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Exploring Eden
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Exploring Eden
Staff members from Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Yorkshire Dale National Park Authority and Eden Rivers Trust standing on the Podgill viaduct trail path looking up at the Podgill viaduct structure.

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Podgill Viaduct and Smardale Trails

Part of project: Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges

Aim: To increase the number of places in the Eden where those with sensory and physical challenges can experience nature on their own terms.

Activities planned

  1. Improve 1.5km of path to be fully accessible from east of Smardale to the road head before Waitby Greenriggs and reinstate bridges.
  2. Hold workshops with beneficiaries to design, test and build a sensory trail along the Podgill trail.
  3. Undertake an 18 month engagement programme for potential users of both routes, focusing on those with  sensory and physical impairments as well as other under-resourced local communities without resources to visit. Link with Access the Dales’ activity programme.
  4. Signpost participants to other events and activities with the Access to Eden programme further north.
  5. Hold dedicated open days for both trails.

Lead partner: Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

The challenge, our approach and progress made

 

Challenge

There are currently no trails in the Eden or across the Yorkshire Dales National Park that are planned (and  promoted) specifically for those who have sensory impairments (there are very few in the north of England with the nearest being Harrogate) and a limited number of fully accessible trails (only five with this level of accessibility promoted within the whole Yorkshire Dales National Park and one in the north of the Eden catchment at Talkin Tarn.)

 

Approach

To increase the number of places in the Eden where those with sensory and physical challenges can experience nature on their own terms.

 

Progress highlights last quarter: Apr 2026 - Jun 2026

  • Paula, new Community Engagement Officer with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, started on 27th April and has completed her induction.
  • Outreach work to identify key organisations and individuals is already well underway. A meeting with The Sensory Trust has also been held to discuss support and consultancy for development of the Podgill Sensory Trail.
  • Planning permission for the bridges has been received and the project is on track to be delivered for September 2026.  


Progress highlights to date: Apr 2024 - Mar 2026

  • All aggregate work complete other than the bridge ends.
  • The gates at the eastern end of the accessible path have been installed.  
  • Initial consultation meeting held with Sensory Trust about the sensory trail at Podgill and agreement in principle with landowner to develop ideas secured.
  • Community Engagement Officer has been appointed, to start 27th April.
  • Surfacing works at Smardale commenced in early November 2025, with the path tray excavated, followed by application of sub-base and a top-dressing of limestone.
  • Bridge structures have been purchased!
  • A Biodiversity Net Gain assessment has been completed.
  • A badger survey has been completed. It contains recommendations to build into the works methodology.
  • The next step is the planning application submission. The build and installation of bridges and the surfacing works are now scheduled for August  or September 2025.
  • A full planning application has been submitted for improvements to 1.5km of disused railway track bed, including the creation of an accessible path and installation of two new footbridges where the route crosses public roads. The path works will be completed in advance, as the bridges will be assembled on the track bed before being moved into position.
  • To help expedite delivery, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) confirmed that the path enhancement works could proceed as permitted development and began in October 2025.

Image gallery

  • Section of the Podgill viaduct trail walk. Grassy pathway with viaduct spanning in the background. Large cow sat at edge of pathway watching the group walk past.
  • Looking from the top of a grass mound across the gap to a grass mound on opposite side of a road track cutting through the raised banking and foot trail.
  • Staff members from Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Yorkshire Dale National Park Authority and Eden Rivers Trust standing on the Podgill viaduct trail path looking up at the Podgill viaduct structure.

Access to Eden Doorstep Sites

Creating thriving natural spaces

Making improvements to the river environment at eight sites ‘on the doorstep’ of urban areas along the length of the river Eden.

Partners and Funders

This project is supported by the Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges partnership project led by Eden Rivers Trust with a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks also to the Garfield Weston Foundation and Penrith Town Council for their support during 2024.

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