Zeal Monachorum Parish

FOOTPATHS and BRIDLEWAYS

Report on The Footpaths and Bridleways in Zeal Monachorum Parish with particular reference to Stiles and Bridges

Introduction

In Zeal Monachorum Parish there are 17 footpaths and 3 bridleways. The total distance covered by the 17 footpaths is approximately 15 kilometres (9 miles), and the bridleways run to 3 kilometres (2 miles). These distances can easily give a misleading impression as they seem quite short and perhaps suggest all the paths could be covered quite quickly by a brisk walker. This is not the case as although some of the paths start in the middle of the village of Zeal Monachorum, most start elsewhere - some start miles away right out on the parish boundaries, and the paths wind their ways throughout the parish.

The footpaths and bridleways cover some beautiful countryside through fields and woods, crossing rivers and small streams, and passing houses and farms. Very few are flat as the paths run up and down to the tops of ridges and small hills and down again to the rivers Yeo and Gissage and other valleys. There are some spectacular views both within the parish and way beyond to Dartmoor to the south-west and all other directions when on the tops of the ridges. Thus to walk all the paths properly and do them justice takes several outings over several days. They are an excellent parish amenity.

This report first comments briefly on the condition of the footpaths and bridleways and then focuses on the stiles and bridges scattered along them. The report is best read in conjunction with a 1:10,000 Parish map showing public rights of way so the routes can be identified easily.

Footpaths and Bridleways – General Condition

At this time of year (December / January) most of the vegetation has died back and the hedgerows have been cut and trimmed so the paths are clear and relatively easy to walk. With few exceptions they are in good condition, well marked and well maintained. There are a few gates that could be improved but nothing too serious worthy of comment. There is in fact only one small stretch which is impassable – some 30 metres or so of deep mud in a gateway on Footpath 15, but this is inevitable in wet weather with cattle grazing and this particular point on the path can be bypassed without too much difficulty by a short detour.

Stiles and Bridges / Board-walks

With the paths generally in good condition, the main focus of this report is therefore on the stiles and bridges/board-walks along the paths (wooden bridges – not ordinary road and metalled bridges). The attached table identifies all the stiles and bridges within the parish. In total there are 38 stiles and 11 bridges. By and large these are in good condition and safe to cross when the weather is dry and when taking ordinary precautions and using common sense. There are in fact only 2 stiles on Footpaths 1 and 7 needing minor repairs, and 1 bridge on Footpath 12 which has lost its handrail.

The principle concern regarding the stiles and bridges arises however in wet conditions or when it is cold, frosty or icy weather. As will be seen from the tables only 10 out of the 38 stiles, and 3 out of the 11 bridges have any useful form of anti slip protection measures fitted. The 28 unprotected stiles and 8 unprotected bridges can therefore be extremely slippery and quite dangerous to cross in wet or frosty conditions and as such can be treacherous for walkers.

Anti slip measures used include the fitting of robust wire mesh (which is the best) or anti slip metal plates to the stile or bridge surfaces – including any steps to the bridges. These measures provide some protection although of course care still has to be taken.

It is, however, of particular concern that many of the newer stiles, which otherwise are robust and have been well constructed, have been fitted with steps which have no anti slip wire mesh or metal plates, but instead have had grooves or channels cut out of the timber along the top of the step surface. Whether these grooves and channels are intended to be an anti slip measure in place of wire mesh or metal plates is not known, but the reality of the situation is that in wet or frosty or icy conditions they provide no anti slip protection whatsoever; and they are every bit as slippery as stiles or bridges with plain wooden timber steps without any wire mesh or metal plates fitted and without any channels or grooves cut in them. They may in fact be more dangerous than other plain timber steps or bridge surfaces as they can give the impression they are safe to walk on. Stiles and bridges fitted with these grooved and channelled steps but without wire mesh or anti slip metal plates have therefore been recorded in the attached tables as having no anti slip protection measures.

Conclusion

The footpaths and bridleways in Zeal Monachorum Parish are generally in good condition and well marked and maintained, and the stiles and bridges are generally well constructed and firm and solid.

Some of the newer stiles and bridges/board-walks have been fitted with wire mesh or metal plates as anti slip protection measures. However, the large majority of the stiles (28 out of 38), and of the bridges (8 out of 11) do not have any anti slip measures fitted, and as such can be hazardous to cross when wet or frosty or icy. Extreme care has to be taken when crossing them in these conditions and the chances of some people slipping and having accidents are quite high. (Note: grooves or channels cut in timber steps on stiles and bridges without additional wire mesh or metal plates as well are not effective anti slip measures).

Recommendations

It is strongly recommended that the dangerous nature of the stiles and bridges in Zeal Monachorum Parish, in wet, frosty or icy conditions, be brought to the attention of those responsible in Devon County Council (D.C.C.) and a request made to have those without effective anti slip measures updated and improved to incorporate such protection. In addition it is recommended that D.C.C. should be requested to make the necessary repairs to the 2 stiles and 1 bridge noted above as needing attention in this respect.

Footpath and bridleway table   (Adobe Reader is needed to view this table)

L. H. George Livingstone-Learmonth                                 January 2008