TODMORDEN - Daisy Bank Clough

Gareth, Catherine and newly recruited CROW Richard A headed up to Daisy Bank Clough, which runs from the Bride Stones towards Hebden, to carry out some general path improvements.

Some marker poles along the moor had fallen over or become loose due to the attentions of local sheep and cattle, while some paths and steps were in need of cutting back to improve passage.  We also took the opportunity to check stiles for future structural repairs and carry out some on-the-spot work.

We travelled quite a long way across the moor - the arrows on the map indicate the locations of the photos.  Quite how far we’d gone became obvious to Catherine when she had to head back to the car for the second set of shears we’d forgotten to put in the bag!

Today’s work was funded partly by donations from Cragg Runners and partly from general donations to CROWS.  Thanks to them and all of you, and also to the lovely folks at Daisy Bank Barn for allowing us to park.

Richard on the steps - sadly we forgot the Before photo

Re-erected pole number three

Gareth & Richard at the packhorse bridge

Catherine fights her way through the nettle patch

PENNINE WAY AT GORPLE

 Paul and Rich went up to the Pennine Way at Gorple to clear a blockage (in a drain) that was diverting water to flow down the track! We also continued the task of uncovering Causey Stones to create a wider path. 

This work was funded by a partnership between Calderdale Highways and Natural England. 

After checking the forecast, we decided to have an early start!

The side-drain on the track over to Blackshaw was clogged with sedge in a few places and some of the banking had disintegrated. We tackled the obvious places where water was escaping but it really needs a digger!

Water will now keep off the track.

 Then it was back over to Graining Water for another session uncovering Causey Stones. This makes the path much wider . . . and we just love uncovering the area's heritage.

No more wet legs after rain!

A good session and, fortunately, we dodged most of the rain. 

LUDDENDEN: Operation bridleway!

 Bridleway, St Mary's Church, Luddenden Village

Stella, Ian S and Paul were out today cutting back an overgrown bridleway that runs parallel and above St Mary's Church cemetery. This overgrown stretch of pathway had prompted an urgent referral to CROWS as bikers and walkers had started to use a lower footpath that went through the graveyard!

Red line indicating pathway.

The work was funded by Luddenden Civic Society - thank you.

Entrance to the Bridleway.

The path had become overgrown with shrubs, young saplings and bramble:

Overgrown

Stella and Paul began cutting back the 'near end' by the War Memorial while Ian tackled a drainage problem at the 'far end'.

Stella - sterling work with shears!

Meanwhile, Ian contended with a blocked drain and lots of mulch:

muddy mulch

There's a drain in there somewhere!

After extensive cutting back and widening of the path, we met in the middle!:

All hands to the task

Ian dug out a silted-up drainage channel coming from the banking so that water could flow down to the cleaned out drain. Hopefully, this will stop water encroaching on the path although during high levels of rainfall there may still be some overspill. We'll keep an eye on this and return if necessary.

Drain channel cleared.

We had a very nice lunch sat on one of the church benches!

Artisan bread sandwiches...

Ian saw a kingfisher dart downriver but it was too quick for a photo!

Path widened and cleared.

We waymarked each end of the path to help keep path users on the correct route.

A good day's work!

TODMORDEN GOLF COURSE - CUTTING BACK

 

Friday, 31 July 2026

A team of four - Duncan, David, RJ and Catherine - set out for Todmorden Golf Course following a report that the path up to Wickenberry Clough had become overgrown.

Many thanks to Todmorden Town Council for funding today's work.

This is the path that the team worked on.

Catherine at the start of the path ready to get going.

RJ cuts back overhanging trees.

Plenty of work to be done.

A turn-by needed clearing out so water will drain
off the path when it eventually rains again.

RJ sorts it out.

Yet more cutting back!

Well-deserved lunch break.

Looks much more welcoming now.

And easier to negotiate.

Time to head for home...

...with a few bonus balls!!

CRAGG VALE - around and about

 Andy, Ginny and Rich had five jobs to sort:

• A drainage problem and waymarking near Stoney Royd Farm
• A reported problem with a kissing gate at New Bridge
• Drainage on the riverside path near Clough Bridge 
• Levelling a path and sorting a collapsed stile on the riverside path towards Dauber Bridge 

Today's work was funded by a generous donation from Cragg Vale Community Association. 

PATH ALONG THE EDGE OF BELL HOUSE MOOR

A lovely path connecting Heseltine Lane and Dick's Lane - the most amazing views of the valley!

The path was sinking into the mire in a couple of places. In one place we were able to uncover some sunken stones to create a dry route. In both spots we needed to direct people towards the wall to access a relatively dry route. 

 DRAINAGE ON THE RIVERSIDE PATH

A periodic visit to clear out a ditch that was over-topping onto the path -it should dry out soon! Extra waymarking was done at the path junction. 

PATH LEVELLING AND STILE SORTING

The narrow path heading towards Dauber Bridge was tricky to walk along. The bank was cut back and made more level. Further along, the stile had totally collapsed across the path. The post and rails were removed as it was no longer needed for stock control. 

 

 

TODMORDEN - Ragby Bridge and Warland

Duncan and Kasher managed to be on a work party today where they were not soaked to the skin within 30 minutes! In fact it was an ideal day to be out and about.

The first job of the day was to replace a rotten fingerpost. This was at a three-way junction, above Ragby Bridge,  adjoining Ramsden Lane. We have recently had a number of wooden "flags" cut to replace those which were either illegible or rotten. The flag for this post points to the Long Causeway and the route down to Watergrove and Wardle.

A usual, the rotten post took a little while to remove as again there were "dead men" at the bottom of the post. Once this was out we managed to utilise the old hole for the new post.

We then walked down the track to investigate the drainage issues there. We are planning to be back in the near future to see what we can do to improve this route.

The next job of the day was to cut back Tod 145 from the canal up towards the junction with Tod 185. This route goes through bracken. It's always difficult to time the cutting back on this route: too early and the bracken seems to grow straight back; too late and you know that the bracken would be dying back anyway. We hope we have hit it at the right time this year.

Please give this path a try - it will make a change from walking along the canal towpath!

Today's work has been funded by Todmorden Harriers. Many thanks for your continuing support.

Many thanks also to the residents of Plantation Barn who allowed us to park in their yard, and who looked after the fingerpost during last week.

The fingerpost was replaced at the junction of three routes indicated by the blue "pin".

Tod 145 above the canal at Warland.

The sad looking old fingerpost without a 'flag'.

Duncan checking the new post.

The new fingerpost in place with its new flag
pointing to the Long Causeway.

The route to Ragby Bridge which needs fettling.

The footpath is there! - somewhere in the middle of the 
bracken.

An impressive set of stone gateposts in the bracken.

The route becoming clearer.

Who doesn't love a spot of bracken bashing?

RYBURN - behind the Bowling Club and Pretoria Bridge steps

Jerry and Jak set out on a beautiful day to cut back this short section of path which runs behind the Bowling Club from Mill Fold Way. It links to a path that goes up to the disused railway line. 

Location of path

The path is slippery and very wet in places because a lot of water runs off the hillside. As well as cutting back, a turnby was created in order to divert some of the water from the path.

Scraping the mud

More mud scraping

Path drying out already!

Still some water but a big improvement

There is a lot of Himalayan balsam at one end of the path (because of the excessive dampness) but it's still a bit too early to tackle that.

This work was funded by donations to CROWS for which many thanks.

1st June - update

We have since done a couple of return trips to this path. First to install steps to improve the access.

Before

After

There were 2 sessions to work on controlling the Himalayan balsam. It is very dense in this location and somewhat a thankless task.

There was also a visit to the steps at Pretoria bridge where we scraped off the debris from the overhanging tree branches and cut back some of the branches so as to allow more light and sun onto the steps to give them a chance to dry off.

Steps cleaned off