CRAGG VALE -2 sites

Frank S and Rich went to the wooded hillside behind Royd Ices on Cragg Road to do cutting back and waymarking (there had been an official diversion on the paths in this area).

When you have done a nice walk down Cragg Vale and arrived at Dauber Bridge, you are faced with a long (and somewhat dreary) road walk into Mytholmroyd. This woodland path, which comes out at Hall Bank Lane, is a lovely alternative. 

When we finished, we went to sort out some signage on Coppy Nook Lane - a lovely drive with blue sky and snowy landscape. 

Today's work was funded by Calderdale Highways Rights of Way. Many thanks to Revoplas for allowing us to warm up in their canteen. 

The details

Before cutting back the holly

Path now clear with a waymark post at the top

Before cutting back the beech saplings

Path now clear

After cutting back the ivy on the ground

The new "Public Footpath" sign at Coppy Nook Lane

Ripponden - Surveying footpaths above the Ryburn river..

On the first proper frosty day of winter, and before the snow arrived, Graham and Angus surveyed the footpaths above the  River Ryburn valley between Baitings and Ryburn reservoirs. 

There are a variety of paths in this area connecting the hamlets of Higher and Lower Wormald, Parrock Nook and the abandoned settlement of Height. One path through the woodland joins the Ryburn reservoir before heading towards Rishworth. With several options available for short circular routes around the individual reservoirs or further afield, the survey was to review the signage, the condition of the stiles and any other issues which could make walking these routes challenging.

Map showing the network of footpaths above the River Ryburn.

The Detail.

The main path which tracks along the top of the valley above Hanson Wood, is well used with plenty of signage, though some of the older finger posts have rotted at their bases and were either tied to gate posts or propped against rocks! 

We also noted that some of the stiles were in need of remedial repairs; one in particular had some nasty looking barbed wire which had been used to strain two posts but just at the level to catch a leg when crossing.

Finger post: propped up with a stone and secured 

with that South Pennine 'favourite' - bailer twine!

Barbed wire posing a hazard to anyone crossing this stile.

Walled pathway in good order but somewhat damp . . . and difficult to drain.

The farmer whose land the paths crossed was not at home, so we visited Blackwood Farm (where CROWS have done work previously) to ask the farmer there if he had a contact name and number for the landowner. 

Whilst there, another job was identified by the farmer. This was on the footpath which ran through the farmyard from Long Causeway over Blackwood Common to Rishworth reservoir - the handrail on one side of the steps leading out of his yard had fallen away and the steps were overgrow with the top and lower steps needing particular attention . . . there's plenty to do in this part of the Ryburn valley!

Collapsed handrail and overgrown steps exiting Blackwood farmyard.

TODMORDEN -Various

 On a slightly damp and overcast day there were three teams out from Todmorden:

Team 1:    Ian V and Mick, building revetment on Tod 029 below Scraper Lane (above Hole Bottom). We had worked on this route in early October but decided that installing revetment would make it safer. The path narrows where it passes a felled tree and has a steep drop on one side. Holding onto the tree roots helps . . . but is not the ideal technique!

Team 2:    RJ, Catherine and David building boardwalks on Tod 060 near to Obadiah Wood. In two previous sessions (on 6 and 8 November) we constructed one boardwalk and a set of steps. Today's work is described in a separate blog. We still have one more boardwalk and a couple of steps to build; hopefully next Friday (snow permitting!).

Team 3:     Jerry and Kasher, putting in marker posts, waymarking, clearing leafmold from a track, and strimming and cutting-back a walled lane. The footpaths are Tod 088 and Tod 089; all near Rake Hey Farm just below Springs on the TCW. We had been asked by Calderdale Highways to improve the waymarking in this area and to see if we could find a solution to reduce the number of the bikes leaving the bridleway (which is the TCW) to go down the footpaths towards Stoney Royd Lane and Todmorden.

Today's work was funded by individual donations to CROWS (for team 1); by Active Calderdale (for team 2), and by Calderdale Highways (for team 3). Many thanks.

Tod 029 below Scrapers Lane.

Works around Rake Hey.

Boardwalk building near Obadiah Wood, Cornholme.

Team 1:

"Mmm! Do we need long or extra long stobs?"

Mick fitting the revetment to a very fragile and
steep bank . . . . hence the extra long stobs.

Job done! This stabilises the narrow
footpath that passes the felled tree .

Team 3

A four-way marker post installed.

Scraping leaves and mud off a lovely setted track.

Jerry cutting back and strimming the walled lane
up to Rake Hey. If you walk here take care as
many large stones have tumbled off the wall top.

Way marking improvements.

TODMORDEN: Above Cornholme: Obadiah Wood (session 3)

RJ, Catherine and David  were Team 2 out in Todmorden on Friday 15 November. They undertook phase three of building boardwalks on Tod 060 near to Obadiah Wood. In the two previous sessions (on 6 and 8 November) we constructed one boardwalk and a set of steps. Today's work entailed building a second boardwalk over the drainage ditch. We still have one more boardwalk and a couple of steps to build; hopefully next Friday.

Today's work was funded by Active Calderdale - many thanks.

First job was to remove stones from the site.
The drainage ditch was then widened and deepened.

The team then constructed the boardwalk.
David adds the last couple of lats.

The boardwalk is positioned over the ditch.
RJ checks it's nice and level.

Stobs are added to keep the
boardwalk in place.

Side rails are nailed on. Then Catherine
hammers in staples to improve the foothold.

All done!

The final boardwalk, due to be done next Friday,
will be the same size and a continuation of this one. 

LUMBUTTS and MANKINHOLES - Various tasks

On a lovely bright and clear November day Andrew and Kasher worked in Lumbutts and Mankinholes undertaking a number of small(ish) tasks:

1    Repairing a stile on Tod 159 near Higher Langfield Farm, off Lumbutts Rd.

2    Installing a replacement markerpost on Tod 157 above the Shepherds Rest on the route to Jail Hole Quarry.

3    Removing a Langfield Common sign on Tod 179 at the junction with London Road. This will be taken back to the depot, dried out, sanded, stained and will then be reinstated asap.

4    Painting a marker post (blue) at the junction of two bridleways BW171 and BW170. This post had, inadvertently, previously been painted yellow.

5    Replacing the repaired Langfield Common sign on Tod 167 above Lumbutts Chapel.

6    Checking out two footpaths (Tod 188 and Tod 203) at the bottom end of Lumbutts Road, that the Council had informed us as being overgrown and in need of clearing. Looks like someone managed to do this before us!

Today's work has been funded by individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks. We would not be able to continue to do this work without a whole host of people donating to CROWS. This really is appreciated!

Today's work sites (1)

Today's work sites (2)

Andrew sorting out the repairs to a stile on Tod 159.

A new markerpost installed on the route to Jail Hole.

Langfield Common sign (before).

The first of a series of Langfield Common signs
that are being sorted out and replaced.

Painting the top of a bridleway posts blue ......

Tod 188 off Lumbutts Rd. We may come back to 
get rid of the brambles on this fine track.