TODMORDEN -New PRoW off Pudsey Road (Session 7)

Cornholme: CROWS on the contour line!

Today's session on the new PRoW in Cornholme (FootpathTodmorden 216:- from Pudsey Road to the covered reservoir at the corner of Shore New Road) was probably the last for a month or so. However, please see our previous Blogs and FB posts for details of the extensive work carried out so far.

An experienced duo (a.k.a. Mick and Andrew) installed a number of yellow-topped posts to mark out this new route. In ground conditions which varied from "a doddle" to "good grief", the team battled through the morning to get the work done before the worst of the incoming weather swept across the hillside.

Hopefully, the widened path, the edge revetments, the cutting back of brambles and the waymark posts will now encourage more people to explore this interesting route which contours around the hillside offering good views over Cornholme . . . and beyond.

The work on this new right-of-way has been funded by Active Calderdale. Many thanks.

We would also like to thank the resident at the end of Pudsey Road who has allowed us to store the timbers for this work in his yard.

We would appreciate feedback from users of this path and would like to know if further widening or cutting back is necessary.

1. Pointing the way: The marker post at
the Pudsey Road end of the path.

2. That's the way to go: It's hard to miss
the route now . . . . Mmm!

3. Aligning the arrow: Mick in action.

4. A confusing junction? Not now . . . 

5. The direction is clear: R-o-W disk and
CROWS plaque:- enjoy the walk!

MYTHOLMROYD - Broad Bottom and Redacre

Angus, Jerry and Rich went to sort out a reported dangerous stile and six steps that had rotted off on the 'Children's Bluebell Walk' in 'Making Tracks' - a publication available at The Blue Teapot and The County Bridge Cafe. 

Today's work was funded by an individual donation.

THE STILE

Both legs supporting the treadboard were completely rotted through. 

                                           New legs, a take-off stone and a recycled treadboard.

 THE STEPS

We started by scrapping off several years of leaf mould and, surprise surprise, there were a lot more than six steps needing attention! We put in the six we had planned and then counted that another nine were needed! - a job for next Wednesday. 

                                                                            What steps?

All the steps scraped clean; more rotten steps revealed; six steps replaced and work for next Wednesday identified. 

HEIGHT ROAD / RAW LANE HEBDEN BRIDGE

Hill House Brink, Height Road Hebden Bridge

Guy, Paul and Steve returned to this site for a third and final session (. . . for the time being!). Today, our task was a continuation of the work, started on our last visit, to improve an uphill section of narrow, hazardous pathway with collapsed banking. Guy and Paul worked on this section by constructing a flight of six steps and installing two lengths of revetment. Steve worked further up the path with the aim of completing the cutting-back of invasive gorse from the footpath.

This work was funded by general donations to CROWS. Thank you.

The FP section in red on the map.

The detail: 

Paul and Guy set about measuring up and installing a 2.3 metre section of revetment to act as an edging for the flight of 6 steps. Once this was in place the six steps were measured out, and placed to butt up against the edging.

Guy weighing up the next move!

Meanwhile, Steve armed with a pair of loppers and shears went uphill to tackle the overhanging gorse.

Cleared!

There was a spot of rain in the air today, so after a hot drink at 'elevenses' we cracked on to complete the steps and install a 2 metre length of rail to bridge the gap between two revetment sections.

All linked up!

After lunch, we installed an additional 1.9 m linking length and then carried out overall landscaping of the footpath.

Steps in place - a tidy job!

Sections linked up.

Meanwhile, Steve worked wonders and finished off cutting back the intrusive, overhanging gorse bushes:

Nice and tidy!

A clear pathway.

There is more work to be done on this long, hilly footpath so we will plan a return visit. However, the major tasks - the cutting back of the gorse and repairing the worst of the damaged path - have been done and there only remains some step issues at key points on the top section of the route. We will be back!

Colden: Hot Lane (off Edge Lane): stile side-fencing

 Hot Lane: fencing in a micro-climate!

Ian S and Frank H drew the climate short straw by working in cold, wet, windy conditions while the rest of today's work parties enjoyed calmer, drier and even sunny conditions! Hey-ho!

The location was Hot Lane (see map) and the task was to replace the 'fence' that linked CROWS brand-new stile and gate work on the right-of way (footpath Heptonstall 016) to an existing post and wire stockfence. 

1. Map: R-o-W Heptonstall 016 shown by blue marker.

Today's work along with earlier right-of-way tasks have been funded by the landowner.

The detail

The following two 'before' pictures show up-path and down-path shots of the stile side-fencing. The 'fence' is an old palette attached with baler twine to a decayed post which acts as the (unbraced) straining post for a sagging stockfence. Mmm! Lots to consider!

2. Before: Up-path view .Old palette as fence
(Picture taken in Feb 2025)

3. Before: Down-path view. Support post
and stockfence both sagging badly.
(Picture taken April 2025)

Plan A was:- 

i)   to fix a tall fence pole vertically to the gate's closure post.

ii)  replace the decaying fence post with a braced, more deeply embedded post.

iii) Attach five, horizontal, parallel rails between these new posts.

iv)  Re-fix and tension (as far as possible) the stockfence.

And here's the end result:-

4. After: Up-path view: Plan A-worked first time!

5. Down-path view: Plan A again!

We were very happy with the end result . . . apart from the wet gloves, freezing fingers and penetrating rain! The composite structure of posts, rails and bracing is secure, strong, stable and aesthetically pleasing. It now provides a considerable barrier to any sheep that are tempted (for some woolly reason) by the delights of Edge Lane tarmac in preference to Hot Lane grass . . . but they are great climbers!

RYBURN- Works at Blackwood farm (RY040) and the footpaths around Lower Wormald (RY038)

Andy, Charlie, Graham, Jerry and Angus met at Mill Fold to start the day's work programme . . . which was well overdue having been surveyed originally back in November! 

Jerry and Andy set off to remove a fallen tree on Hanging Stones Lane which had been reported last week as a footpath blockage. The remainder of the team headed to Blackwood Farm to repair a damaged flight of steps (see Map).

The area circled in red marks the location of the steps.

The steps to be repaired were on the path which went from the Long Causeway road and over Dog Hill. The steps, leading out of Blackwood Farm yard, were reasonably intact but the safety rail had collapsed against the farmer's garage where the narrow steep banking was undermined.

 

The extent of the failure of the safety rail next to the garage.

The path, reasonably well used by walkers and fell runners, has now become hazardous due to the collapse of the banking into which the original posts had been embedded. Having removed and dismantled the old structure we found the timber to be in sound enough condition for re-use:- 'Waste not, want not!'

With little left of the original bank we decided to narrow the path slightly, so that firm ground was available for installing the posts. Additionally, the first step had all but vanished so a new riser was fitted. (see picture)

New riser and three safety rail posts secured.

 

The repair completed using old posts at both ends, a new central post and the original rails.

Slightly narrower . . . but considerably safer!

Having cleared the fallen tree branches at Hanging Stones Lane, Andy and Jerry went with Graham who had identified tasks on the footpaths leading from Baitings Reservoir to Lower Wormald. They made good a rickety stile (circled on the map below) and cut-back some overgrowing trees where the path ran behind some farm buildings.

Damaged stile circled and the area of cutting-back outlined in red.

Exposed barbs! We encased these with heavy-duty pipe insulation . . .  hopefully ripped clothing or worse (!) will now be avoided.

 

Overgrown trees restricted passage on this tricky path:- access now improved.

There is still more to do on this path;  reinstate fallen fingerposts, add more stepping stones to the particularly narrow and muddy section and fit waymarkers. 

Today's work, enlivened by the sounds of Curlews and Lapwings, was funded by general, public donations to CROWS - many thanks.