Walking in Smardale
Contributed by Kathy Trimmer...
Perhaps the easiest walk if you're not into mountains, maps and compasses, is to start from the Garden Centre at Newbiggin-on-Lune and walk to Smardale Gill Nature reserve. Park your car at the Garden Centre and Norman or Gabriel or whoever else is working at the Garden Centre will point you in the direction of the Nature Reserve. The footpath follows the route of the Darlington to Tebay Railway. Be careful crossing the main road opposite the garden centre. This is the most dangerous part of the walk.

The nature reserve is home to roe deer, red squirrel and 20 different varies of butterflies, including the rare Scotch Argus. You will also find a wonderful variety of wildflower, including a few rarities such as Globe Flowers, Bloody Crainsbill, Wintergreen and several different Orchids. I have walked this route in late June and counted more than 100 different varieties of flowers in bloom on one day but do please remember that this is a Nature Reserve belonging to English Nature and you must not damage the trees or pick flowers. The footpath is not actually a right of way but English Nature is happy for people to enjoy it, as long as they do so with respect.

The railway line, which served Ravenstonedale, and Newbiggin Railway Station, were Beeching casualties during the 1960's and, although the rails were removed, you can still see where the sleepers were laid in some parts. If you look across the main road and just to your left from the Garden Centre, you can see the old Railway Station, which is now a private house.

After a couple of miles walking along the old track bed, you will pass a couple of derelict Platelayers Cottages and then you will come to two magnificent Lime Kilns. You will find many lime kilns in the area but they are mostly small ones that just served the farm on which they stand, but the ones by the old railway line are more on a commercial size and one can surmise that the railway, during its short existence, permitted a commercial lime burning business to thrive.

Half a mile further on, you will come to the spectacular Smardale Gill Viaduct. In the early 1980's British Rail asked for permission to demolish this magnificent Victorian structure as it was declared unsafe. There was public outcry, both locally and nationally. A successful appeal was made and funds were raised for its restoration and Sir William Whitlaw reopened it in 1986.

Walk over the viaduct and you should easily find a way-marked permissible path, heading back in the direction you came from. This will take you onto the 'Coast to Coast' Footpath, heading westbound, and ultimately back to the Garden Centre. Norman will be quite happy for you to leave your car in his car park and will be delighted if you decide to treat yourself to a well-earned cuppa or something from the Garden Centre or Craft Shop to remember a delightful day.