From the Smardale Packhorse Bridge, Scandal Beck winds north through the wooded floor of Smardale Gill, drawing the eye towards the distant arches of Smardale Gill Viaduct. A delightful riverside path follows the eastern bank to Smardale Hall before returning along the route of the dismantled railway on the western side, crossing the viaduct to complete one of the most rewarding short walks in the Westmorland Dales.

The former South Durham & Lancashire Union Railway crosses Scandal Beck at a graceful angle as it enters Smardale Gill, now part of the Smardale Gill National Nature Reserve. Below, the beck winds through the wooded valley towards Witches Stride, while above, the magnificent nineteenth-century viaduct stands as a lasting reminder of the age of steam. The contrast between Victorian engineering and the timeless tranquillity of the valley makes this one of the most memorable views on the Coast to Coast.

From Smardale Bridge, Scandal Beck glides gently northwards towards the distant arches of Smardale Gill Viaduct, inviting the walker to pause and enjoy the valley’s tranquillity. Lush banks of ferns, wildflowers and riverside vegetation line the clear waters, softening the traces of the former limestone quarries that once occupied both sides of the beck.

The elegant Smardale Bridge is a Grade II listed eighteenth-century packhorse bridge, built from locally quarried limestone to carry travellers across Scandal Beck long before modern roads reached the valley. Its single graceful arch and sturdy parapets have changed little over the centuries, making it both a practical crossing and one of the most enduring landmarks of Smardale Gill.

Severals Gill descends from the springs below Begin Hill, following a shallow channel between Sandy Bank and the fellside before joining Scandal Beck at Smardale Bridge. After heavy rain the gill often spills beyond its banks, with water cascading down the footpath itself—a reminder that these ancient routes were shaped as much by the landscape as by the people who travelled them. Its source lies close to the Severals Historic Settlement, linking the little stream with a landscape that has been occupied for centuries.

This deceptively gentle ford carries Tarn Lane across Scandal Beck on the road between Crosby Garrett and Smardale. Its curved concrete base and the flowing water can make it surprisingly difficult for drivers to judge the correct line, particularly in wet conditions. Vehicles occasionally slip from the crossing, and local farmers are no strangers to helping stranded motorists recover their cars from the beck.

Leaving the limestone scenery of Smardale Gill, Scandal Beck crosses the ford on Tarn Lane before flowing north-east towards Soulby, where it has grown from a modest upland stream into a substantial river. Its journey began as little more than a trickle draining the marshes of Tarn Mire beneath Wharton Fell, gathering strength from tributaries including Lockholme Beck, Keld Sike and the outflow from Hag Mire. A short distance beyond Soulby, at Beckfoot, the beck finally surrenders its waters to the River Eden, completing a journey through one of the most historically and environmentally rich valleys on the Coast to Coast.