Where Can We Walk

Paths, walks, treks and rambles in the UK

You are here: Home / Archives for Mountain Bikers
New cobbled ford built in Coverdale

New cobbled ford built in Coverdale

November 3, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Horseriders, walkers and mountain bikers will find the going easier underfoot in Coverdale thanks to a joint project between the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) and local dry stone wallers.

Members of the Otley & Yorkshire Dales branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association spent three days building a 2m-wide, cobbled ford in Arkleside Gill above Arkleside to make it easier for visitors to cross.

A cobbled ford is installed to help walkers and horseriders
A cobbled ford is installed to help walkers and horseriders. Pic YDNPA

It is the second time the group has carried out major work in the National Park – last year members built an arched bridge over Eller Beck at Ballowfield, between Carperby and Woodhall in Wensleydale.

But it was something new for them because they had to start the work under water, according to branch spokesman John Heslegrave.

He said: “Arkleside Gill is steeply-sided and crossed by a bridle way but riders of even the most athletic horses had found the boulder-strewn stream bed too hard-going for a safe crossing,

“A cobbled ford was to be the answer and, after our success in building the Ballowfield bridge over water, we were in line for laying stone under water.

“But walling with a strong current washing around every stone was a new experience and we were glad to be able to get above the water level eventually.”

Paul Sheehan, the Authority’s Access Ranger for Lower Wensleydale, organised the transportation of five tonnes of stone – mostly slabs of freshly-quarried sandstone – aggregate and sand bags so the work could be carried out.

He said: “It was certainly something out of the ordinary for the wallers,

“But they have made a fantastic job of it and it will be there for years to come, helping people to cross the beck and continue their journey in this beautiful part of the National Park.”

The stones were set with the water flow and some of the water was diverted so the first cobbles could be laid ‘end down’ against a sandbagged plank.

A suspended rope was used to form the profile for the stonework and soil from the banks was dug out so the cobbles could rise smoothly for pedestrians, cyclists and horses.

Other boulders formed some new steps for the path up the west bank.

Malcolm Petyt, the YDNPA’s Member Champion for Recreational Management, said: “Having joined our Dales volunteers on a few walling jobs, I know some of the challenges of this sort of work. Having to do it under water must be something else!  They have done a great job.”

Featured, News Tagged: Arched Bridge, Athletic Horses, Cobbles, Dales Branch, Dales National Park, Dry Stone Walling Association, Mountain Bikers, New Experience, Otley, Paul Sheehan, Sand Bags, Spent Three, Spokesman John, Stone Walling, Stonework, Stream Bed, Water Flow, Wensleydale, Woodhall, Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire Dales National Park, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

New bridge over the River Ribble

New bridge over the River Ribble

July 22, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

Walkers, horse riders and mountain bikers on the Pennine Bridleway National Trail will soon be able to stay dry when they cross the River Ribble – thanks to a joint project by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) and Natural England.

Artist’s impression of new Far Moor bridge. Pic YDNPA
Artist’s impression of new Far Moor bridge. Pic YDNPA

Work has started on a new path and timber bridge that will cross the river near Selside as part of a new bridleway from the B6479 road near the village to an existing track at Dalemire Barn and the Cam Road – a length of approximately 2.5km.

The Authority’s Pennine Bridleway Project Officer, Peter Lambert said: “There’s a lot of work involved and we had to get the agreement of the landowners, obtain planning permission and Environment Agency consent and carry out extensive, detailed ecological and archaeological surveys before we could start”.

The bridleway bridge will use an innovative design, developed by Peebles-based  Forestry Civil Engineering that involves short lengths of timber to create a bridge with three arches spanning nearly 50 metres.

The main contractor, Houseman and Falshaw, based at Copgrove near Harrogate, aims to have all the ‘in river’ work completed by end of September – with the bridge and bridleway track from Dalemire Barn completed by the end of December.

Marsden Agricultural and Environmental Services Ltd., of Long Preston has been appointed as the contractor for Far Moor common bridleway construction work at Selside on the west side of river.

This is one of the last sections of the Pennine Bridleway to be built in the National Park, with funding secured from Natural England earlier this year for the work.

Malcolm Petyt, the YDNPA’s Member Champion for Recreational Management, said: “This route will be a tremendous recreational resource. Over the next year, new sections of the Pennine Bridleway will be opening in the north of the National Park, providing a continuous route through from the A65 at Long Preston to Ravenstonedale near Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria.”

Anna Righton, Natural England Pennine Bridleway Project Manager, said: “Natural England are delighted that this section will be completed this summer after so many years of hard work and planning.

Already, 130 miles of the Pennine Bridleway are open and used by horse riders, mountain bikers and walkers to enjoy the wonderful countryside along its length – completion of this brand new section of bridleway will open up more opportunities for locals and visitors to this area.”

News Tagged: Archaeological Surveys, Bridge Over The River, Dales National Park, Environmental Services Ltd, Horse Riders, Houseman, Long Preston, Main Contractor, Mountain Bikers, New Bridge, Pennine Bridleway, Peter Lambert, Recreational Management, Recreational Resource, River Ribble, Three Arches, Timber Bridge, Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire Dales National Park, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

NEWS

Lake District Gears up for 2013 Season

With 100,000 Lake District events guides are poised to showcase an action packed season including some hugely popular walks

English Heritage Sculpture Walk

English Heritage members can join Collections Curator Esme Whittaker on 13th March for a tour of the sculpture collection in the gardens at Wrest Park.

Highpoint 25 year celebration events

John White, the founder of Highpoint Mountainguides has designed a range of holidays to some of his favourite places, all of which he knows will offer a wonderful experience.

Windermere walk gets waterproof leaflet

A waterproof leaflet has been produced to help leisurely walkers along a “glorious woodland ramble” beside Windermere.

More Posts from this Category

MILES WITHOUT STILES

Keswick Mountain Festival 2013

Lake District walk leaflet series

Where can I walk with my dog in the North York Moors

Art on the Wall in Carlisle – a new walk in the city

More Posts from this Category

RSS Heritage & History

  • Looking for Gardeners of Ruhleben
  • Perhaps the UK’s oldest recycled Christmas tree
  • Who Built Stonehenge? Exhibition

Return to top of page

Copyright © 2019 · www.thesportsphysio.com · You may also be interested in Nature around me · Log in