Accompanied by Connie, who is writing an article about CROWS, and a "munching" of marauding midges (well, we weren't far from Midgehole) Andy, Jerry, Nick, Stella and Steve tackled some routine maintenance on this delightful old route. It runs uphill from the top National Trust car park at Hardcastle Crags, between old walls and then through the woods on causey stones. Eventually it comes out above the woods and goes up to Willow Gate, near Shackleton.
Like most of the paths through the Crags it is well-used. Between the walls it had become quite overgrown (lots of brambles and fat blackberries!) and the causey stones were starting to disappear under leaf mould, which meant people have started walking off the path and eroding the ground to the side.
So, to clarify route, Jerry and Steve took the brush-cutters to the overgrowth and the rest of us cleared and swept the causey stones. Both satisfying jobs which opened up the path for easier walking.
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| The path we were working on, in red. |
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| Disappearing causey stones |
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| Brushing off after clearing |
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| Lovely eh? |
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| ITG? A builder of the path or a later graffiti artist? |
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| The old route through the woods |
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| Overgrown |
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Clearer for walking
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After lunch, Andy, Jerry and Steve went on the Gibson Mill to replace a damaged step. Stella and Nick took tools back to the depot for cleaning and putting away.
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| Step here |
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| Damaged.... |
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| .....dug out.... |
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| .....replaced |
Today's work was funded by individual donations to CROWS. Thank you for being so generous..
