Smardale Gill, approach from Ravenstonedale A fresh approach to Smardale. From Ravenstonedale, we walked north beside Scandal Beck sounding loud after rain. Walking its muddy banks was a novelty this summer. Smardale Gill opened up before us: limestone quarry on its western flank and the viaduct soaring high above the beck. A fresh perspective on Smardale packhorse bridge and the dismantled railway track. The skies were louring and cloudy, so butterflies seemed unlikely.
We followed the dismantled railway track toward Smardalegill Viaduct into Scotch Argus habitat. And as we reached the viaduct the sun came out. This is the place, here's the sun, I said. And Scotch Argus appeared on cue.
Beyond the viaduct, the track is fringed with woodland and I asked my friends to look out for glossy red berries in vegetation close to the ground. My scouts quickly reported back their finds and became intent on better specimens. I remembered the location and season when they may be found. Stone bramble, with white flowers followed by edible red fruit. Stone bramble, Rubus saxatilis.
Beyond the viaduct, the track is fringed with woodland and I asked my friends to look out for glossy red berries in vegetation close to the ground. My scouts quickly reported back their finds and became intent on better specimens. I remembered the location and season when they may be found. Stone bramble, with white flowers followed by edible red fruit. Stone bramble, Rubus saxatilis.
Fossils in the limestone walls, although this was a Ramblers walk so the pace didn't lend itself to looking for fossils. We had lunch up on Smardale Fell where clouds loured and the skies darkened and we hastily donned full waterproofs and packed up and briskly into the heather. The heavy shower passed on quickly, leaving the heather fragrant and with low cloud over Mallerstang in the distance.
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