk across Blea Moor Common.
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.
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
It really is the middle of nowhere! Weather can change very fast, so come prepared bearing in mind it’s at least a 30-40 minute walk back to the car/nearest station.
Road directions
Take B6479 if coming from the south which links to the A65 around Settle. Or take the B6255 off the A65 if coming from the north.
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Blea Moor Tunnel, South Portal map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Blea Moor Tunnel, South Portal map co-ordinates
Parking
There is plenty of parking around the Station Inn at Ribblehead (although not in their private car park.) Parking can be problem on sunny days as Ribblehead is used as a base for many walkers.
Once parked, walk along the stone road to the north of the Station Inn. Follow the path up the hill rather than under the viaduct and keep walking past the signal box and house and keep following the path until you come to the bridge over the railway line. This is the southbound shot.
Unfortunately to get to the northbound shot, you have to retrace your steps back to where the wooden walking bridge crosses over the stream. Looking north from here you will see there are two walls that lead to the bridge, you need to be between those walls. You will need to cross the river so if there has been a lot of rain this might not be possible. Once over the river head towards the walls, making sure you are between them. It takes around 10 minutes to do this little lot.
Once parked, walk along the stone road to the north of the Station Inn. Follow the path up the hill rather than under the viaduct and keep walking past the signal box and house and keep following the path until you come to the bridge over the railway line. This is the southbound shot.
Unfortunately to get to the northbound shot, you have to retrace your steps back to where the wooden walking bridge crosses over the stream. Looking north from here you will see there are two walls that lead to the bridge, you need to be between those walls. You will need to cross the river so if there has been a lot of rain this might not be possible. Once over the river head towards the walls, making sure you are between them. It takes around 10 minutes to do this little lot.
Public transport
There is a train roughly every 2 hours in each direction to Leeds and Carlisle. The nearest station would be Ribblehead, and this would be a good 30 to 40 minute walk. Cumbria Classic Coaches operate the 570 bus on Tuesdays between Hawes and Ribblehead in the summer only.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
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.
Blea Moor Tunnel, South Portal
Streetmap links
Blea Moor Tunnel, South Portal general view map
Blea Moor Tunnel, South Portal close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Blea Moor Tunnel, South Portal
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Blea Moor Tunnel, South Portal
Googly map
Blea Moor Tunnel, South Portal general view map
Blea Moor Tunnel, South Portal close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Blea Moor Tunnel, South Portal
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Photographic notes
The light for southbound trains is good for afternoon trains, but difficult for northbound trains as it never really gets round far enough to 'get on the nose', other than at the height of summer. The southbound shot is excellent for those that like that 'train coming out of a tunnel' shot.
General views - All photographs © Richard Tearle unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
The southbound shot taken on a cloudy day in the late afternoon with an 85mm lens. It is possible to vary the height somewhat by taking up different positions on the bridge. Note the old platelayers hut in the background.
Fig 2 - Looking south
The northbound shot taken on a cloudy day in the late afternoon with a 50mm lens. Again Ingleborough looms large in the background.
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.
