Under no circumstances should this cache be attempted directly from the A66. You will be putting the lives of others at risk, to say nothing of your own. At this point the A66 is a 70mph dual carriageway, but many drivers will be going faster. To reach the parking area leave the A66 at the junction for Kaber, Barras and South Stainmore, to the west of the cache location
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Stainmore station was an untimetabled stopping place on the Darlington to Tebay (Stainmore) line. It is thought unlikely there was ever a platform as such here. A set of steps would have been provided to help alighting or joining passengers. It will have been used by the railwaymen and their families who lived in the nearby Summit Cottages. Details of the station are sketchy, but it is known to have been in use in 1948. The railway over Stainmore opened on the 4th of July 1861; and the final train ran on January 20th 1962. The tracks were lifted shortly afterwards. Any remnants of the 'station' and the Summit Cottages now lie under the A66, following one of the regular straightenings, widening, dualing and general improving sessions.
The summit itself is marked by a large sign, clearly visible from the A66. The height is given as 1370ft. Corrour Station on the route to Fort William is the Uk's highest main line station, at 1,340ft. The altitude of Stainmore Station must have been very close to that figure. Certainly the route was England's highest passengerline. The cache is located close to the sign, under a small boulder. See the spoiler photograph.
It may be possible to drive closer to the cache location from the recommended parking along an unsurfaced track, passing through a gate before reaching an area of tarmac adjacent to the A66 carriageway. There is no signage to suggest you can't do this. From here you have to walk, following the old trackbed of the railway. Wellies or boots are probably best - it tends to be muddy and marshy.
There is a video on YouTube called 'Snowdrift at Bleath Gill (1955)', a British Transport Film documentary about, er - a snowdrift at Bleath Gill, which is well worth 10 minutes of your time. Bleath Gill lies to the west of Stainmore.
About SideTracked Caches This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place with a breath taking view. It's a distraction for the weary traveller, but anyone else can go and find it too. More Information can be found on the SideTracked Series website at www.sidetrackedseries.info https://www.sidetrackedseries.info