Now here's a subject that I have not mentioned for some time - the Pennine Bridleway.  You will recall that the plan is for this route to come down from Clapham by South House and Borrins Farms, go across Low Moor and cross the river between the Tarn and Drain Mires.  Then it follows Darin Mires lane up to High Birkwith and the Pennine Way.  Of course, a bridge is needed at the river crossing and we have been involved in the consultation about this to ensure that it's design in no way interferes with either the ecology of the river or our legal right of access and fishing rights. 

Things have been quiet for some months now, but this week has seen a flurry of activity on the ground with regular trips by  YDNP rangers and contractors to the river bank at the crossing point.  Apparently they are drilling to discover just how far down the abutments for the bridge will need to go in order to get a firm purchase.  Judging by the amount of drilling that has been going on the answer is - quite deep.  This result is pretty obvious even to a lay observer as the ground here is incredibly boggy even in very dry weather.  Be that as it may it now looks as though plans are moving ahead to construct this bridge and we will watch proceedings with concern and interest.

I had a phone call from (Crayfish) Paul on Thursday who rang to tell me that the results of the crayfish plague tests that he undertaken at the foot of Ling Gill falls were back and that they confirmed the presence of plague at this point.  However, all is not lost as regards the future re introduction of native crayfish to the river as Paul is confident that a way can be found to prevent the continued wash of crayfish over the falls which are feeding the plague spot at the foot.  He is working up ideas which we will discuss again in due course.

It's a rather showery day with bright patches and a fairly brisk westerly breeze.  The river is still quite high, just about enough to get salmon running and they are coming up the Foss in good numbers.  I got an amazing photo of a fish on the Foss from a village photographer yesterday.  This looked to be a hen fish, slightly coloured and about 7 or 8 lb in weight.

I will try to get permission to post this up here tomorrow.

Ian