Ribble Way: Gearstones to Gavel Gap

A first glance at the statistics may suggest that this is a very short stage, but the walking isn’t all over when you reach the ‘finish’ at Gavel Gap – unless you can arrange for a helicopter pickup! More sensibly, as this point is also on the Pennine Bridleway, you could arrange for a bike to be waiting for you. If you’re sticking to your own feet, there are three main options.

If you have motorised support, you can either retrace your steps back to the Ingleton–Hawes road at Newby Head, or continue (shorter and more interesting) on the Pennine Bridleway to Cold Keld Gate (SD 826 832), where it meets a minor road. If you’re reliant on public transport, you still have 3.5 miles (5.6km) to go to reach Ribblehead station – but the good news is that it’s virtually all flat or downhill.

Turn right (east) along the road and, soon after it bends to the right, turn left, along a track signposted ‘to Denthead’. Here, the Dales Way is joined. Follow it to houses at Winshaw, pass left of them and climb steeply, then follow the wall on the right. When it drops away to the right, continue ahead to meet a rough track and turn left uphill.

Follow this fine moorland track, known as Black Rake Road, until it meets the Dent to Newby Head Road. Turn right on to the road to Newby Head, leaving the Dales Way.

When the Ingleton–Hawes road is reached turn left, along it, for about 110yds (100m), and turn right on to a moorland footpath signposted ‘to Gavel Gap’. Or, more easily and more logically, turn right a few paces then go left up an obvious track, signed Pennine Bridleway. The other route soon joins this.

Follow the track, mostly climbing steadily, for about 1.5 miles (2.4km) to a gate in a stone wall (which once marked the boundary between the old West Riding and North Riding). This is Gavel Gap (SD 813 832) and this lonely spot marks the end, or the beginning, of the Ribble Way. A spring just above may presumably be considered to be the ultimate source of the river.

If you have motorised support, you can either retrace your steps back to the Ingleton–Hawes road at Newby Head, or continue (shorter and more interesting) on the Pennine Bridleway to Cold Keld Gate (SD 826 832), where it meets a minor road.

A If your destination is Ribblehead station, don’t go through the gate. Instead walk away from it and follow faint tracks across the moor, along the base of a steep slope on your left. Continue alongside a wire fence and ruined wall until you reach a metal gate in a more solid wall. Pass through this and follow a green track which soon starts to descend and swing right to join a clear stony track, Cam High Road (also used by the Dales Way and, in part, by the Pennine Way too).

B Bear right and follow this downhill for about 2 miles (3.2km) to the B6255 near Gearstones. Go left for another 1.5 miles (2.4km) to the Station Inn and the station itself.