A POPULAR Powys walking route that has been closed for nearly four-and-a-half years is set to reopen ahead of schedule early next month.  

The Devil’s Gulch, located on the Elan Valley trail, near Rhayader, was closed for health and safety reasons following a rockfall in November 2018, and has been impassable ever since.

Welsh Water, owners of the Elan Valley estate, have been lobbied constantly since by nature and environment groups, who have campaigned for the popular walking route to be reopened.

Welsh Water announced in December that work on the site was due to start last month and would be finished sometime in the spring, but the Elan Valley announced on its social media channels over the weekend that contractors are ahead of schedule to complete the work.

“Our contractors Colin Jones Rock Engineering Ltd have been doing a lot more than hanging around and are on track to complete the repair of Devil’s Gulch earlier than planned,” said the estate on its Facebook and Instagram pages on Friday (February 17).

“We would like to remind our customers that the Gulch remains closed while we finish this work, but we look forward to reopening it for everyone to enjoy in March.”

Due to the extremely unstable condition of the rock face, the North Wales-based expert engineers were brought in to assess its condition and provide professional advice.

The repair work, which began on January 9, involves descaling the rock formation, anchoring and bolting the rock, along with adding rock netting – it is believed the work is costing in the region of £1 million.

Alun Shurmer, Welsh Water’s director of customer strategy and engagement, said in December: “We are fortunate to have onboard specialist and experienced Welsh contractors, Rock Engineering, to carry out this complex repair and we expect to be able to reopen the Gulch in Spring 2023.

“We appreciate the inconvenience the closure of the Gulch has caused regular users of this popular route and we would like to thank our customers for bearing with us while we carry out this work, and we look forward to welcoming visitors back to this beauty spot in 2023.”

While the repair work is undertaken, and to protect visitors and animals, as agreed by the Welsh Government, a further extension of the closure of the Elan Valley trail and bridleway has been put in place and will remain until people are able to pass through the Gulch again safely.

Walking group Powys Ramblers have been one of the main campaigners putting pressure on Welsh Water to begin work on the Gulch and get the route back open.

OTHER NEWS:

Graham Taylor, the group’s footpath secretary, wrote an open letter to Welsh Water last November in the face of constant delays in the process – with work originally scheduled to have begun in September 2022.

“Allowances have been made for the inevitable delay arising from Covid but nevertheless 4 years and counting is far too long to wait for it to re-open,” said Graham.

“Welsh Water have committed to do the necessary works which, we understand, will cost a £1m plus. Earlier this year they said work would start in September. This was then put back to October and then the autumn.
“The latest public note from Welsh Water said there had been funding delays and they were then hoping to be able to start work early in the New Year.

“The problem is compounded by the decision to direct walkers and cyclists who wish to by-pass the closure onto a long stretch of narrow and windy road where they have to take great care to avoid motorists. This is a particular problem for those with mobility issues and those who use wheelchairs.”