Settle to Carlisle Line

The Settle to Carlisle Line is a railway running through the Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines with stone viaducts and tunnels crossing natural valleys. The route connects multiple stations while traversing mountainous landscapes punctuated by substantial engineering structures.

Construction started in 1869 with thousands of workers, primarily Irish laborers, who built this last major railway line in England entirely by hand. Its completion marked a turning point, as few rail lines were constructed this way afterward.

The Ribblehead Viaduct stands as a celebrated engineering landmark with its distinctive stone arches that define the landscape visually. Travelers recognize the structure immediately as a symbol of Victorian railway construction when passing through the region.

Trains operate regularly between Leeds and Carlisle with stops at several stations along the route. The best time to travel is during favorable weather, when views of the mountains are at their clearest.

Dent is England's highest mainline railway station, sitting in an isolated location surrounded by mountains. The station was built to connect remote mountain villages to the network, though today it sees only a handful of trains.

Location: Yorkshire and the Humber

Official opening: 1875

Part of: National Rail

GPS coordinates: 54.51700,-2.45600

Latest update: December 17, 2025 11:21