Yorkshire Dales — Travelrags

The GuardianMay 20, 2026

‘A landscape raw and wild’: by train to the heart of the Yorkshire Three Peaks

The Yorkshire Dales Explorer is a little-known alternative to the Settle to Carlisle rail route, and takes you deep into wonderful walking country Limestone stretches on all sides like an inland ocean – appropriately enough, since the shimmering white rock has its ancient origins in coral, shells and the skeletons of sea creatures. We advance carefully, stepping on clints (blocks of rock) and a…

21 things in this story

Yorkshire Dales ExplorerPlaceTrain route into walking country; runs Saturdays only from Manchester.
Pen-y-ghentSightOne of the three peaks, with a steep southern face.
IngleboroughSightOne of the three peaks, mesa-like with a flat top.
WhernsideSightOne of the three peaks, a long whale-back ridge.
Moughton trig pointSightTrig point at 427 meters with sweeping views.
Long ScarSightVertical edge with Norber Erratics in the middle distance.
Norber ErraticsSightOver 100 boulders left by glaciers above Austwick.
Yorkshire Three PeaksTrailChallenge to hike all three peaks in one day.
Moughton ScarSightAnother drop to descend, passing a massive quarry.
FeizorNeighborhoodTiny hamlet with a teashop.
Station InnHotelPub with rooms at Ribblehead.
Settle to Carlisle rail routePlace
Horton-in-RibblesdaleNeighborhood
RibbleheadNeighborhood
Bowland FellsSight
AustwickNeighborhood
Yorkshire's Three PeaksTrail
Settle to CarlisleTrail
MoughtonSight
RibbleSight
SettleNeighborhood

Read the full piece at The Guardian →