LUDDENDEN FOOT

 Willow Wood, Booth House Road Luddenden Foot ( Hebden Bridge 056).

Neil B and Paul D replaced half a dozen rotted steps and revetment in Willow Wood today. It was a lovely setting working on this ROW that leads via stepping stones over a rivulet and then slightly uphill through the wood. It is a well-used route for local dog walkers and, as the day brightened, you could appreciate why they choose this particular path.

Blue Arrow indicating the work site.

The work was funded by Luddenden Civic Society. Thank you.

The path entrance off Booth House Road was clogged by branches from a recent storm-damaged tree. We cleared what we could away from the track so we could park the car to unload materials and tools. It was then a short carry through the field to the stream below.

Path entrance via the gate

The job was earmarked in May when CROWS volunteers put in a markerpost by the steps and noted how rotten they had become.

Before photo showing rotted steps.

We removed the rotted length of revetment (on the right hand side in the photo) and replaced it.

New length installed.

We then set about removing all of the existing six rotted steps.

Three replaced by lunchtime!

After lunch we got down to business and installed the next three steps. The ground was stony in places so that favourite stand-by (brute force) was needed to make holes for the step stobs.

Neil getting stuck in!

Once the new steps were in place we finished by bedding-in the new 'furniture' with soil and stones.

Photo from the top - all completed!

Colden: Shaw Bottom steps . . . and the hidden is revealed

 Colden: Down, down, down from Shaw Bottom Farm!

On a day of light patchy drizzle, Steve, Jan and Frank worked on a short (very short!) section of the Pennine Way that coincides with Right of Way Blackshaw 028. (see map)

1. The worksite: Down from Shaw Bottom to the blue 'pin'

The task was to clear all path surfaces and adjoining walls of invasive growth (bracken, bramble, birch sprigs and miscellaneous weeds) so walkers on this popular path to Hebble Hole would have a safer journey. It might look to be a short distance on the map but it is steep terrain mainly consisting of stone steps! This work was funded by a partnership of Natural England and Calderdale Council Highways.

The Detail.

Start of session . . .

2. Narrow walled-path: overgrowth is rampant!

The work begins . . . Overgrowth is cut-back, dug-out and weeded before surface mulch is either scraped or brushed away.

3. Top section - clean as a whistle!

4. Middle section: more of the same.

In some places we left foxglove plants undisturbed. They produce a vivid Spring/Summer display at the edges of such paths and provide a colourful contrast to the side-walls. A warning, however. As attractive as foxgloves may seem, most of the plant is toxic! (Try an on-line search to find the interesting range of side effects!)

5. More walled-path:  'sample' foxgloves left in place.

Nearer to Colden Water, the path goes very steeply down a long, long flight of stone steps. Despite being overgrown and heavy with weeds, the steps were stable and in good (ish) condition. We cut-back, scraped, brushed and did some minor in-filling with aggregate to give widened access.

6. Stone steps (lots of them) cleared!

Clearing tasks sometimes reveal a curiosity! To one side of the path, completely buried in a massive tangle of overgrowth, was a stone platform and three stone supports for a stone 'bench' (see pictures). It's placed where weary travellers half-way up the steps could rest and enjoy the view down to Hebble Hole.

7. Stone seat being revealed . .  .

8. . . . . and here it is!

The seat of the stone bench is missing. Restoration might be a task suitable for CROWS.

Many thanks to the owners (AKA Jan and Jan) at Shaw Bottom Farm for the parking facilities and the post-work tea and scones (plus jam!) . . . a very tasty end to a successful day.

Todmorden - Path Clearing - Scaitcliffe Woods

RJ, Duncan & Catherine set out to clear the path through Scaitcliffe Woods on the day before the 2026 UKA Fell & Hills Relays. With hundreds of runners from all over the country due to take part they needed to clear the leaves, acorns and beech nuts to make the path safe. CROWS previously worked on the path last year replacing rotten steps and installing many more so there was plenty of brushing required.

Today’s work was funded by Todmorden Town Council. Thank you.

This is the path the team worked on today.

The wet leaves on the stone
steps make them slippery.

RJ & Duncan set to work with
spades and brushes.

Easier to run up now!

More clearing needed here.

This is a section we worked on last year.

RJ removes the thick carpet of
beech nuts higher up the path.

Catherine working on the lower section.

This step was wobbly so RJ & Duncan
packed in stone to steady it.

The beech nuts gone.

All ready for the race!

Ryburn - Return to Birks Lane.

As promised on last week's blog, Linda, Jerry and Angus returned to Birks Lane to work on the access from the stile onto the road. As predicted, the previous day's rain had made the slope treacherous.

Initially, we considered building stone steps, but the lack of suitable materials made this a non-starter, so we opted for wooden risers secured by lengths of rebar. As with last week's work, this was funded by Ryburn Parish Council, to whom we are extremely grateful.

Blue circle at Birks Lane is where the steps were constructed.

 

No steps! Just a slippery slope. After an hour, things are looking a lot safer!

With such stony ground, using wooden stobs was a non-starter, using rebar which can be hammered into the ground, forcing its way between the stones, gives a strong anchor which can be stapled to the step risers. While Linda and Angus set-to with the steps, Jerry repaired parts of the wall above the steps removing and repositioning a number of loose stones.

The finished job, complete with a yellow-topped grab post (which 

will also serve to alert road users).

We then went to the top of the path where we had previously built a stile (generously paid for by the landowner, Mr Ian Boulger). There was a second job to be done on his land (marked by the other blue circle on the previous map) where a crossing point through/over a wall/fence takes the path into some woodland towards Cottonstones.

On inspection, we discovered that the treadboard and one of the step-legs had rotted through; the wall was in poor condition and the fence posts were only held in place by the stock fence!

A tricky crossing, fraught with challenges.

After discussion with Mr Boulger, we decided that as there was no stock in the adjoining fields (and it was unlikely there would be) the best solution was to cut a gap in the fence and rebuild the wall but with an access gap. 

Linda started cutting back the overgrown vegetation to get some light on the job, whilst Jerry and Angus assessed the best way to dismantle the existing structure. 

Angus considers the options for this wall/fence/stile conundrum.

 

Decisions made! Linda and Jerry get to grips with rebuilding the decrepit wall.

We left an original post in place as it was ideally positioned for waymarks. The gap in the wall soon took shape, new posts were embedded, the fence tensioned and fixed to the posts. In the future, if the fields are to be restocked, it would be simple enough to fit a gate or a stile into this gap.

The weather was considerably calmer than last week, though when it did rain, Mr Boulger brought us very welcome cups of coffee! Hooray!

Another satisfying day's work completed.

TODMORDEN - Various

 Today, Catherine, Kasher, Neil B and Richard A worked together to sort out a few issues and to fettle up a couple of paths near Flailcoft (along Todmorden Edge) and then below the Old Golf House, on Tod 080 as it enters Ewood Wood.

We added more MOT to the steps descending from Flailcroft towards Scaitcliffe Wood (Tod 082). We reinstated the markerpost (again on Tod 082) , cleaned up the boardwalk which was overgrown with vegetation, and cut back the trees (and the odd bramble) on this footpath. We will replace the boardwalk in the near future.

We then moved onto Tod 080 in Ewood Wood to install more revetment and to widen the path. This was a continuation of last Friday's work.

Today's work has been funded by Todmorden Town Council. Many thanks for your continuing support to help maintain and improve the footpaths and bridleways in the Todmorden area.

Many thanks also to the residents of Millers Lodge who again allowed us to park in their garden and who helped carry timbers down to the worksite.

The blue "pin" marks the steps below Flailcroft which were infilled with MOT.

The path into Ewood Wood.

Neil B infilling the steps, built by CROWS
just over three years ago.

The small boardwalk cleared and more staples added.
This boardwalk will need replacing in the near future.

Catherine cutting back the path.

Richard creating the hole to reinstate
the markerpost.

The post back in position.

Sorting out revetments on Tod 080 in
Ewood Wood.

Revetments in place and the path widened.

Catherine and Neil B widening the path near a section
of the new revetment.

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

TODMORDEN - path widening and step clearing

There were two teams out from Todmorden today; a beautiful early Autumn day.

Team 1: Catherine, Gareth and Richard A were working on Blackshaw 044 and Blackshaw 050 to cut back vegetation, improve the way marking, sort out the drainage issues and generally fettle up the path network in this area. Please see the separate Blog.

Team 2: David, Kasher and Neil B worked on two paths. Tod 082 goes down from Flailcroft via a large flight of steps which CROWS rebuilt last year. This path then goes down into Scaitcliffe Wood. The team cut back the vegetation on this path and then infilled the lower flight of steps with MOT. We will need to return to complete the infilling of these steps.

The second path (Tod 080) enters Ewood Wood below Todmorden Edge and comes out on Ewood Road. Here, the team widened the path and cut back over-hanging vegetation from the field gate to the bench about 100 m down the slope. We will return to install at least one more piece of revetment.

Both of these paths will be used during the National Fell Race being organised by Todmorden Harriers which is due to take place in mid October 2026, see https://www.todharriers.co.uk/fell-relays-2026/.

We would like to thank the residents of the nearby house for allowing us to park on their driveway, thus reducing the distance the team had to carry the tools for our work on Tod 080.

Today's work by Team 2 has been funded by Todmorden Town Council. Many thanks for your continuing support.

The blue "pin" marks the flight of steps below Flailcroft.

Tod 080 where the path was widened and vegetation cut back.

Flailcroft:

A set of 40+ steps are on Tod 082 from Flailcroft to the field below
and then through Scaitcliffe Wood. The steps are well hidden 
by the encroaching vegetation.

David tackling the lower flight of steps.

The lower flight topped up with MOT.

Kasher and Neil B near the top of the higher flight.

Ewood Wood:

Neil cutting back the vegetation before the path 
was widened.

David widening the path.

The widened path. We will return to install at least one more
piece of revetment.

Neil B attacking the overhanging Rhododendrons.