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

More Kirklevington Scarecows

There was one pair of scarecrows that just have to be seen from different angles to see what they are about.

For those of you who feel nostalgic I hope you remember the UK TV series "Last of the Summer Wine" because I have christened them:

Howard and Marina

You may wonder why they need the map book on Howard's handlebars when all they need to do is use their eyes and read what it says on the  - 

Signpost

Mind you this girl might need some directions to help get back on both legs.

Windswept Sally

My final group today know how to make themselves comfortable and have decided:

There is no place like home.

This is the third set of scarecrows that I have shown. There is one more to come (on Monday). Afterwards you need to have chosen the one from the four posts which you think won the Kirkfest Scarecrow Competition.