Section of Pennine Way closed for repairs (From The Northern Echo)

Section of Pennine Way closed for repairs

6:53pm Tuesday 17th February 2009 in News By Will Roberts

PART of the Pennine Way is closed this week so repair work can be carried out.

A badly eroded footpath from Wynch Bridge at Low Force towards High Force, County Durham, is being resurfaced by a specialist team of contractors. North Pennines AONB Partnership Officer and Geopark Manager Chris Woodley-Stewart said: "While the project will mean improvements in access along this section of the Pennine Way, including replacing stiles with gates, one of the main reasons for doing the work is to protect the area's import wildlife from inadvertent damage by walkers.

"By improving the surface of the path, walkers will not be forced to avoid wet areas and trample the rare plants of what is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve."

The work will require stone for surfacing to be flown in from local quarries by helicopter to avoid damaging habitats.

The right of way is being temporarily closed while work takes place and an alternative route will be available.

The work will be completed by spring when larger volumes of walkers use the popular route from Bowlees to High Force.