WALSHAW: Up to Hamlet through a swamp

 Walshaw: the path to Hamlet - via the swamplands!

After a coolish start (2oC) the temperature gradually crept up (13oC) to give ideal conditions for Ian S, Steve and Frank H to work on the right-of-way that will form part of the Heptonstall Fell Race route. The section of path shown on map 1 starts with a stone-step stile off the Walshaw vehicle track and climbs indistinctly towards Turn Hill to meet a stock fence at Hamlet (very Shakespearian!).

Map 1. The orange band marks the section needing waymark posts.
The blue dot marks the location of an old sagging boardwalk.

The main tasks were:

i) to install extra waymark posts to clarify the route that wriggles its way through reeds, rocks, tussocks, mud and moss.

ii) repair, underpin and stabilise the old boardwalk.

Today's work is being funded by the Heptonstall Fell Race. Many thanks.

The Detail.

i) Waymark posts.

The footpath (Wadsworth 039) lies roughly on a bearing of 140o and ascends towards Turn Hill. On the ground it is indistinct in places, crosses patches of reedy bog and is easily confused with a meandering network of sheep trods. Fortunately, enough older marker posts were still in place to help with the general direction. We carried the markerposts up the hill installing them temporarily, then walked back down making suitable adjustments of line before using bar and heavy hammer to make installation permanent.

2. The posties: One extra post in . . . only five more to go!

3. The long view. The path goes towards Ian (just visible in orange)
then continues down to meet the vehicle track leading to Walshaw.
Beyond is open moorland and blue sky - what's not to like?

Picture 3 shows the race direction (i.e. downhill). The waymark posts are easily visible and next week's selective strimming should make the path clearer . . . but not necessarily smoother or drier! 

(If the run were in the opposite direction very sharp eyes would be needed to spot the posts against the rising background).

ii) The boardwalk

At the lower end of the path, a stretch of wet, very reedy ground is crossed by a boardwalk which is much affected by broken cross-treads, sagging stringers and extensive overgrowth.

Here's how the repair work went:

4. Original state of the boardwalk . . . what
boardwalk, you might ask? A comparison
with picture 7 is interesting!

5. It's wet and it rots: Typical decay of collapsed cross-tread.

6. Some time later: Steve and Ian S putting final
underpinning and extra supporting stobs in place.

7. End result. Boardwalk stabilised, cross-treads
repaired and cleaned, one edge trim
added and overgrowth much reduced!

Overall, although this was a 'make do and mend' session, we were pleased with the outcome. The route, once next week's strimming is done, should be much clearer and the boardwalk is now a stable flat structure . . . and less likely to tip runners into the bog!

More work before Sun 23rd March when a couple of hundred fellrunners will take on this 25 km (~15.5 mile) category B race. Good luck, guys!