The River Ribble is a river that runs through North Yorkshire and Lancashire, in the North of England. The Ribble begins at the confluence of the Gayle Beck and Cam Beck, in the shadow of the Yorkshire three peaks. It flows through Settle, Clitheroe and Preston, before emptying into the Irish Sea near Lytham, a length of 75 miles. The Ribble Way is a long-distance footpath which follows the river for much of its course. The Ribble marked the ancient northern boundary of Mercia; and at the time of the Domesday Book was the northern boundary of Cheshire.

The river is connected to both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Lancaster Canal (via the Ribble Link).

Its estuary forms part of the Ribble and Alt Estuaries Special Protection Area for wildlife.

The River Ribble catchment is covered by the Mersey Basin Campaign, a partnership which was established in 1985 to improve water quality and encourage waterside regeneration.

Preston City Council have published controversial plans to build a barrage across the River Ribble, in their 'Riverworks' proposals. The aim of these proposals is to build a water sports park on a section of the Ribble, coupled with over 4000 units of high quality housing and businesses in the river's flood plain. Some local residents are opposing these plans, arguing that they endanger wildlife, increase flood risk to local housing and damage greenbelt areas. These residents have set up the 'Save The Ribble' campaign.

External links

• River Ribble - from source to sea
• Riverworks
• Save The Ribble
• Ribble Link Trust Ltd

Rivers in Lancashire | Rivers in North Yorkshire | Preston | Ribble (elv)