Impressive piece of Cumbria's industrial heritage near Kirkby Stephen
Standing proudly over the peaceful Smardale Valley, this Grade II*–listed viaduct is an impressive piece of railway heritage. Built in 1861 from local sandstone, it once carried long trains of coke from County Durham to the busy iron and steel works of Barrow and West Cumberland. When the line closed in 1962, the viaduct slowly slipped into decline—until a group of local enthusiasts stepped in.
In 1989, the Northern Viaduct Trust began the remarkable task of restoring the structure, securing its future and transforming it into the beautiful permissive footpath you can stroll across today. The views from the top are nothing short of spectacular.
On either side of the viaduct, Cumbria Wildlife Trust cares for rich nature reserves bursting with wildflowers, butterflies, and birds. A new accessible path, created by the Yorkshire Dales National Park through the Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges partnership project and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, now makes exploring the area easier than ever.
As you wander the route, keep an eye out for the two historic lime kilns tucked into the landscape. Originally built to supply lime for the viaduct’s construction, they’ve recently been sympathetically restored through the Westmorland Dales Landscape Scheme—lifting them from Historic England’s “At Risk” register and preserving them for future generations.
Explore the history and the surrounding area around Smardale Gill viaduct.
