A NEW path has been laid on the world famous Coast to Coast trail, in a major project carried out by volunteers in the Yorkshire Dales.

The 220-metre stretch of flagged path has been laid across what was a badly eroded section of the trail, east of Keld in Swaledale.

The popularity of the Coast to Coast trail, which is walked by 7,000 people a year, had led to the section known as Swinner Gill becoming boggy.

But the steepness of the gill and its designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest meant access to the path was difficult and meant the Yorkshire Dales Park Authority only had limited time to work on it. It proved one of the biggest rights of way improvement projects ever undertaken by Yorkshire Dales park volunteers.

After a day and a half of airlifting flags by helicopter, rangers and volunteers laid 432 flags, built three large stone flag bridges, created two flights of steps with 19 steps in each, and constructed 12 cross channels.

Work took approximately a month. Head of park management Alan Hulme said: “The challenge of tackling such a large scale project within a set timeframe has changed the view in many quarters both internally and externally as to what can be achieved through the willingness of volunteers if given the opportunity.

“The C2C provides one of the greatest walking experiences in the world to a significant number of overseas visitors to this country as well as UK residents. By improving this route, this project has had a positive impact on people’s ability to enjoy the special qualities of the national park.”

The flags mean that areas of erosion can recover and vegetation grow back, reducing further damage to peatland habitat.

Michael Briggs said every flag told a story: “We try to source reclaimed flagstones and on this occasion they were supplied by Metcalfe Reclamation Ltd from Heywood in Greater Manchester.

"We use sandstone flags as they won’t polish over time and become slippery – like limestone would.

“We’re told that many of the flags came from demolished railway stations and siding. Others came from the floors of old mills across South Yorkshire or Lancashire. They still have the marks or holes where machines were fastened down.”