Repairing the footpath up Stone Arthur

About a month ago we started work on our second upland project of the year over in Grasmere, on the footpath up Stone Arthur.

 Rolling the rock into position

When we had the rock moved to site by helicopter last year it was impossible for the stone to be dropped exactly where we needed it. Because of the steepness of the slope and the presence of a large Sycamore tree many of the bags had to be dropped away from the area where we need to work.

 The rock on site and ready to use

Our first job was to roll several tonnes of rock down, and across, the hill to where we needed it for the path repairs.

 Lower section (before)

The main part of the job is to divert the footpath around an area that was badly damaged by a landslip during the Storm Desmond flooding. The original path-line skirts around the fellside a few metres below where we're working.

Lower section (after)

During the landslip that washed away the path, a large area of bedrock was exposed that proved difficult for many people to navigate. Because of this, numerous new paths were created and vegetation was being lost rapidly as water flowed through these newly trodden routes.

 Bedrock section (before)

You can see the new line of the path going up and around the area of exposed bedrock in the photographs above and below.

Bedrock section (after)

Much of the area is quite boggy, due to the hard ground and bedrock just below the surface (which caused the landslip as the overlying saturated ground washed away), so we've incorporated plenty of drainage to help keep water off the new path.

 Working on the middle section

We're also making use of a large gully that has been created by both water and walking boots, by diverting the path around on to an alternative route and turning the gully into a large drainage channel to help remove water from the area.

 Top section (before)

Due to the hardness of the ground and having to spend several days moving rock around the site, the job is progressing slightly more slowly than we'd have hoped. But once completed, the new path will make a real difference. We'll be able to remove several old paths, improve the drainage of the area, re-vegetate areas that have been worn down to the soil and make it much easier and safer for people out enjoying the fells.

Top section (after)