Eden Viaducts walk, Cumbria - Rails to Trails on Waymarking.com

The above coordinates take you to a map laying out the possibilities. There are many places to start this walk but logically either end are appropriate. Walkers on the poetry path (see Nearby Waymarks) will come on to the track bed briefly for July to September's poems.
A walk leaflet is available from Kirkby Stephen TIC or downloadable from NVT.org.uk Two walks are described in the leaflet along with history of NVT and the line. See Nearby Waymarks for specific history of each viaduct.

The line was commissioned by South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway in 1850s, to carry coke from Durham to the iron ore of Furness, over the Pennine Hills. This line provided a vital link. The engineer who managed the whole project was Thomas Bouch. Each viaduct and stretch of line was put to tender, with several different contractors winning their bids.

All that remain are the stone viaducts. The metal bridges and rails have gone. Between the line closing in 1960s and Northern Viaduct Trust taking over, Hartley Quarry owned and still used the line. When Hartley locals discovered fences across the track bed they formed an action group and approached the Northern Viaduct Trust to take this section with its viaducts under their wing. They agreed only if new trustees were appointed. Hartley Quarry were about to sell the line to local landowners. Northern Viaduct Trust bought the section and raised the money to renovate the viaducts. But there was no easy way to get on the trail at Stenkrith end. So a metal bridge was commissioned parallel to the existing road bridge. The Foot and Mouth epidemic delayed the placement. Eventually the link across the river Eden provided easier access. More recently the dedicated parking at Stenkrith Bridge has provided direct access to the trail without crossing the river. None of the literature refers to this new feature. Nor does any of the digital mapping (2011).

The Northern Viaduct Trust allow anyone to use their section, cyclists, walkers and horse riders. A very popular thoroughfare, always someone on it.

There is dedicated a car park at south west side of Stenkrith bridge, which has appeared in 2011, long after the maps.

Above coordinates are for western end. The Hartley or north eastern end are N 54° 28.177 W 002° 20.174 which is Merrygill viaduct.

Country: England State/Province/etc.: Cumbria Trail Start (town): Stenkrith, Kirkby Stephen Trail Finish (town): Hartley Quarry Trail Length: 1 Trail Surface: Gravel/Stone Pack Animals Allowed: yes Fees: no Rail-to-Trail Sign: Explore The Eden Viaducts Please enjoy your walk/ride along this section of the former Stainmore Railway, crossing the two viaducts of Podgill and Merrygill. Information about the history of that railway and the industries it served will be found in the two lineside huts shown on the diagram. This is a "permissive right of way" open to pedestrians wheelchairs cyclists and horse riders and is owned by the Northern Viaduct Trust. Internet Link(s): NVT walk http://www.nvt.org.uk/travel-p.htm Streetmap Stenkrith end http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=377298&Y=507462&A=Y&Z=115 Streetmap Hartley end http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=378456&Y=508409&A=Y&Z=115

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