Pennine Way

The Pennine Way Ranger looks after the Yorkshire Dales National Park section of the Pennine Way National Trail.

This section runs from Gargrave in the south of the park to Tan Hill in the north and is a linear length of 51 miles. It includes Malham Cove path, the route over Pen-y-ghent and Great Shunner Fell. The Pennine Way Ranger is responsible for planning and delivering a high quality maintenance programme for trail furniture and trail surfaces along the route.

The post is 75% funded by Natural England

Projects

Birkwith Moor
This section of trail is designated footpath that crosses wet fragile upland. The route had become almost impassable particularly after wet weather. Extensive and inappropriate use had resulted in erosion of the vegetation causing wide boggy areas.

The problem was addressed by using the technique of sub soiling. This involved using a mechanical digger on tracks to excavate the underlying mineral soil and placing it on top of the existing peat to create a durable surface - in effect the path is turned upside down. The excavations produce side ditches that lift the path out of the wet land. For additional durability the path was surfaced with stone and seeded.

Pen-y-ghent
The route over Pen-y-ghent is very popular. As well as forming part of the Pennine Way it is climbed by day walkers and those undertaking the Three Peaks route.

Earlier this year funding was secured to carry out work to reduce the impact on the path surface and surrounding ground. A helicopter airlifted 200 tonnes of stone to different sites where work was to be undertaken. A specialist contractor then completed the work of constructing cross drains to shed water off the aggregate path to prevent wash out, and stone pitching and landscaping to reduce erosion and give users a clear and easier walking line thus reducing short cuts and desire lines. Subject to funding, more works are planned for next year.

Great Shunner Fell
In 1996 the laying of a stone flagged path was completed on Great Shunner Fell in Swaledale. Previously this had been a difficult crossing over peat moorland, and the resulting erosion scar was up to 70 metres wide. The flagged path was a huge success with excellent vegetation recovery. However, some sections had been left as, at the time, they had not shown signs of damage. Eventually these sections deteriorated.

In 2002 funding was secured to airlift 100 tonnes of stone flags to the damaged areas. These were laid to bridge the gaps between the existing flagged sections forming an almost continuous flagged path. In 2005 approximately 100 metres of the old flagged path were re-laid to reduce stepped sections and sort out problems where flags had been undercut by water erosion.

Contact details

Pennine Way Ranger
Stonedykes Barn
Stainforth
Settle
BD24 9PN

01729 825179