Ah, one for the history books. Last year, the main path up Roseberry’s eastern flank was given a facelift, and now it is this desire path’s turn. The one by the fence that skirts the hill’s south-east side, linking the Cleveland Way with the Folly Field. The upgrade might happen this year, or perhaps next—what suspense.
The grand vision is to craft a narrow path with some aggregate sections, a few steps, drainage channels, and a bit of erosion landscaping. The usual works. Overnight frost has kindly highlighted the damage for dramatic effect.
For the uninitiated, a “desire path” is what happens when walkers trample a route that planners either failed to anticipate or chose to ignore. Or just more convenient. Typically found in urban parks where grass corners get shaved off by people taking the shortest route, these paths are a triumph of practicality over design1Tomes, Hannah. The twists and turns of ‘desire paths’ | The Spectator 9 July 2022. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-twists-and-turns-of-desire-paths/ .
I use this particular path often, mainly to avoid the summit’s crowd of tourists, but I must admit I rarely see others on it. Judging by the erosion, though, they are either invisible or walk the route in secret.
- 1Tomes, Hannah. The twists and turns of ‘desire paths’ | The Spectator 9 July 2022. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-twists-and-turns-of-desire-paths/
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