Horton to Ribblehead
Walk 16 - Horton to Ribblehead - 8 miles - 3.5 hours - by train or car starting from Horton Station finishing at the Station Inn Ribblehead . A very easy walk with no serious hills passing a few interesting features along the way. An excellent alternative for low cloud level or those with an aversion to hills! If arriving by car park in the public carpark in Horton or roadside leading from the village to the station.
Starting from the station proceed towards the village crossing the first river bridge and passing along the Pennine Way track to the right hand side of the Crown Public House. The track bears left and climbs slightly uphill for a while.
Eventually Sell Gill Holes will be reached comprising two pot holes one of these having an impressive waterfall in spate. Shortly after the gate look for a grassy track bearing left as the Pennine Way climbs further uphill. Walk along this for a short way crossing from the right hand to the left side of the dry stone wall and over a stile, This path continues on the level passing a well preserved lime kiln on the right in the scar. The the views are pleasant but otherwise uneventful until approaching a group of trees [in fact a ravine]. At this point turn sharp right up hill around the top of the ravine and joining one of the main 3 peaks paths from Pen y ghent passing High Birkwith on a land rover track and crossing a minor farm road.
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Sell Gill Holes and stream above
Immediately crossing the farm road drop down a grassy slope crossing a stream on a plank bridge, rounding the hill and continue on the level across grassy pasture. In a short time a stile is reached. The stream at this point passes below the path through a natural formation known as Gods Bridge.
The path continues thence to Nether Lodge where an interesting timber footbridge has recently been constructed avoiding the farmyard. Shortly after the farm [along the farm track] there is a sign post to Thorns / Gearstones. Turn right at this point along the path which crosses undulating moorland and a stream. After the stream look out for a stone barn. To the left of the stone barn there is a stile. Crossing the stile continue with the wall and the barn on the right. Over the small hill the deserted farmstead of Thorns is reached. After the first barn turn left along a walled track which curves then to the right crossing a field dropping down into Thorns Gill an attractive limestone ravine with a precarious stone bridge crossing it.
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Thorns and Thorns Gill
Crossing the bridge climb up the hill and across the field and straight on through two stiles/gates to meet the main Hawes - Ribblehead road. Turn left and walk along the road to reach the Station Inn.
