CROWS (Community Rights Of Way Service): Ryburn - Footpath above Clough House farm, Krumlin.

After four Spring-like days, the rain returned but fortunately not that much and not for long, so Eleanor, Jak, Jerry and Angus were able to head to Krumlin to rescue an overgrown path which had been reported by a local walker. The path started on the bend near Clough House Farm and headed up the hill to the bridleway, cutting off a nasty bend where Clough House Lane joined Steel Lane and Bank Royd Lane. This work was funded by donations through the CROWS website. A big thankyou to all those whose generosity made this work possible.

Today's work location highlighted in blue. The red circle is where the stile is to be replaced.

There were two jobs to be done - replacing an old stile where the path exited onto the bridleway and cutting back on the lower section through the woods towards Clough House Farm. Eleanor and Jak headed-off armed with shears and loppers to tackle the overgrowth, whilst Jerry and Angus replaced the stile.

The lower section of the path . . . but where is it ??

It must be there somewhere ?

Ironically, the yellow arrow points to the remains of the stile.

After cutting back the brambles, the remnants of the stile were revealed . . . it seemed it was only the tangle of brambles that was holding it together!

Treadboard in place and a lot safer.

The finished stile: looking down towards Clough House Farm.

Cutting-back proved challenging for Eleanor and Jak, not so much because of the quantity, but more to do with traversing the sloping ground where the original path was covered in a thick mat of leaf mulch. Having cleared the brambles and overhanging branches, we set about exposing the path and cutting-in some earth steps. These earth structures are temporary. We will put in a number of wooden steps on the steepest sections when we return next week.