Horton in Ribblesdale is best known as the normal starting point for the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge, and the village is dominated by Pen-y-Ghent, which looms over the village from the east. The remaining peaks are a little less obvious from the village – the summit of Ingleborough can be glimpsed, although nearer ridges somewhat hide it, while Whernside is only really seen from the hills around the village.
The village falls into three distinct sections, one around Horton Bridge, which contains the church and a pub, one where the road turns west to cross the Ribble, which runs from the Pen-y-Ghent café up to the second pub, and one close to the Settle-to-Carlisle Railway.
The Pen-y-ghent café is the clocking in and out point for the Three Peaks Walk, and on most days parties of either apprehensive or exhausted walkers can be found in the car park. The Crown Hotel, at the northern end of the village, served excellent pies, while the Golden Lion, at the southern end, is ideally placed for the village camp site.
The village is one of the few in the Dales to still have a large active quarry, just to the west of the village, a reminder of the industrial heritage of the area.
St. Oswald’s church contains a Norman doorway and nave arcades, while the lynch gates are roofed with giant Horton slates.
Three of our walks start in Horton - ascents of Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent and a lower level walk around Ribblesdale close to Horton.