In January 2026, the new owner of the Whites Cut section near Midgeholme, which sits within the North Pennines National Landscape and is adjacent to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), carried out extensive groundworks without the necessary planning permissions, resulting in significant damage to the site’s ecological and heritage value. Access along the track and Public Footpath No. 120007 has been obstructed and the owner has stated an intention to develop the land, including building over the former railway line.
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Separately, a wooden bridge east of Tindale was removed by the Knarsdale Estate in November 2024 following a partial collapse. Efforts to secure its reinstatement have so far been unsuccessful.
