There were two teams out from Todmorden today:
Team 1: Ken and Andrew replacing a precarious stile (at Royd onTod 028) which had been reported by several walkers.
Team 2: David, Catherine and Kasher working on the steps going steeply up the hillside off Allescholes Road (Tod 141). This was the second session on this long flight of steps.
Many thanks to Mick who brought all the timbers and tools to the sites.
Today's work has been funded by Todmorden Harriers': Flower Scar Fell Race and by Todmorden Town Council. Many thanks to all.
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| Site of stile repairs near Royd Farm. |
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| A useful but steep path off Allescholes Road. |
The Detail
Team 1
The stile at Royd had been on our "to do" list for a number of months. When we first went to survey this stile there was so much mud and slurry that the job had to be postponed until the Spring. In addition, the ground above the stile has now slipped to cover the former lower step, and the whole structure with the exception of the top step is loose and at a very jaunty angle.
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| Stile view from the field side. |
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| Axeman! Ken splitting one of the old legs, as a last resort to get it out. |
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| Yes, we are using a spirit level ..... and multi-tasking! |
It proved extremely difficult to extract the old stile legs and this delayed the rebuild. Consequently, the rails have now been put in temporarily to keep the field stockproof.
We still need to install a new lower step, reinstate the dog-gate and secure the old stock fencing to the side uprights. The rails will eventually be re-positioned on the 'other side' of the uprights to improve the distribution of tread areas for the upper step.
We will also install low yellow-topped posts to ensure that the route up the hillside is clearly marked.
Team 2
Last week's team regaled us with stories about person-eating midges so the team today came suitably clothed and equipped.
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| Catherine was suitably clad. |
The steps on this path are extremely steep and very irregular. However, we have decided not to replace all of the risers but to only those that are damaged or missing. Today's task was to install seven steps and one section of revetment.
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| David installing the first step of the day. |
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| More of the same . . . to be replaced next session. |
We will be back in the near future to continue working on this hillside to replace risers, to infill tread areas (where necessary), to complete the top section of revetment and to stabilise the hand-rail at the top of the slope.
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| The view from the top of the path. |
