TODMORDEN - Todmorden Geological Trail

Mick & Gareth braved the weather forecast and set out across Todmorden Moor to reset some of the marker posts on the Todmorden Geological Trail.  These regularly fall foul of the sheep & cattle on the moor which use them as handy rubbing posts!

The weather stayed fine until we reached the very far end of the trail at which point it started raining!  One or two posts have gone completely astray and will need to be replaced.  All the others are now upright again, helping to guide walkers around this fascinating route through Todmorden's geological & industrial history.  Check out the Heart of the Pennines website for more information or buy our newly reprinted walkers' map from Todmorden Information Centre.

The miscreants responsible for pushing over this marker post

Mick next to one of the Trail information boards

The rain sets in - spot the wind turbine!

Langfield Common and Obadiah Wood

Duncan, Dave and RJ worked at two locations.

1. Langfield Common new finger post erected, drainage and old waymark posts straightened.

2. Obadiah Wood platform constructed around previously installed bench.

 

Midgley; Revetment work on footpath above Chapel Lane

 Midgley: Coal Dyke revetment

The footpath (see map) that is a continuation of Chapel Lane, traverses the gorse and heather slope above Coal Dyke (shown on older maps as Coal Dike). CROWS have done much work over the years to keep this footpath open and today's tasks were to install new revetment where the path was collapsing and to re-instate a section that needed the existing revetment stabilising.

1. Coal Dyke: The blue pin marks the area where improvements were made.

The day for Ian S, Paul and Frank H started with the sight of an inversion layer (where warmer air acts like a 'cap' to trap cooler denser air) . . .

2. Upper Calder Valley inversion layer.

The session began with a carry - revetments, stobs, tools and personal gear had to be ferried up a rough track and an even rougher path to the working area - before a day of 'heavy hitting' could begin.

The Detail:

Spoiler alert: The before and after pictures will appear at this point. This narrowed path is collapsing because the up-slope gorse and heather have encroached to force walkers more and more towards the unprotected down-slope edge.

BEFORE:

3. Path before: Yes it is there! -  just to
the right of the clump of gorse!

AFTER: 

The day's work was to cut-back vegetation, widen the path to get 'working room', install revetments then further widen and backfill the path's tread area to give . . . .

4. Path afterwards: A lot of effort need to get this!

DURING: This is how the day went:

5. Narrow path with collapsed edges revealed.

6. Vegetation on L cut back: First section of revetment
being fitted but further widening still to do.

7. More alignment; revetment in place
and 'stobs' being hammered home!

8. Further up the path: Existing revetment re-'stobbed'
and the path widened.

9. All braced and stable? Then the long 'stobs'
can be hammered into place.

10. End of session i) Down-path view of new
revetment, and the widening is underway.

11. End of session ii) Up-path view of new
revetment and cleared path.

This was an energy sapping session. Heather was tough, gorse was prickly, ground was stony, stobs were prone to drifting out of the vertical . . . but, at least, it didn't rain until the final half-hour of the day! 

Many thanks to Midgley Community Forum who funded today's work.

There is further work to be done on this path. Certainly more cutting-back and perhaps one or two steps but for now it is easily passable.

PENNINE WAY - Heptonstall Moor

A team of four took a long trek in wellies up from Clough Hole car park. Two major sections of drainage (identified on the 2025 survey) needed sorting. This work was funded by a partnership between Natural England and Calderdale Council Highways. 

Before - two clean volunteers standing in the pool across the path,  After - no pool but two somewhat grimy volunteers!

 

The first job was to deal with the Clough Head Bullion stream that was running across the path and creating a pool. A channel was dug out to allow the water to drain, the top side deepened and some of the flags were re-laid. 

Then on to Clough Head Hill where the flagged path was frequently under water. Both sides were dug out and an exit channel created. 
 

Making a plan

Getting stuck in 1

Getting stuck in 2

Before and after

RYBURN - Off Longley Lane

 Today we worked on a stile on a path that links Longley Lane to New Longley Lane. A team comprising Carla, Jerry, Rich and Jak turned out in the rain which thankfully abated.

Location of stile

First we took down a very old and rotten stile.

Old stile

The ground was very stony because of being on two old wall lines so it was hard work to create the holes for the primary stile posts. This done we then made further holes for the two steps.

Steps and treadboards in place

Work in progress, it must be lunchtime soon

We were delighted to meet the owner of the field and after lunch we finished off and tidied up. We will return to do a little more work to the side of the stile. 

Topping out ceremony

This work was made possible by donations to CROWS. Very many thanks for the support.