Kinn End

With this project there were different types of jobs. They included path erosion repairs, cutting back vegetation from the paths, and strimming back bracken. A good spell of weather meant it was time to crack on. The first job was to strim the bracken back on both paths up at Kinn End. So myself and Paul the Ranger Supervisor from Loweswater took on the first part of the task. Instead of carrying the strimmers all the way to the top we got permission from the Forestry Commission to go on there land and gain access nearer to the site.  

With both paths strimmed the barriers at the top and bottom of Kinn End could be changed. Blocking off one path gives it time to recover, whilst the other takes the brunt of this popular route. By alternating the usage of the two paths we can manage the erosion. With the barrier not being changed for some time the locks had siezed up. So with some WD40 on the one lock and bolt croppers on the other that solved that problem.

The second part of the project was to repair a step-over stile. Again we were able to gain access to the site by going through Forestry Commission land. This saved us from carrying all the materials and tools up the fell, and we would like to thank the rangers at Whinlatter for their help in this.  

The other part of the project was to cut back the vegetation leading up to Kinn End. This helps open the path up, making it easier for the public to walk, which in turn stops them from making the path wider. We also strimmed the grass, and brambles back that were encroaching on the path. We found that one section of path had started to slip. A simple post and rail revetment backfilled with rocks and soil proved a good “stitch in time” solution. It is always good to catch these problems early, and this will help the path from eroding and washing away.  The pictures below help show a before and after of the path. Joe the foot path supervisor and I took on this part of the project. This grouping of several small jobs into a greater task, is a method that we regularly use.

Before



After