Crosby Garrett Beck flows through the entire length of the village; at the opposite end, the Settle-Carlisle railway viaduct carries the railway line across the landscape. Other features include St Andrew’s Church on a steep hill, as well as evidence of the area’s railway, industrial and archaeological history. The different sites offer a range of ways to shape your stay around your own interests.
Church Art and Village Details
St Andrew’s Church stands on a steep hill and offers views across the fells to the north, east and south. According to the parish’s visitor information (as of 2 September 2026), a car park on the hill allows people with disabilities to reach the church via a level path. As access arrangements may change, check them before your visit.
Inside the church, the columns and wall piers date from the 12th century. Their capitals are decorated with waterleaf and volute forms, as well as animal and human heads. Later details include a 13th-century trefoil piscina with an eight-lobed drain and a medieval aumbry niche. Opposite the church on Church Hill stands the Old Rectory Barn, a Grade II listed building. At the foot of Crosby Garrett Fell, you can also find the well-preserved Crosby Garrett Pinfold.
Viaducts and Railway History
Smardalegill Viaduct crosses Scandal Beck and was completed in 1860 for the South Durham & Lancashire Union Railway. It is 90 feet high and about 550 feet long; its 14 arches are semicircular. Its dimensions and the shape of its arches give the structure a distinctive profile in the area’s railway history.
At the opposite end of the village, the Settle-Carlisle railway viaduct carries the railway line across the landscape. For trainspotting, Crosby Garrett Fell offers a natural vantage point, with numerous places to watch and photograph passing trains. When historic steam trains cross the impressive arches of Crosby Garrett Viaduct, it is a popular destination for railway enthusiasts.
The lime kilns at Smardale Gill also tell the story of how the landscape was used: they are a well-preserved example of large-scale commercial lime production from the mid- to late 19th century. They add another aspect of the industry of the period to the railway history.
Archaeological Traces from Different Periods
At Severals and Intake, a protected archaeological site comprises two prehistoric round barrows, three Romano-British settlements and their associated regular field systems. The remains preserve significant archaeological deposits linked to prehistoric and Romano-British use. The site therefore contains traces from several periods, not just individual visible structures.
Another archaeological topic is the Crosby Garrett Helmet. A metal detector user discovered it near Crosby Garrett in 2010. The elaborately designed Roman cavalry helmet dates from the 2nd or 3rd century AD; its face mask was found almost intact. The story of its discovery and its state of preservation make the helmet a striking example of the area’s Roman past.
Paths Through the Landscape
Tarn Lane leads southeast from Crosby Garrett towards Smardale. It is part of a popular circular walk and a favourite route for local dog owners. The Coast to Coast Path follows a different route: it crosses the summit of Begin Hill before descending towards the disused railway line in Smardale Valley. The routes described therefore differ in their direction and the landmarks along the way.
Church architecture, viaducts, archaeological sites and paths offer different focal points for a stay in Crosby Garrett. If you are looking for a hotel, you can choose where to stay based on the subjects that interest you most and plan your visits accordingly.
Discover more destinations: Applethwaite, Kirkoswald, Whitbeck, Winscales, Silecroft, Newby Bridge, Soulby, Stapleton.
For the wider travel overview: Cumbria.
