Horton in Ribblesdale

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Horton in Ribblesdale churchyard, with Pen-y-ghent in the background (photo Andrew Longton)

Horton in Ribblesdale is a small village in Ribblesdale in the county of North Yorkshire, on the Settle–Carlisle Railway to the west of Pen-y-ghent. It is the traditional starting (and finishing) point for the Three Peaks walk. The Pennine Way and Ribble Way long-distance footpaths pass through the village.

The region is also popular for caving and potholing, with Alum Pot and the Long Churn cave system just to the north of the village, and Hull Pot and Hunt Pot on the western side of Pen-y-ghent.

The Three Peaks walk is an endurance challenge of 26 miles distance, including 5,000 feet of ascent and descent of the mountains of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough all to be completed in under 12 hours which attracts thousands of walkers each year. The circuit is also used for a well established fell race in April, while the gruelling Three Peaks cyclo-cross race also visits the three summits in the course of a longer 38 mile route on the last Sunday in September. Participants in both the running and cycling race regularly achieve winning times of around 3 hours, and sometimes both races in the year are won by the same competitor.

The village boasts two pubs, a village store and post office as well as a cafe, tea rooms and a radio telescope.