WALSHAW above Lady Royd

 Lady Royd to Turn Hill: wobbly, wobbly stile!

Ian S and Frank H carried out repair work on the second stile along the footpath (Wadsworth 019) that leads from Lady Royd Farm up to Turn Hill.

This is the problem . . . :

1. Stile uprights and cross-rail in good condition but
the single platform step has collapsed and stepping
over the top wire is an excruciating exercise! 

. . . . and it's location is:

2. The blue dot marks the location - a short but steep uphill walk from Lady Royd.

The Detail

This stile is on the route of the Heptonstall Fell Race, an event held annually in March. Opinions about fell races vary, but the organisers of this local event always review the race route and will contribute towards any work deemed necessary to make the right-of-way clearer or structures (eg stiles) safer.

The forecast threatened rain, heavy at times, for most of the day. Fortunately, we got alternative conditions - a partly sunny day only interrupted by a brief shower . . . . just after we had finished the job!

 Here's how the day went:

After unloading a CALVAG delivery, it was a drive to Mansfield Farm where all tools and materials could be loaded onto the farmer's vehicle for a short cross-field journey to the worksite. Meanwhile, Ian and Frank drove to Lady Royd and carried personal kit only up the steep (ish) path to the stile needing repair

As picture 1 suggests  the loosely connected treadboard platform was unstable having two completely and two partly rotten legs. The solution was to remove the old single-step and instead create a two-step replacement. Time to get digging!

3. Old legs out and 'behind the wire' Ian
starting on the new leg holes.

4. Hard digging but all four new legs in place and
 a treadboard being aligned. Good distant views
towards the threatening shower clouds.

5. Finished job undergoing the traditional stress test!

The pairs of step legs were cross-braced to enhance stability and the approaches to the stile cleared of debris then landscaped. We were very satisfied with the end result. The whole structure is now safe, stable and easily negotiated but the acid test will be in about four weeks in the shape of a couple of hundred fellrunners taking on this 25 km (~15.5 mile) category B fell race! Good luck, guys.

Many thanks to Mansfield Farm for being so very helpful with transport, to Lady Royd for allowing parking and Heptonstall Fell Race for funding the repairs.

More about the route next week when we'll be in the swamplands!