The River Ribble is 70 miles long and rises in the Dales, eventually entering the Irish Sea at Preston. Geological features in Ribblesdale include numerous pot holes and caves - the most well known being the Gaping Ghyll cave system.

The famous Settle and Carlisle railway crosses one of the most difficult sections of the line to be built in Ribblesdale - the 24 arches of the Ribblehead viaduct. After passing over the viaduct Blea Moor Tunnel is the longest on the line at 2629 yards long. Many visitors also come to this dale to conquer the three peaks - Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent.

Ribblesdale is a dale of great contrasts from the busy market town of Settle, which grew rapidly in the 13 th century, home to the well known Olde Naked Man Café, the wild and remote landscape around the viaduct and the three peaks.