Tebay to Stainmore Gap Line

foxy mars · #1 (**permalink**) 16-08-2011, 02:45 PM

I'm planning a coast to coast cycle ride for 2012 and although, I have a draft route laid out and pleased with that. But, good as the route is I have on draft, I've noticed there is a dis-used railway line, that go's from Hartley, which is near Kirkby Stephen and run's through to the Stainmore Gap, which is now part of the A66 Trans-Pennine road.

I'm wondering, if the dis-used rail track is on private land or is all or part of it, open to the public to walk or cycle on. It does look like a super route to cycle on. I've even done a Google-map view and it is seems pretty much open, but I can't help but think, there are a few farm building's along the track.

Another thing, the Belah Viaduct is no longer there.

As anyone walked along this disused rail-track, if so, I would be happy to hear any comments regards to the line. Also, there are some web-sites explaining the history of this line, very interesting stuff.

Lancashire Lad · #2 (**permalink**) 17-08-2011, 10:20 AM

Looks like it could be a very interesting route, but a quick scan of some of the sections on satellite mapping shows that there seem to be several fences etc. crossing what was the old railway line.

It doesn't appear to be a right of way so I doubt whether there will be such things as stiles or kissing gates etc. (and you can't really get an appreciation of what the terrain would really be like for cycling from the resolution on satellite mapping that's free to view).

Might be worth contacting the Tourist Information Office at Kendal. - They carry all sorts of information/leaflets etc. covering the whole gamut of outdoor activities and routes etc. etc. for that part of the country.

They may well have something that they could send to you - or might be able to put you onto somehwere that you could get more info.

If it's a goer, it should make for some interesting "post ride" reports on WAB.

Good luck with it.

Regards,
Mike.

foxy mars · #3 (**permalink**) 17-08-2011, 11:38 AM

Thanks Mike.

I emailed the Eden District Council, late yesterday and had a reply this morning, this is it.

"Thank you for your email. I have checked with Kirkby Stephen Tourist Information Centre re your query. They tell me the track you are referring to is not open to the public as much of it is now private. Since the closure of the railway the land has been taken over and is used for grazing livestock etc."

I also had a search on any website, which may shed some light on this line. It did show some walker's on the line, but this may of been some years ago.

However, all is not lost because there is a road to Tan Hill from Kirkby Stephen via Winton and Barra's. This will be included as part of my planned coast to coast bike ride, be it off-road or on-road, time will tell.

foxy mars · #4 (**permalink**) 17-08-2011, 12:22 PM

I did some more research regarding the Tebay to Stainmore line, that there is a disused rail track from Newbiggin on Lune to the Waitby road near Smardale Mill, which is now accessible to the public. So, I will include this into my coast to coast bike route.

PMG · #5 (**permalink**) 17-08-2011, 09:17 PM

I'm not sure what the area is like recently as its a while - years - since I had a walk in that area - but there are two local reserves on the old railway line - Waitby Greenrigs and Smardale Gill and Line - both owned by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust if memory serves me right? I'm not that a permit may be required to pass thro these and again I'm not sure what happens with the land immediately adjacent either side - in whether its private or not - in other words you can visit the reserves from a given point but cannot traverse thro from end to end? It might be worth making enquiries from the Trust to see if they can be included or whether you're going to be stuck with road routes?

Pauline