Discover Crosby Garrett

Crosby Garrett brings together distinctive church architecture, archaeological traces and a prominent railway landscape. Paths on the fell are also part of the village’s character. If you would like to focus your stay on a particular theme, you’ll find several points of interest here: local and church history, railways or landscape.

A church on the hill and historic details

St Andrew’s Church stands on a steep hill and offers views across the fells to the north, east and south. A car park on the hill provides step-free access to the church via a level path. Access arrangements may change; check the church’s latest guidance before visiting.

The architectural features also make the church remarkable: 12th-century columns and wall shafts have capitals decorated with water-leaf, volute, animal-head and human-head motifs. A 13th-century piscina is trefoil-shaped and has an eight-lobed drain. There is also a medieval aumbry niche. These varied forms and details give the church building a distinctive historical depth.

Opposite the church on Church Hill stands the Grade II listed Old Rectory Barn. Together with the church, it is part of the historic buildings in this location; its listing is a distinct aspect of the village’s history.

A Roman helmet and archaeological traces

The Crosby Garrett Helmet was discovered near Crosby Garrett in 2010 by a metal detector user. It is an elaborately crafted Roman cavalry helmet from the 2nd or 3rd century AD. Its face mask was found almost intact. The circumstances of its discovery, its dating and its state of preservation make the helmet a notable archaeological point of interest for the area.

At Severals and Intake, a protected archaeological site includes two prehistoric round barrows, three Romano-British settlements and associated regular field systems. The remains preserve important archaeological deposits associated with prehistoric and Romano-British use. The site therefore represents not only individual finds, but also traces of earlier settlement and land-use patterns.

Another insight into economic history can be found at the lime kilns of Smardale Gill. They are a well-preserved example of large-scale commercial lime production from the mid to late 19th century. Those interested in industrial heritage can consider these structures as a distinct area of interest alongside the church and archaeological remains.

Viaducts and railway landscape

The 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; 14 semicircular arches define the structure. Its height, length and arch design convey different aspects of the viaduct’s scale and bring its construction to life.

At the opposite end of the village, the Settle-Carlisle railway viaduct carries the railway line across the landscape. Crosby Garrett Viaduct is a popular destination for railway enthusiasts when historic steam trains pass over its impressive arches. On Crosby Garrett Fell, there is a natural viewpoint and numerous spots from which you can watch and photograph passing trains. The village’s railway attractions therefore differ: one structure tells the story of its engineering, while the viaduct and fell are also places to watch passing trains.

Paths on the fell and towards Smardale

Tarn Lane leads south-east from Crosby Garrett towards Smardale. It forms part of a popular circular walk and is a favourite route with local dog owners. The Coast to Coast path offers a different route: it crosses the summit of Begin Hill and then descends towards the disused railway line in Smardale Valley. The two routes can be distinguished by the features described without treating their courses as the same.

Crosby Garrett Beck flows through the entire length of the village. The well-preserved Pinfold also stands at the foot of Crosby Garrett Fell. Together with the hill, the views and the paths, these features add to the impressions made by the church, railway and archaeological heritage. When planning your stay, you can choose whichever aspect interests you most.

Discover more destinations: Torpenhow, Eskdale, Broughton-In-Furness, Applethwaite, Haverigg, Brigham, Burneside, Kirkby Thore

For the broader travel overview: Cumbria.