MIDGLEY: New Heath Head

New Heath Head: "Just another step".

On a drizzly but warm day, Ian S and Frank returned to New Heath Head where the right-of-way (Sowerby Bridge 018) runs NW/SE across the access lane for New Heath Head. (see map).

1. The blue 'pin' marks the worksite.

Two weeks ago CROWS carried out improvement work - the installation of a higher step - on the stile leading to the SE section of the path. The original, narrow, lower step was left in place.

2. End point of earlier work.

The stile may look presentable but the old, very narrow lower step is unstable because the field side leg is completely rotten. The treadboard was only held in place because it had been inset and nailed to the lowest rail. The plan for today was to install replacement legs and fit a new, wider treadboard.

The detail:

Frank and Ian worked on opposite sides with Ian (by the 'luck of the draw') having the more problematic leg to deal with. However, by way of compensation, he had a firm clean surface to kneel on rather than one scattered with wet sheep-poo! 

Alignment of the step was tricky because the very long lengths of fence rail had been installed parallel to the sloping ground. This was aesthetically pleasing but made negotiating the top rail awkward.

3. Field side lower leg in place. Step legs are
vertical but rails follow the sloping ground.

With both new lower legs installed and cross-braced to the taller ones, the treadboard could be fitted to give . . . 

4. Up Lane view: showing cross-bracing
and wider treadboard

5. View through stile: Approaches tidied and
Hawthorn hedge trimmed

Today's work on the access to this popular path was funded by Midgley Community Forum. Many thanks for your support.

Following this short(ish) worksite session Ian and Frank went up onto the moor path to survey future tasks - cutting-back, widening, installing steps and repairing revetments and then visited the nearby restored pinfold with it's magnificent wooden bench. Visit and enjoy!

Dodd Naze - a popular path

 

This is the path Hebden Royd 017,  from Dodd Naze down to Hebden Bridge station and the town.

This path is a regular route for Dodd Naze residents, quite a few of whom passed us today coming up from or going down to the town.  We have had several reports about difficulties with bramble overgrowth (1 on the map), a slippery slither down to the bridge, and broken slats on the bridge (2 on the map), and the tricky stone steps (3 on the map).

Andrew, Jan, Jerry and Stella set off on a day which threatened continuous heavy rain but delivered only gentle drizzle, to see what improvements we could make.

The brambles and thistles were cut back wide enough to allow prickle-free passage while retaining a bramble "hedge" along the fence, as requested by the landowner.

Brambles...

..

.....and other overgrowth, before.

The widened route up...

...and down, afterwards.

We replaced the broken slats at the bridge, and installed 3 new steps above the existing one to allow an easier descent on a slippery slope.

Jerry & Andrew clearing overgrowth to make a space for 3 new steps

One of the broken slats

New slats in situ.

The old stone steps leading steeply down the hill are narrow and a bit uneven.  One was missing. They will always require care when walking, especially when it's wet. We cleared off the mulch, and replaced the missing step, which will make it quite a bit easier.

The steps from below

Andrew replacing the missing one

Step replaced (but not yet cleaned off!)

Today's work was funded by individual donations to CROWS. 

Your support is very much appreciated, thank you.

PENNINE WAY AT GORPLE

 Paul and Rich went up to the Pennine Way at Gorple to clear a blockage (in a drain) that was diverting water to flow down the track! We also continued the task of uncovering Causey Stones to create a wider path. 

This work was funded by a partnership between Calderdale Highways and Natural England. 

After checking the forecast, we decided to have an early start!

The side-drain on the track over to Blackshaw was clogged with sedge in a few places and some of the banking had disintegrated. We tackled the obvious places where water was escaping but it really needs a digger!

Water will now keep off the track.

 Then it was back over to Graining Water for another session uncovering Causey Stones. This makes the path much wider . . . and we just love uncovering the area's heritage.

No more wet legs after rain!

A good session and, fortunately, we dodged most of the rain. 

WADSWORTH PECKET WELL

 Calderdale Way and Stoney Lane at Pecket Well.

Ginny, Kris and Nic were out today finishing off the cutting back and widening of the causey stones on the short neck of pathway that links the A6033 road with Akroyd Lane at Pecket Bar. Following this they moved onto Stoney Lane to cut back a stretch of overgrown pathway below Coop Buildings.

map of the two locations marked in red.

Work funded in part by Highways and Wadsworth Parish Council. Thank you.

Tidy job!

The bottom end of this section of the Calderdale Way exiting onto the A6033 Keighley Road was cut back and widened; a continuation and completion of work started 2 weeks ago.

Cutting back on Stoney Lane.

The team of three then moved on to cut back a long stretch of Stoney Lane starting by the allotments behind Coop Buildings and finishing off where the causey stones meet the grassy section of the path.

A good days work in reasonable weather conditions!

Ryburn - Replacing fingerposts around the area.

Today, ideal work for a bank holiday - finishing-off several jobs which needed fingerposts.

Last Friday, Jak, Richard and Angus spent the day refurbishing a couple of old fingerposts and installing a couple of new ones. Richard's artwork on the lettering means these new posts can be seen for miles! Again this has been funded through donations to CROWS. Many thanks to all who have contributed.

Today five of us - Jak, Lynda, Jerry, Richard and Angus - were out in one vehicle and visiting four sites. We loaded up and headed to a couple of paths (below Krumlin) where Jak and Jerry tackled a post replacement off Bottomley Lane, whilst Lynda, Richard and Angus, headed to Hey Lane above Black Brook to install a new post.

 

Locations of fingerposts circled in blue.

Have fingerposts. Will travel! . . . but not upwards!

Both locations required some cutting-back, with the steps at Hey Lane being particularly slippery with leaf mulch. Despite the rain of the last couple of days, the ground was still very dry and this, coupled with stony conditions, made the digging particularly tough. . . , but we got there. 

We always try to make best use of existing materials, especially if the post is in good order and it is only the flag itself which needs replacing. 

A refurbished post was fitted at Bottomley Lane and a completely new one at Hey Lane.

The path entrance off Hey Lane when we arrived.

 

New post at Hey Lane on the left, and a refurbished one at Bottomley Lane on the right.

After a coffee, we headed up to the Bridleway running along Kennel Lane, above Noah Dale Clough, where the original post had rotted at ground level and subsequently 'disappeared'! 

We were grateful to the owners of School Farm for allowing us to park on their drive which reduced the distance we had to carry tools and materials. 

Jak and Lynda headed along the bridleway to cut-back some of the worst of the overgrowth, whilst Jerry, Richard and Angus tackled the post replacement. This time the digging was a bit easier as the post had originally been secured with stones, although a couple of "dead men" nails made its final extraction a bit tricky.

Location of fingerpost circled in blue at the end of Kennel Lane.

Not much left of the original post !!

The new one can be seen for miles !

The last job was to replace a plastic waymark flag on a post on Bowood Lane. This is not our favourite type of flag but that's what was in place originally . . . and we have a stock of them. Whilst there, we also rebuilt part of the access where the path goes through a drystone wall, making it wider and safer.

Location (circled in blue) of the waymark flag off Bowood Lane.

Last job of the day completed.