COAST TO COAST PATH

Begin Hill, Smardale, Crosby Garrett

Historical and Educational Articles

Begin Hill, Crosby Garrett Fell

Begin Hill is a 310m hilltop on the eastern finger of Crosby Garrett Fell, overlooking the dismantled Smardale Railway. The hill is known for its several Roman settlements. Severalls and Intake are two such settlements and they are each listed as scheduled monuments by Historic England. First time Coast to Coast walkers descending Begin Hill are met with an unexpected and sensational view of the Smardale Valley, with the dismantled railway, viaduct, Scandal Beck and Giants Graves.
Coast to Coast path on Begin Hill

Coast to Coast path on Begin Hill

Begin Hill and Nettle Hill

Begin Hill, 310m, is on the opposite, southern side of a shallow vale to Nettle Hill, 382m, the highest point of Crosby Garrett Fell. It is known for its three Romano-British settlements, the outlines of which remain clearly visible. It is also known for its proximity to the Smardale valley, of which it provides its western cliff wall.

Begin Hill

from Sandy Bank

From Sandy Bank, the low lying limestone scarps of Begin Hill are visible, appearing as successive lines of long flat ridges. Below the south side of the Hill is the Smardale dismantled railway. Access to Begin Hill is via a bridge that crosses Severals Gill and a tunnel beneath the railway.

Severals Gill

Severals Gill is bespeckled each side with a large preponderance of bluebells, distending into the outlying trees that surround the dismantled railway, and far along the Gill towards Smardale Bridge.

Ancient Roman Settlements

The standard interior layout for ancient Roman settlements similar to those on Begin Hill, includes one or more stone round-houses near the rear of a curved stone enclosure. They would face towards the enclosure entrance. There are three such settlements on Begin Hill, namely Intake I, Intake II and Severals.

The Coast to Coast path crosses over the top of Begin Hill and descends to the dismantled railway in the Smardale Valley. The railway tracks have been removed and the path is now a smooth surfaced path. The side of Begin Hill falling to Scandel Beck is craggy and precipitous.
There is a disused limestone quarry and a large 19th century double lime kiln at the foot of the hill, at the side of the dismantled railway. The lime kilns, known by their listed name of Smardale Gill Lime Kilns, date back to the 18th century. That limestone was worked in this area is hardly surprising in view of the nearby Roman settlements, as the Romans were the first people to do so in England.

The many stone farmhouses and barns in the area promulgated as a result of the increased popularity of limestone building around the end of the 17th century. Burnt lime was used at the end of the 18th century to improve the quality of the farmed crops.

Begin Hill Summit Pond

A non-remarkable pond is present near the 310m summit of Begin Hill. The pond is, however useful in pin-pointing the locations of the three settlements known as Intake and Severals. A hypothetical line drawn from south to east with the pond in the centre would line up with all three settlements. These settlements comprise two prehistoric round cairns, three Romano-British settlements and a field system.

Intake I

Intake I is the middling of the three settlements and is close to the edge of the east face of Begin Hill, with an uniterrupted view across Smardale to Smardale Fell. Although all the settlements are turfed over they are identifiable as raised enclosures.

Intake I

Intake 1 and 2 are Romano-British Settlements, a new culture arising in Britian in AD43 following the Roman conquest. These settlements were small, non-defensive, enclosed homesteads, and were of stone construction. Enclosures would normally have 2 houses in them, but the larger ones had up to 6.

Intake II

The oblong structure of the settlements of Intake II are more prominent than Intake 1. Intake II is the most northerly of the three settlements. It overlooks Crag Wood and Smardale to the east and to the west there is a clear view up Nettle Hill, which rises to 382m.

Coast to Coast Trail Guide

Hiking the Coast to Coast

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Coast to Coast Trail Guide