Scandal Beck
- Not to be confused with Scandale Beck
The Scandal Beck is a small river in the green heart of Westmorland, and a tributary of the River Eden.
The beck rises high on the slopes of Wild Boar Fell, on Mallerstang Common and flows to the north-west, for some of the way, as it gathers the gills from the fells, followed by the Pennine Bridleway. The river passes under the A683 and after a couple of miles reaches Ravestonedale (south-west of Kirkby Stephen), where it is swollen by several streams coming from the northern edges of the Howgill Fells.
From Ravenstonedale the river flows northwards, through the parish of Smardale. It is crossed by the Smardale Gill Viaduct, a remarkable brick-built viaduct which once carried railway line and now a humble footpath: the dale is steep below here and known as the 'Smardale Gill', and contains an extensive nature reserve. Soon the Smardale Viaduct carries the Settle–Carlisle line over the dale.
At Soulby the river turns east and after a mile falls into the River Eden.
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