CNCC and Natural England collaborate to replace Alum Pot stiles
On 28th September, CNCC volunteers Alan Wylie, Adele Ward, Tim Sullivan, Andy Hall, Steve Warren and Ian and Sally Hodge, led by Ged Benn (BPC) and Adam Waters and Andrew Hinde from Natural England set out to attend to three stiles in the Alum Pot area.
These stiles are mostly used by cavers, so we were keen to see them repaired. Landowner permission had been arranged.
The stile to Alum Pot itself, encountered on the track from Selside on the south east side of the enclosure, was in a sad state of repair and was replaced by a through-stone stile on the opposite side of the enclosure (nearer to the North West Route). The remains of the old wooden stile were removed from site completely.
Access to the Alum Pot is therefore now from the north west end only (around the back of the enclosure as you approach from Alum Pot Lane at Selside) using the new stone through-stile; please do not try to cross elsewhere as this is both dangerous and may damage the walling.
Once into the enclosure, a traverse around to the South East Route can be made, with care.
A new ladder stile was built at the bottom of Borrins Moor to replace the old one (crossing onto the limestone pavement on route to Upper Long Churn). Additionally, at the existing through-stile higher up Borrins Moor (near Wilson’s Cave) the top stones were mortared into place to prevent further damage to the wall from individuals crossing here.
A splendid achievement and a hard day of work from our volunteers! Many thanks to Alan Wylie and Andy Hall for taking so many excellent photos, several of which are shown here.