Flying squad's peak feat

Donated stone airlifted by helicopter has been used to repair two stretches of the Three Peaks pathway in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. 

The park authority’s Steve Hastie was delighted with the 99 tonnes of 20-millimetre stone from Ingleton quarry.

“It’s a brilliant donation and really helps our funding go further,” said Steve, area ranger and project manager.

It was used in March along 550 metres of the route on Whernside – one of the Three Peaks – eroded by the weather and frequent use by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

“It took a helicopter 110 trips to carry the stone in a small hopper the 2.5 miles from where it was offloaded near Ribblehead viaduct. It was about a day-and-a-half’s work, in the end,” said Steve.

Ingleton unit manager John McGregor said: “Stone from the quarry has been used several times for operations like this over the years, with Steve’s team arranging the transport.”

Donated stone air lifted by helicopter used to repair two stretches of the Three Peaks pathway in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Pathway before donation.

Pathway after donation.