Sunday, 1 April 2018

Moderate 8.5 miles / 13.7 km

Smardale Gill Viaduct

Start time 10:00

(Estimated finish time 15:00)

Moderate 8.5 miles / 13.3 km

Group Summit Good

Meet time 09:45am

Start time 10:00

Start point: layby just by the Kings Head pub, Ravenstonedale CA17 4NH, NY720043

Car parking: layby just by the Kings Head Pub

Description: this walk is a chance to explore part the Westmorland Dales, latest addition to the Yorkshire Dales. We start at the northern edge of the village and take care crossing the busy A685. We will follow the FP sign marked ‘Smardale’. We head across fields to reach Scandal Beck and the Packhorse Bridge. This is where we get our first glimpse of the Grade II listed Smardale Viaduc. At the Packhorse bridge we join Wainwright’s famous Coast to Coast. We head up the bridle way signposted Kirkby Stephen. When we reach the top of the track we bear left and walk alongside the wall. Great views of the Howgills and the Pennine range. At the next fork, we head left towards Smardale. We pass under the Settle-Carlisle railway bridge and walk through the hamlet of Smardale. We will also pass the turrets of Smardale Hall fortified manor house (it dates from the 14th century and is Grade I listed). At the road junction we turn left, and then left again to reach the start of the Smardale Gill National Nature Reserve, a path along a disused railway. We then reach the award winning restored Smardale Viaduct. We cross the viaduct and follow the old railway line all the way to Newbiggin-on-Lune, where we take care crossing the busy A685. We walk through Newbiggin-on-Lune and take the second footpath on our right. Walking across fields, we take the path to Low Greenside and then join the quiet road back to Ravenstonedale.

Distance: Approx 8.5 miles / 13.3 km

Ascent: Approx 450m

Time: 5 hours

Please contact Nathalie on number removed by 6pm on Saturday if you are coming on this walk. It is advisable to carry a headtorch and plenty of warm clothing at this time of year. Parts of this walk may be very muddy. This walk is suitable for dogs, there is only one easy to step over stile and gates. But please make sure you keep your dog under control.

The leader reserves the right to cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.