This stile is on footpath FP 563010 near Marton (OS Map).
🠈Before: The lower step on this stile had collapsed.
After 🠊🠊: Fixed – many thanks to volunteers MC, JW & AR. (Note: In this photo the lower step support post is hidden by the grass growing round it.)
The Cumbria Way is the most used walking route in the Furness area. So in late June and early July 2025 volunteer PQ surveyed the Cumbria Way from Ulverston to Gawthwaite, in the following three sections: –
At the time, several known problems on the Ulverston to Windy Ash section had already been fixed by volunteers MC & JW. And since then more problems have also been fixed by PathFix volunteers. The route has also been re-waymarked. See our Cumbria Way page for details.
An old stile in the stone wall at Buckhorn Lane had been completely overgrown by ivy. So PathFix volunteers MS & SC cleared the completely overgrown stone step stile. And since the wall is quite high, volunteers JW & MC then fitted a handrail to make it safe to use. (Click to enlarge photos.)
BEFORE
Is there really a stile & fingerpost under all that ivy?
AFTER
Yes! Here it is!
And now with a handrail too.
This path is split into 2 rights of way where it crosses the parish boundary: –
The following rights of way were surveyed in June 2025, since they were on the original route of the Haematite Trail.
ince then, Furness PathFix volunteers SB & LM have re-launched the Haematite Trail with some route changes, and only the first of the following path surveys is on the new route in this area.
Volunteers SB & LM surveyed the following sections of the Haematite Trail from Carr Kettle to Marton and on down to Ireleth: –
PathFix volunteers fixed the stile where path FP 602043 sets off from near Lindal towards Marton (grid ref: SD 2450 7593). Tap photos to enlarge.
BEFORE:
AFTER volunteer PD cleared the ivy:
AFTER volunteers TL & GC fixed the stile structure:
The council countryside access team had asked us to look at this footpath (FP 602043) sinceat the time it was due to be included in an upcoming sponsored walk: –
Two stiles needed fixing on the short path from Smithy Green Farm to the lane above Penny Bridge Church. PathFix volunteers TL & GC rebuilt both steps on one and repaired the step on another.
Stile 1 BEFORE:
The rails and uprights were secure on this stile, but both steps were rotted and at least one step support post was in danger of collapsing.
Stile 1 AFTER:
It is now secure and fully usable, after PathFix volunteers TL & GC replaced both steps and all their support posts.
Stile 2 BEFORE:
The old steps were rotting on the stile at the other end of that path, where it leaves the wood onto the lane above Penny Bridge Church.
Stile 2 AFTER:
So they replaced both steps on that stile.
This is a short section of path near Greenodd, just a few hundred metres long, that starts from a minor lane just south-west of Smithy Green Farm. It goes through the farm and one of its fields before crossing a part-broken wooden stile into a small wood, at the end of which there is another part-broken wooden stile that leads onto the lane just south of St. Mary’s Church above Penny Bridge.
Problem 1: There is no fingerpost or waymark where it sets off from the lane along the farm access track.
Problem 2: At the farm there is no waymark to show which way to go.
The path actually goes through this gate, which is easy to open and then turns left once in the field 20m further on.
The path leaves the field at the far left corner, where there is a broken and part-overgrown stile into the wood beyond.
Problem 3: Although the rails and uprights on this stile are secure, both steps are part rotted and need replacing, and the upper step’s support post on this field side of the stile is loose in the ground and in danger of collapsing (the step support post on the left in first photo).
The second photo is from the other (small wood) side of the stile, looking back over the stile at the farm. The step supports on this side are still firm, but both steps are damaged and need replacing.
Problem 4: just beyond that stile the ground drops down a steep gravelly bank into the wood. This drop is a bit dangerous and it would be very useful if it were stepped to avoid the risk of someone falling.
Problem 5: The small wood is quite attractive, with bluebells and garlic, but the route through it is unclear and there are fallen trees blocking some apparent paths. So some simple path clearing and marking would be useful.
At the end of the wood the path goes over another wooden stile, onto the lane just south of St. Mary’s Church above Penny Bridge .
Problem 6: The lower step on this stile is part broken and needs replacing (the step support posts still seem firm). But also, there is nothing to hold onto when on the upper step (left hand side in photo, which is fro the lane side) since the finger post is too far to reach from there. So a second tall upright hand-hold post on the left (when viewed from the lane) would be useful and make it safer.
The second photo here shows the lower step, which is part-broken on the wood side of the stile.
