Organisers of a unique walk across the Ribblehead viaduct say the event will definitely go ahead.

Left: Ribblehead viaduct

The Settle to Carlisle railway will be closed for maintenance work for two weeks in July and the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line have negotiated with Network Rail and Northern Trains to allow the public the chance to walk over the viaduct.

Cost will be £15 per person and details are on the Friends’ website. In addition to the 22 July walk, the group, which is the largest rail-user group in the country, is laying on family fun and exhibitions at the adjacent Ribblehead station. Guided walks around the Batty Moss area, the site of the temporary town that was home to thousands of navvies during the construction of the railway, will also be provided.

Proceeds will go to the upkeep of buildings at Ribblehead station which are owned by the Settle-Carlisle Railway Trust.

The Friends were formed 25 years ago to fight the proposed closure of the line and demolition of the viaduct, which was on the cards at the time. The group says tickets can be reserved by logging on to their website.