WALKERS in Burley-in-Wharfedale will benefit from improvement work on a footpath linking the village with Menston, following a stile being replaced by a self-closing gate.

The new gate is the 17th to be installed in and around the village over the past five years in a programme to improve footpath access, co-ordinated by Burley Walkers are Welcome. David Asher, chairman of the group said: “This was a particularly awkward stile for some walkers to use, not helped by the area of perpetually boggy ground in front of it. It proved to be one of the most difficult projects we have undertaken given the tough working conditions, but our joint working party with Lower Wharfedale Ramblers did a brilliant job with the installation – even if it did take twice as long as usual! This is one of the most popular footpaths through the attractive countryside between Burley and Menston, used throughout the year by runners and walkers including by our own guided walks. So we were very grateful when the landowner gave us consent to complete the work. We still have a few more stiles in our sights to replace around the village, but our hope is to make our nearby countryside accessible for as many people as possible over the next couple of years.”

Burley Walkers are Welcome provide a three mile guided walk on the first Friday of the month, and a five mile guided walk on the third Sunday of the month throughout the year, starting at Burley railway station at 10 am. Dogs on leads are welcome, providing owners confirm that they have third party liability insurance in place. For more information about the group including working parties, visit www.waw-burleyinwharfedale.org/ or email burleywalkersarewelcome@gmail.com in order to receive a monthly update about walking activity in Burley.