Repairs almost complete at Hardcastle Crags after Boxing Day floods

The heavy rain which caused serious flooding in the Calder Valley, devastating homes and local businesses, also affected the wooded valley of Hardcastle Crags. Parts of the Crags had to be closed after footpaths were washed away, while a footbridge broke away from its piers and was carried down river.

Since then the National Trust has spent £20,000 on footpath repairs and secured another £34,000 from Calderdale Council to fix the footbridge, stepping stones and main track, used by nearly 150,000 visitors a year.

Sara Parsons, visitor services manager, said: “Autumn’s a beautiful time to come and visit; as the leaves turn along the

valley, the whole place becomes awash with colour, a hotspot for fungi and plenty of busy wildlife to spot on a walk. After so many months of hard work and planning to repair the estate, it’s

fantastic to be able to tell our visitors that the footbridge has been replaced and that all our walks and the stepping stones are ready to be enjoyed and explored again.”

Volunteers and contractors will carry out the remainder of repairs to several miles of footpaths on the estate which link into the wider footpath network.