The old 18th Century packhorse bridge trade route over Scandal Beck. The beautiful valley of Smardale is now a nature reserve and its more famous crossing is the Viaduct at the other end of the vale. However many more feet have walked over this bridge at the bottom of the valley near Kirkby Stephen because it is on the route of the Coast to Coast walk. The classic route starts with a dip your booted feet in the Irish Sea at St Bees and walk 200 miles over to the North Sea where you paddle, without boots, at Robin Hood Bay, perhaps to ease your blisters.
2 comments:
That is one hike I wish I had done or could do, but my hiking days are over. It must be quite an experience to hike through all those hills and dales.
You are right the changing scenery at a walking pace must be quite something, we met quite a few people heading west while we were pottering around Smardale.
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