A-Z Challenge 2018 - British Rivers: Ribble

The Ribble has provided a few surprises for me while preparing for the Challenge.

I have always believed it to be a Lancashire river. However I now know that Yorkshire's so called three peaks - Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent in the Pennines - encircle the head of the valley of the River Ribble. What's more it is the only major river in Yorkshire which flows westward.

The Ribble was known in Roman times as Belisama a goddess worshipped in Gaul. Although her presence in Britain is disputed the name means the 'brightest one.'

The 75 mile long Ribble flows through the Yorkshire village of Giggleswick, famous for its school and the town of Settle before passing through Lancashire's Clitheroe, Ribchester and Preston. It enters the Irish Sea on England's west coast between Lytham St Annes and Southport.

River Ribble downstream of Mitton Bridge, Lancashire

For those with an energetic disposition you may want to walk the 73 mile long Ribble Way from its mouth to the source. You may be more pleased to know that the walk is split into seven 10 mile long stages.

These days I'd rather admire the other West Yorkshire, River Ribble.

River Ribble above Swan Bank, Holmfirth

This must be one of England's shortest rivers - it's only c3 km long.

I enjoy seeing it regularly on TV in the reruns of the old comedy series Last of the Summer Wine.

Photo attributions:

• River Ribble downsteam of Mitton Bridge: 26 April 2007 ex geograph.org,uk by Alexander P Kapp - CC BY-SA 2.0 licence
• River Ribble above Swan Bank: 5 November 2009 ex geograph.org,uk by Humphrey Bolton - CC BY-SA 2.0 licence

Caving in Yorkshire - Sepia Saturday

I announced previously (in June here) that I was not a caveman so when I saw the Jenolan Caves tour bus in this week's prompt.

I knew I could not compete with the Aussies as we are staring a whitewash in the face. I decided to come back home to Yorkshire where they still know a thing or two about cricket and to go caving instead.

White Scar Caves & Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales

What are now Britain's longest show caves were discovered in August 1923 by Christopher Long and J H Churchill. The summit of Ingleborough is some 4 km away.

How can you get there? 

By Tour Bus of course

Once inside the caves there are many spectacular sights such as this:

Inside White Scar Caves

To make you realise how insignificant we are you can always consult the clock.

Geological Clock

Even the devil will have been there before us and may lick you to death.

The Devil's Tongue - White Scar Caves

While in Yorkshire you do not have to restrict your visit to these caves under Ingleborough in the Chapel-le-Dale Valley in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

You could also take a look at:

Stump Cross Caverns

The caverns make up a limestone cave system between Wharfedale and Nidderdale in North Yorkshire. Their name derives from Stump Cross which in ancient times marked the limit of Knaresborough forest.

So in my Yorkshire tour I have found some caves and a bus, As for men in white coats.

For other prompts all I rely on Clarke Gable

However I suggest that you don't walk away like him before you have visited Sepia-Saturday-209.

Photo attributions:

• White Scar Caves & Ingleborough - Alan Murray Rust - CC BY-SA 2.0, Geograph Project Collection
• Inside White Scar Caves - Sharon Leedell - CC BY-SA 2.0, Geograph Project Collection
• Geological Clock - Immanuel Giel - PD
• The Devil's Tongue, White Scar Caves - Immanuel Giel - PD
• Stump Cross Caverns - Paul Allison - CC BY-SA 2.0, Geograph Project Collection