Ryburn - Footpath along Blackshaw Clough

This footpath, leads off a bend in the road over the bridge, opposite the livery stables at Clough House farm, on Blackshaw Clough road. Whilst still in use, it has been sadly neglected, being overgrown with tree branches and subject to flooding as a result of choke points in the clough. Todays work has been funded through donations to CROWS, a big thankyou to all who have donated.

The section highlighted in blue was todays work area.

Armed with shears, saws and loppers, Andy, Jerry and Angus set about cutting back the overhanging branches, and clearing the debris from the clough to improve the water flow and reduce the potential for flooding the footpath. This has previously happened on the lower section of the path, which was still sodden and had to be drained.

The lower section of the path, nearest its exit onto the road.

Further up the clough, the overhanging branches became a problem.

Though once cleared, the path soon opened up.

Removing the branches will also help the path to dry out.

The path then splits, to the right, it crosses a stile and follows the line of the clough, to the left it crosses a small footbridge, towards Great Merry Bent farm. Both the stile and the footbridge are in good order, but the metal handrail on the footbridge has been crushed at one end by a fallen tree, a new wooden handrail will be fitted in due course. We had to cut-back a fallen willow tree which had partially blocked the path, this area is very damp, and the spreading nature of the overgrowth was forcing walkers into some very boggy ground.

Before and after views to show where the willow tree was blocking the path.

A wide angle view showing the stile on the right, and the footbridge on the left.