Exploring buildings and bridges 2025 - Smardale circular Walk 4.7 miles

Smardale is an old parish now part of Waitby. The name 'Smaredale' may derive from smere, an ancient name for clover, or old Norse butter.
Smardale Bridge over Scandale Beck carried the old County Road to Appleby and whilst listed as a Packhorse Bridge probably 18th century, it has origins carrying the old County Road to Appleby, as a meeting place for the Kaber Rigg Plot in 1636 and Lady Anne Clifford’s preferred route from 1649. It is believed that there was a hamlet and an ale house.
There are nearby Iron Age and Medieval settlements and associated field systems including Giant’s Graves which are believed to have been used for drying bracken rather than breeding rabbits.
Nearby Smardale Hall has origins in the middle-ages but the present turreted building dates from 14th to 16th century.
Chapel-well a once reputed “holy well”, west of Scandal Beck within a very early chapel.
Smardale Viaduct owned by Northern Viaduct Trust, is a magnificent, curved viaduct designed by Thomas Bouch as part of the South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway. The viaduct has 14 arches of 30 feet span, and a total length of 553 feet (c170m), 90 feet (27m) high above the valley. It is constructed of locally quarried sandstone with limestone cement from the large recently restored Lime Kilns nearby.
Walk 4.7miles/7.5km, 500ft/150m3

Timings & Tours

Saturday 13 September:

09:30

Location & directions

Smardale Nature Reserve, Smardale, Smardale, Cumbria, CA17 4HG

Directions:

Meet at Smardale Nature Reserve car park Grid reference: NY 742 083 what3words ///crispier.quench.snack

Contact on day:

Andy Bryan - for Kirkby Stephen Walkers are Welcome

Telephone number:

+441768371976

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

Email [email protected]

Booking contact name:

Ann Sandell- for Kirkby Stephen Walkers are Welcome

Booking telephone number:

+441768371976

Booking email:

[email protected]

Booking opens:

14 Aug 2025 12:00 AM

Booking closes:

12 Sep 2025 12:00 AM

Accessibility details

Limited access

Additional information

Please be prepared for walking and weather.

Max no of people per tour:

15

Est. tour duration:

4 hour(s) 29 minute(s)

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