2012 New Year’s Day Walk from Methley
Leader: Melanie
Walkers: Jill & Andy, Pat Smith, Pat Pitts, Jean & Alan, Pat & Dave, Trevor, David Marsland, Val, Lizzie, Morwena, Ken Dalton, John & Sonia, and Pauline Ford
Despite this being the ‘day after the night before,’ 17 Walkers turned out in pouring rain for the first club walk of the year. Inevitably, as soon as we’d donned full waterproof gear, the rain began to ease and we enjoyed lots of chat and banter on the pleasant walk above the river on the Trans Pennine Trail path. Pauline joined us at the coffee stop near Fleet Lane bridge and walked with us for the next mile or so. John distributed chocolates and we stepped happily on through woodland paths by the edge of Oulton Sports ground. Then the rain started again.
We crossed the A639 and on to join Leeds Country way, around Moss Carr Wood. The rain stopped but a chilly breeze kept us moving briskly to a lunch stop where we watched the mad rush of vehicles on the distant M62. As always, we commiserated with all the poor souls who had to dash to the shops when they could have been out in the open air enjoying the wind and rain!
A pleasant walk along the lane to Scholey Hill helped to remove mud from our boots and since the weather was being kind to us as we came within sight of the church in Methley, we congratulated ourselves for having turned out for the walk.
Of course, this turned out to be a bit premature. The heavens opened when we were 5 minutes away from the cars soaking us as we struggled out of our walking gear! I hope it isn’t a portent of weather to come in 2012.
Happy New Year
Report for Whitley. Sunday 8th January 2012
Leader: Glynis Holmes
Walkers: Morwenna Holman, Carole Farish, Mike Mulhearn, Ian Hewitt, David Shaw and John Hamlin.
The weather forecast had been very poor and several of the long walkers had emailed or texted their apologies so I didn’t expect many to turn out. So for a change the Guys out numbered the Galls. Mike took his car with the chaps and I took the girls and off we went to park up at the pub at Whitley. It was cloudy and grey but we were very lucky and the rain held off all day.
We walked along to a tower called The Temple with fabulous long distant views all along the ridge. It’s quite an up and down area around Whitley with narrow steep sided valleys so by the time we got to Lepton we were ready for elevenses and the bench tables at the cricket club came in very handy for a civilised stop. John passed chocolates around which were a nice treat.
New Year’s resolutions were mentioned and Mike said he planned to walk with the club more this year. It soon gets cold once you take the sack off your back so we pressed on at a good pace up to Lepton Edge, along to Common End, up through Kirby wood and on to Flockton. Then a short steep uphill section to “The Rough” where we had lunch on a sheltered banking in stand of trees. There was quite a cold wind blowing on the open sections. Ian was at the back a bit which was very unusual but he was full of cold and said he wasn’t on full form.
Mikes New Year’s resolution had gone from walking with the club a bit more to walking to the pub more often. More chocolates from John were gratefully received and then we were on the last lap. There are three more hills between here and Whitley John announced with glee. A bit of a sting in the tail I agree but you need the hills to keep you warm, that’s my excuse anyway. So along the Kirklees Way to Briestfield then via Foxroyd Shrogg and Back Lane to Whitley.
Luckily we were just back to the cars as it started to rain.
All the best Glynis
MWC Long walk 12 February 2012: Deer Hill, 11 miles. Ros Smith
Leader: Ros Smith
Walkers: Ros Smith, Glynis Holmes, John Hamlim, Ian, Jill & Andy MacFarlane, David Shaw, David, Carol & Alfie the dog
You’ve heard of One Man and his dog..? Well, this was One dog and his nine ‘men’! Yes, nine of us turned up in Morrison’s car park, along with guest, Alfie, a beautiful brown speckled working cocker spaniel owned by Carol. We set off in convoy for Marsden, even managed to stick together all along the A62, and just as we reached Slaithwaite a Deer crossed the road in front of us and ran up the hill, his little white bum bobbing and disappearing into the undergrowth and trees. A lovely start to the day even before the start of the walk!
Parking by Butterley Reservoir, we admired the views: the moorland hills were still speckly with snow, so very pretty; the day was grey but cloud was high and we just hoped the rain would hold off because this walk was one of fine views all day! Starting uphill and walking through someone’s garden onto a balcony path overlooking the reservoir, Ros felt she’d done the Club proud because she’d heard it said many times by fellow Club members ‘this was what made a really good start to a walk’!!
The path followed the line of 3 reservoirs, Butterley, Blakeley, and Wessenden then eventually joined the Pennine Way at Wessenden Head where, believe it or not, in this remote place was a Tea and Burger van!! Ros dragged the group past, although the smell was very tempting, southwards onto the Kirklees Way looking across to Reap Hill and down to Bilberry and Digley reservoirs. Turning northwards, we crossed the summit and found ourselves on Magdalen Moor in different terrain and views – not just of Magdalen Clough and Madge Knoll moorland but across to farmland around Royd.
Crossing the fields and leaping across the valley stream at Royd Edge Clough, we climbed again and stopped for lunch at the top of Royd Edge – even had proper park benches to sit on, as well as the – now expected – views.
From here on, the terrain changed yet again and we followed the track beside Meltham Way Conduit, spotting a Hare en route, all the way to an old Drover’s path called Hassops Road, then climbed up the side of Deer Hill to its Reservoir. As we walked across Holme Moor beside the Deer Hill Conduit, the views changed again and we could see across the valley to Krives hill (328m) and Marsden below. Eventually we joined the Colne Valley circular path and came off the moor, along snickets and paths by the side of farms and Yorkshire stone cottages back to our cars. A good 11.5 mile walk enjoyed by all and especially the (well-behaved) Alfie!
The Medium Walk – Sunday 5 February 2012
Leader(s): Lizzie, Dave and John
Walkers: Sonia, Ian and David Marsland
Weather: An icy day – snow on the ground
Well, I was supposed to be leading a walk from Barwick-in-Elmet, but it had snowed heavily on Saturday night, so it didn’t seem sensible to risk life and limb driving on treacherous roads. Instead, we walked direct from Morrison’s Car Park.
It was disappointing that there were so few of us, and we resolved to put into the Newsletter a reminder that there would always be a walk, whatever the weather. Morley Walking Club members are not easily defeated!
I led the walkers down various back lanes through Morley, until we reached the point where Rooms Lane meets the countryside. We crunched our way down footpaths to the bottom of Churwell Hill, where we stopped, sitting on a wooden fence to have hot drinks from our flasks. The sun shone brightly – a lovely winter’s day.
John and Dave then came up with a cunning plan to make the walk into the 9 miler that was originally intended. We took the paths that lead behind the White Rose Centre, then crossed the Ring Road. It’s amazing how many footpaths there are, even in what looks like thoroughly urban areas. We were soon climbing upward across fields, and rambling through Middleton Woods, which looked delightful – a real Christmas Card scene of black bare trees and white snow. We had our lunch perched on logs in the woods.
We eventually ended up on Thorpe Lane, and then began to work our way back towards Morley – over more fields, across slippery stiles, crossing the Ring Road again, along more footpaths and ever upwards, to arrive back in Morley at about 2.30pm. We had actually walked nearly 10 miles, and the thigh muscles certainly got a good workout in all that snow.
It was all great fun – though personally I would not be sorry if I never saw another snow-flake in my life! Thanks to Dave and John for coming up with such an interesting local ramble.
Lizzie Lowe
Little Whernside from Nidderdale, 1 April 2012
Ros Smith
Considering the weather forecast had been for cloud, cold, and rain on this day of April Fools, we were extremely lucky to get away with a brisk cool breeze and even had wall to wall sunshine all day!
14 of us set off from Morley in only 4 cars – having regard to the current potential petrol shortage, and after a long drive on bumpy roads, narrowly missing a herd of cyclists in the middle of no-where, we arrived at Scar House Reservoir. Booted up, and with woolly hats on we set off walking around the eastern edge of the Reservoir looking northwards up at Little Whernside, 604m.
‘That’s not looking too bad a climb’ I heard someone say. Ros kept quiet and just admired the Lapwings dancing and crying their ‘peewit’ cry. On the other hand they may have been warning us off because of being too near their nest! Anyway we were soon at the top end of the Reservoir having our mid-morning coffee and admiring the view of Nidderdale, the hills around us and the dark blue of the lake.
Then we started climbing. Well, it was only a shelf really because the ground levelled out but a new member, Jeanette, was ‘wow’d’ by the views – Nidderdale one side of us, Coverdale the other. She couldn’t believe she was amongst all this fine, beautiful scenery. By this time we were on open moorland, mostly dry but a few bogy patches and as ever, someone in Morley Walking Club had to fall in! Pam – known to her friends as ‘Posh Pam’ but after today, renamed as ‘Boggy Pam’! Up to her knees she went; couldn’t get out, so Ros and Dave went to her rescue and lifted her out.
All fine and dandy, but Dave went in instead! I think that was nature’s way of ‘April Fooling’ two of our members!
Now for the sting in the tail…and now we know why Ros kept quiet about the climb!! It felt as if it wasn’t far short of vertical! Some of the group seemed to skip up whilst others plodded on gently at their own pace. After all, you have to keep stopping just to admire the views, don’t you!? We were glad to get to the top though and sit in a sheltered hollow for lunch – we were starving! Moving on, dodging the boggy patches we came down off Little Whernside – looked like Ros was going to take us up Great Whernside and on to Maugher, but no, she kept to her word and turned off back towards Scar House Reservoir.
We had a few dodgy moments though as the path wasn’t clear and the lads scouted around for it but then we had two parties walking in parallel – the lads walking ‘off-piste’, clambering across peaty-ravines, and along the edge of precipices, whilst the rest of us picked our way over grassy hummocks and boggy streams! All was well, everyone enjoyed themselves and we joined up again before too long, finishing the 9-mile walk together as one group.
‘A grand day out!’ as Wallace would say to Grommit!
Bretton Hall/Yorkshire Sculpture Park – Tea Shop Walk, 8th July 2012
Leaders:- Ann Minke and Susan Marr
Walkers:- David Minke, Steph Laycock, Tom Gomersall, Jonathon Myers, Carol Deighton, Mel Stockdale, Cynthia Butler, Lesley Constable, Lizzie Lowe, Bill and Hazel Kimberley, Carol Oliver, Michael Johnstone, Margaret Froggitt and Brian Richardson.
Well, they say the sun shines on the righteous, so someone in our group must have been good!!! Bearing in mind the current wet weather and the forecast, 17 brave souls set off armed with waterproofs and brollies, expecting to get a good soaking. But, we did indeed have some sunshine! In fact, it was just as we got back to the car that it started to rain, so we were very lucky.
We parked up just off the main road, about a mile from the park and walked through woods and fields to get to the main entrance. We followed a route around the park of about 2 to 3 miles taking in the sculptures along the way. Some of us were not impressed by a few of them, especially David Nash’s 71 steps! (Mentioning no names, Lizzie!) They were, after all just steps, even though they were supposedly a work of art.
We had a coffee/lunch break at the Horbielt Basket Monument, The sun was shining and we sat on the hill admiring the beautiful view. Much prettier that the monument I hasten to add!
Bill was most surprised by how intelligent the bees were around the small lake with the bee library – a series of old books hanging from trees which were adapted with bamboo for bees to nest in. Most unusual! There were, of course, some fascinating and interesting sculptures which we all enjoyed. The music area was great fun which resulted in some impromptu dancing from Lizzie, Bill and Hazel amongst others.
The best sculpture of all was, of course, the tea rooms at the end where we all enjoyed a well-earned cuppa and a piece of cake!
Thanks To Mel for being our mentor for our first walk as leaders.
Morley Walking Club Medium Walk – 7/10/12 Noah Dale
The Party: Bev, Pat, Jill, Andy, Phil White, Angela Phipps, Morwenna, David Marsland, Paul Garside, Lauren Garside, Pat and I.
The Weather: A glorious sunny day. The was some low lying mist in the valleys as we drove out but it soon burned off.
I had only managed to walk out the route on the Thursday before the walk and after lengthy periods of heavy rain the moorland surrounding Noah Dale was one huge bog! To avoid an appearance in the divorce courts I agreed that the route should be amended before taking the club on the walk. Inspection of the map suggested alternatives to much of the moorland, which is rather featureless anyway!
We set out from the National Trust car park beyond Slack Bottom and above Hardcastle Crags; on a route which had been largely un surveyed. I was pretty confident seeing as how much of the new route was on wide open farm tracks – or so the map suggested! We had two relatively new participants, Philip and Angela and I was keen to ensure they didn’t get a bad impression.
The first section gained the Pennine Way running towards Lower Gorple and was easily found but not so easily walked, there being several places where it helped to be able to do Olympic length long jumps to avoid the bog. An uphill section on a good stoney track followed and we took a coffee stop halfway along this track. The walkers were a little impressed when I told them of the day I led the cycle section down said track on a ride from Hebden Bridge.
Next we turned right onto a farm track which took us to Egypt and beyond! (Morley International Walking Club!) We now dropped down into Noah Dale, the objective of the walk and the section of the original boggy route I had left in, it being the title for the walk. With a struggle we managed to reach and cross the bridge at Colden Water before climbing up to Four Gates End, by now many of the party having shipped much water!
After climbing steadily up The Dukes Cut we turned along what the map suggested to be a walled track running towards Higher Back Lane at Blackshaw Head. I had seen the other end of this track on the Thursday and it looks good from there. It wasn’t good! It was one long sunken bog! So much for trying to impress our new recruits!
From Blackshaw Head we joined the Calderdale Way heading down into Shaw Bottom where we crossed a delightful old slab bridge which must have been there for centuries- a lovely spot for a picnic on a summer’s day. All descents tend to be followed by a slog back uphill and this was no exception – a long slow ascent along the Pennine Way to reach Long High Top from where we made our way back to the waiting cars.
Norland Town – 19.08.12
Leader Dave Bennett
Walkers: Melanie, Jill & Andy, Bev, Pat Smith, Morwenna, Glynis, Laurie, John & Sonia, Lizzie, John, Joyce, Shane & Donna, Lauren, Pat & I
Weather Fine to start, rain later.
18 of us assembled at Morrisons for a walk which I had labelled ‘strenuous’ in view of the stiff climb almost from the off. (I had come under some pressure for putting a strenuous short walk on the programme, thus excluding members not capable of such a walk!)
After negotiating a ginnel from the main street, heading for the rail station we crossed the river on a footbridge and went under the rail line to start a steep climb, on roads at first but then onto an old paved footpath heading up through Allen Park. This old paved way soon became an old cobbled footpath which climbs up through fields to reach a public house which seemed to have fallen on hard times.
Having gained considerable height and great views over Sowerby Bridge we next descended towards Pickwood Scar and eventually into Maple Dean Clough; still following ancient cobbled tracks. After a short stretch in woodland and along a track this time paved with substantial York stone flags we doubled back on a rising footpath through woodland and following a deep and rocky stream bed where a well deserved coffee stop was taken. Continuing through the wood we eventually emerged onto the road at the junction of Norland Road and Turbury Lane from where we were able to enter the access Land at Norland Moor, an area very popular with dog walkers and horse riders, crisscrossed with a multitude of tracks.
I was looking forward to some tremendous views but the advent of heavy rain curtailed that pleasure. After a circuit of the perimeter of the moor we passed the trig point and I began to consider a site for our lunch stop. I had intended to take lunch on the edge overlooking Sowerby Bridge but in view of the inclement weather sought shelter instead in the quarry at Turgate Delph. I needn’t have bothered! We had no sooner gained shelter in small caves and overhangs when the rain stopped!
Lunch taken, we continued along the edge before dropping down to Shaw Lane to cross Ryburn Golf Course where I was the grateful recipient of 4 golf balls found by Joyce and her team alongside a sunken footpath. Our way then followed yet another cobbled track between Clough Head and Scar Head before following the road down into Sowerby Bridge. We arrived back in the town centre to find considerable hustle and bustle as there was a Sunday market which some of our party were unable to resist.
Report for Seckar Wood Walk October 21st 2012
Leader – Melanie Stockdale
Walkers – Terry Doolan, Pat Pitts, Laurie Hutchinson, David Lyon, Margaret Shaw, Andrew Sanderson, Roy & Sue, Ken Dalton, David Shaw, Jonathan, Jean Green, June, David Marsland, Angela, Carole Deighton, Phil & Cyn, Ann Minke, Steph Laycock, Tom & Carol, Lizzie, Margaret & Tony, Jean & Alan, Philip
We started in bright autumn sunshine from the village of Notton, over fields full of cabbages and through a lightly wooded area to join the bed of the old Chevet railway. This proved to be quite a popular route for joggers and cyclists and, being polite, we had to keep stepping aside for them. It was much quieter as we started to walk through Bushcliffe Wood and Newmillerdam Country park- well it was quiet until we got there!
Sunshine heightened the autumn colours and their reflection in the calm waters of Newmillerdam lake was really spectacular. We made use of the benches near the old boathouse for our coffee stop and the proprietor of the
small boathouse café served some people steaming cups of tea and coffee on a tray! I hope that they’re not expecting that kind of luxury on every walk.
I eventually got everybody rounded up and moved on to cross the busy A61 and up a short hill to enter Newmillerdam nature area on the old colliery site. We had lovely views across the valley and then continued into Chapelthorpe, admiring the 16th century Old Hall.
Next section following field boundaries to enter Seckar Wood proved to be muddy and much slower going. The temperature dropped slightly as mist descended fairly quickly, so we had our lunch stop to fortify ourselves before continuing round the outskirts of this well maintained nature reserve and down to the busy A61 again.
The final section of the walk was easy going along the quiet Wooley Mill Lane and back down to Notton, with plenty of opportunity to indulge in that favourite MWC occupation of having a nosy into people’s gardens.
Of course, the sun appeared again as we were driving home.