The River Ribble

from source to sea
Part 1 - the source

Gavel Gap

This wall, high up on Newby Head Moss, used to mark the boundary between the old West and North Ridings of Yorkshire. Its course at this point approximates to the watershed of the Ribble and Ure River systems. The bricked up gateway is known as Gavel Gap, and is the official end of the Ribble Way middle distance footpath. The photograph is taken looking south west, with Whernside in the background.

High on Newby Head Moss

This shallow depression, close to Gavel Gap is near the the start of Jam Syke, the stream which has its source nearest to the end of the Ribble Way. There is a small trickle of water hidden among the rushes. Gladys Sellers, in her book The Ribble Way says that the source is spring, a little higher than I must have ventured. - if I find it in future, its picture will replace this!

Jam Syke - 1

The small trickle soon gathers more water, especially after heavy rainfall. When the stream is in spate, it errodes a deeper course.

Jam Syke - 2

Even this high up on the fells, the stream has enough force to errode through the peat, and the clay sub-soil.

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River Ribble Part 2