Walks
There are several beautiful walks around the Upper Eden Viaducts with fabulous views and an abundance of wildlife. See links in the top menu.
Below are two downloadable guides and maps
According to Cumbria Wildlife Trust:
- Smardale Gill is one of the only two sites in England that’s home to the scotch argus butterfly. The tiny northern brown argus can also be seen here
- Discover a range of unusual plants: bloody crane’s-bill, rock-rose, horseshoe vetch, frog, fragrant and greater butterfly orchid can all be seen in the grassland
- Redstart and pied flycatcher can be seen in summer, whilst green woodpecker, treecreeper, raven and sparrowhawk are resident year round
- In spring bluebells, primrose and early purple orchid.
- In summer orchids, bird’s eye primrose, melancholy thistle, bloody cranesbill and butterflies. In summer, bird species include redstart, wood warbler and pied flycatcher whilst buzzard, treecreeper and sparrowhawk may be seen all year round.
- In autumn find fellwort, devil’s bit scabious, scotch argus butterflies. Later in autumn and through the winter flocks of birds such as goldfinch, field fare and redwing feeding on the berries.
- At any time look out for red squirrels and roe deer or explore the archaeology and geology.
