110 RIVERS 



THE KIBBLE. 



The KIBBLE rises near the edge of Wensleydale, on the west 

 of Cam Fell, by small branches, whose variable sources are 

 about 1300 feet above the sea. These gather toward the 

 centre of the space between Whernside, Cam Fell, and Ingle- 

 borough, where in the broad limestone area is the feeble but 

 constant rill which is honoured with the title of Kibble Head 

 (about 1000 feet). Near this is Gearstones anciently 'Deer 

 Stones' a comfortable inn, the best station for exploring the 

 mountains round the sources of Ribble. 



From Ribblehead the stream descends through limestone a 

 few miles, and then enters the singular band of slaty Silurian 

 rocks which lie under that limestone in Craven. Small streams 

 come in from the east, their courses partly interrupted by the 

 numerous ' swallow-holes ' which are so common in the lime- 

 stone ranges of Yorkshire. Still smaller rills enter from the 

 west, and in one of these under Moughton Scar, an uncommon 

 junction may be seen of the limestone and Silurians with inter- 

 posed beds not known elsewhere. The Silurian strata dip in 

 various directions very steeply, but their top is nearly level, as 

 if cut off or planed away by some great and widely acting force ; 

 and the limestone lies level above them. The slate or rather 

 flagstone quarries near Horton yield Orthoceratites, Favosites, 

 and Lituites but rarely. Penyghent on one side and Ingle- 

 borough on the other, each rising above broad and lofty scars of 

 limestone, make this part of Ribblesdale very interesting. 



Swallow-holes, fantastic little glens and caverns, diversify the 

 aspect of the limestone. Among these may be noticed a long 

 subterranean passage, once ornamented by stalactites, called 

 Catknot Cave, near Gearstones ; Allen or Hellen Pot, near Sel- 

 side a deep and gloomy Avernus, connected with other remark- 

 able and complicated caverns called Long Churn and Diccan 

 Pot, difficult of access, but rendered interesting by underground 

 falls of water ; Browgill, on the east side of the dale, gives sub- 



