TODMORDEN - Wittonstall Clough

 A team of four spent a very pleasurable day near Wittonstall Clough in Cornholme . . . pleasurable, that is, until the rain came down!

The plan was to improve the steps around the hillside, above a small bridge. These steps were partly large stones, partly tree roots and finally three steps with wooden risers. We also hoped to clear and make stable the small set of planks which had been placed over a very boggy area (to act as a small boardwalk) and to stop the path, further down the route towards Frieldhurst, being eroded by a stream coming off the hillside. The path we were working on is a very well-used permissive path above Frieldhurst which leads onto Obadiah Wood.

Andrew, Catherine, Duncan and Kasher would have probably won the "Muddiest people in Todmorden" competition by the end of the day.

Many thanks to the residents of the houses in Frieldhurst for allowing us to park in their yards.

Today's work has been funded by the Cornholme Wreath Making workshop in December 2025.

The blue arrow marks the location of today's work.

The "before" shot of a random collection of 
objects pretending to be steps!

Catherine devising Plan A to deal with the
planks (covered with chicken wire) that
were gradually sinking into the mud.

Duncan and Andrew sorting out the problems caused 
by tree roots across the path.

Duncan manoeuvring one large stone into its
final position.

The route now widened (without tree root trip
hazards) with suitable and stable steps in place.

Catherine adding staples to the boards. We had previously
created a drainage ditch and anchored the boards with stobs.

Working well-spaced apart on the slightly slippery slope.

Andrew and Duncan sorting out the pathway which
was being eroded by a stream from the hillside.

A carved head in Obadiah Wood.

WADSWORTH

Moorfield, Old Town

Nick and Paul returned to this footpath that weaves its way up the side of Moorfield housing estate bearing right at the top end to Rock Edge. The main task today was to enhance work that had been undertaken previously by re-routing a drainage channel across the path at the top end and to widen the path lower down.

The work was funded by donated contributions from the CROWS collection box at Old Town Post Office. A big 'Thank You' to  Sara and Alex for looking after the collection box during their tenure.

Drainage problem:

Problem last time

The drainage channel we dug last time proved useful but increased rainfall had caused minor flooding of the path at the bottom end. Today we rectified this by creating a turn-bye across the path to divert the water down the banking into a land drain situated in a small gulley below.

Nick cutting back the brambles.

We installed a length of revetment to act as a turn-bye to divert the water away from the path.

Turn-bye created 

The area was landscaped with the path continuing downhill over the flat paving stone. The previously dug channel is now dry and seemingly redundant but retained in case there is an increased level of water pouring over the turn-bye. Additionally, we cleaned out the drain and a second turn-bye on the corner of the path lower down.

Pathway narrows downhill

We then moved onto our second major task; widening a narrow section of the path that runs adjacent to Moorfield. 

Nick in action!

We cut back the banking - turf covered but hard clay underneath!

Finished and much improved!

At the close we cleared out an existing drainage channel where the path meets the main road.

Blackshaw Head: pedestrian gate

 Blackshaw Head: pedestrian gate Number 1.

On a cool but clear day when the threatened rain never appeared, Kasher, Neil D and Frank H installed a replacement pedestrian gate on right-of-way Blackshaw 021 that is on the track heading North-West behind BSH Chapel.

1. Worksite: the blue 'pin' marks the spot

The Detail.

The original gate was repaired temporarily by CROWS a few months ago. However, appearances deceive and the gate, the hinges, the closure post, and associated fencing is in poor condition.

2. Before work began: Adequate hinge post (just)
but badly fitted hinges, partly rotted palings,
weakly embedded closure post and
too much ground clearance.

 The work begins:

3. New gate in fully-open position: Ground rock chiselled to give
a flat surface and the new gate on longer, correctly-fitted hinges.

4. Dig! Dig! Hole excavated for new closure post.

5. New closure post: Base well-packed and
extra securing bracket being fitted.

6. Quality control: "I'm watching you . . .
. . . and it's marks out of ten!"

7. Recycling: Old palings being removed.
Sound sections will be re-usedl

8. Fencework: old closure post reused as 'strainer'
for stockfence. Gap to new closure
post will be partly railed off.

9. Mini cross-rails: Recycled palings fitted to 
bridge gap between new closure post 
and recycled 'strainer'

10: New structure: view from down-slope
side showing gate and Crow silhouette.

(The original gate had a horse silhouette but we judged this to be confusing as the path beyond the gate is not a bridleway. However, we thought a Crow silhouette might be an appropriate substitute . . . and here's a close-up . . .!)

11. Carrion Crow: - the moorland scavenger!

12. New structure: View from up-slope side showing hinges,
closure spring, braced fence post and the associated wire fencing.

13. The last word:

Funding for today's work in has come from the friends and family of Sheena McKerrel, a keen walker, who lived in Blackshaw Head. Many thanks.

ERRINGDEN - Parrock Clough

 David and RJ returned to Parrock Wood and installed revetment adjacent to Parrock Clough, on Erringden 026. Three sections of revetment were installed last Friday by Ian V and Andrew and it had been agreed that further revetment was needed to protect this path.

David and RJ installed the revetment and widened the path significantly. They also installed additional yellow-topped marker posts. We will need to return and fix more revetment nearer to the stile which is at the start of this pathway.

Today's work has been funded by generous individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks for helping to maintain the footpaths and bridleways in this area.

The location of the worksite on Erringden 026.

David and RJ in initial assessment mode.

Andrew, the footbridge and the revetment
fitted by last Friday's work party.

RJ installing another piece of revetment.

The widened path: looking towards the bridge.

RJ and today's neatly aligned revetment.

Does anyone have any idea what this is? 

WIDDOP GATE new steps part 2

A couple of weeks ago we cleared the steps at the end of the Crags 'Railway Walk'. We replaced nine risers, but realised that the rest wouldn't last very long, so today's task for Andy, Kris, Andrew, Jan and Rich was to replace the rest - all sixteen steps. 

This work was funded by friends and family of Robert Heaton.This area was a special place for him.  

 THE STEPS

Old ones removed, new ones installed with aggregate infill. 

Work in progress

 

 

CLEARING THE REST OF THE PATH

Sections of the path were widened, encroaching trees and vegetation cut back and the steps up to the road were cleared.