Sunday 6th January 2013 – Sunnydale 8 miles
Leader: Glynis Holmes
Walkers: Pat & Dave, Angela Phipps, David Lyon, Bev Gaunt, Pat & Graham, Jonathan, Elise & Roger, Lizzie, Peter & Carol Humphries, Jill & Andy, David Marsland, Hazel Maddy, Mike Mulhearne, Steph, Trevor, Morwenna, Phil White, Jane Elliott, Laurie, Carole Farish.
We parked up at the station car park, Bingley; free parking on Sundays. From here we went along the Leeds /Liverpool canal to 3 and 5 rise locks. On the walkover we had spotted several Kingfishers along here but with 26 of us would we be so lucky. I constantly scanned the canal side as I walked along but no joy.
There was a lot of activity on the canal with some of the barges being used for the weekend and owners doing their maintenance jobs; lots of cyclists and dog walkers too. It was buzzing and very entertaining but the Kingfishers were keeping a low profile.
We left the canal at Moreton Lane and weaved are way through a cap stile and up through a bit of woodland. It was a lot dryer than the walkover experience as we had had hail and sleet on the moor that day. We worked our way through little cul-de-sac’s of old stone houses with cobbled yards and up well-worn steps through East Morton. We had elevenses on a grassy bank above Botany Hall. We had a nice view down the valley.
Then it was on to Sunnydale with its reservoir dam, (a new one on Dave Bennett who said he had scanned the maps and couldn’t find Sunnydale) but it was on my map. Unfortunately it didn’t live up to its name as it was overcast but it was still pretty nevertheless!
Our path took us out to the edge of Morton Moor over Sweetwell Dike and on to Upwoodhall Farm; where a cow was giving birth (poor thing). We made a hasty retreat and had our lunch further down Grass Road (track) by a dry stone wall. They lie because it was far from dry and after lunch we had to negotiate a huge pool of water surrounding our exit gate. All through neatly without anyone bathing in it, thankfully!
Then it was back down in to Micklethwaite which is full of weavers’ cottages, Jacobean yeoman’s houses and a fine manor house dated 1601. We all had a good nosey around on our way back to the canal. Then we were on the lookout for the Kingfishers again. We were nearly back to base when I spotted a blight blue flash and there they were; some with tiny fish in their beaks. I was walking with Pat Bennett and we jumped for joy to the amazement of the others who wondered what the fuss was about. Pat had told me she had never seen a Kingfisher and it was on her bucket list, hence the excitement. What a grand finale!!
Short Walk – 20th January 2013
The Location: A walk previously planned to centre on Digley, (Holmfirth) was relocated to be a local Morley walk.
The Party: 17 people turned out for a local walk, dictated by the extreme inclement weather of the previous few days. Graham & Pat Smith, Glynis and Maddy, Hazel Maddy, Sonia Hamlin, Morwenna Holman, Angela Phipps, Ros Smith, Terry Doolin, Laurie Hutchinson, Phil & Cynthia Hirst, Susan Marr, Pat & I
The Weather: On the day, dull and overcast with occasional flurries of fine snow.
The Walk: In the run up to the Sunday walk the country had been in the grip of severe winter weather. In truth , in this part of Yorkshire the weather had never been as extreme as the forecast suggested it might be but the forecasters continued to threaten worse weather. I had agonised over whether to change my plans for a couple of days before the event and eventually decided that it would have been irresponsible to try to get the party to the selected car park by Digley reservoir. The approach is via minor roads which are particularly steep and unlikely to have been gritted or ploughed. Furthermore the walking route has a multitude of stone step stiles which were likely to be extremely iced up and therefore dangerous.
So it was that I decided to offer a local walk from Morrison’s car park and having notified as many people as possible (Where would we be without E-mail nowadays!) I was pleased to see that 15 others had turned up besides Pat and I.
We left the car park via Westfield Road and the ginnel below the Working Men’s Club and went down Chartist Avenue to cross High Street. We cut up passed Glynis’ place into Mill Street then via Hembrigg Park to come out in Brittania Road. We then went down to Tingley Bar and on down Rein Road to cross the motorway. Having crossed the motorway we turned right into the fields and made our way across the fields to Woodkirk cricket ground where we picked up the old railway line which we followed to Quarry Lane.
We crossed the lane onto an area which nowadays is open land but which formerly had been a huge quarry. Having crossed this area, which offers tremendous views over Batley, Dewsbury and beyond, we headed towards Howley Golf Course. We skirted the course, making our way to the ruins of the old hall where we took a refreshment stop. Refreshed we dropped down the steep hill towards Howley Park Farm and on to Howley Mill Lane. It was whilst negotiating the downhill section that Maddy found an abandoned broken sledge which her and Sue proceeded to make great use of, much to the amusement of the rest of the party.
We now walked along Mill Lane to Scotchman Lane and uphill until we passed the Needless Inn (Too early, unfortunately). We now turned left to cross the fields before picking up the infamous track to Scholecroft Farm. Over the years this track must have figured more in the reports of our footpath officer more than any other. These days the ownership of the farm has changed and the people are much more amenable to walkers. Passing through the farm we proceeded along the farm track until we came to the remains of Scott Lane, which, in the days before the M62 was built, had continued north to join Bruntcliffe Road near to the Waterboard Reservoir.
We walked up the old lane, now very overgrown and then went alongside the motorway to cross at the Street Lane Farm bridge then up to the main road and back to the car park via Dartmouth Park. Sue and Maddy had another merry session bum sliding down the steep hill alongside the motorway.
We had walked 6.5 miles and were back before 1.00pm.
The Medium Walk – Guiseley and Hawksworth – Sunday 3 March 2013
Leader: Lizzie Lowe
Walkers: Jean and Alan, Pat and Graham Smith, Catherine Smith, Jill and Andy, Bev, Pam, Ros, Anne and David, David Marsland, David Shaw, Glynis, Morwenna, Steph, Cyn and Phil, another Phil, Melanie, Hazel Maddy.
Weather: A still, grey day – tiny hint of Spring in the air.
We parked on the main road, outside the Magnet Showroom at Guiseley, just behind the White Cross Pub. We disappeared down an alleyway between shops, to come out in an elegant street, where the residents were no doubt puzzled to see a herd of noisy Morley folk pottering past their doors.
This led us to Thorpe Lane, where we crossed and went through a gate to a footpath that eventually led us to Thorpe Farm. Here, we turned left onto a broad track that led us through many sheep to some buildings that may once have been another farm. It had rather a muddy yard, but no inhabitants any more.
Turning left again, we went up a very steep hill, and, finding a convenient field at the top, stopped for coffee. Despite the haze, there were splendid views, and we could see lots of Jet 2 planes taking off from the airport a few miles away. Eventually setting off again, we descended down a clear path through a little wood, to cross the main street of Hawksworth.
We disappeared down another alley between houses and descended via field paths to find a (rather dodgy) crossing over a brook. Having stumbled across that, we carried on descending to the valley bottom, where we turned right along an increasingly enthusiastic brook. We strolled along – we were in a pretty wood – and after a mile or so, found a bridge to take us across the brook.
We then took a footpath labelled ‘To Sconce Lane’ – this ascended, still in the woods, till we came to a clearing where we perched happily to eat our lunch. Carrying on, some time later, we crossed a double stile, and a few fields, to emerge into a little settlement called Low Springs. Turning right and crossing the road, we found Sconce Lane (someone made a pun about sconce with jam and cream), and went up it for many a mile, till a house shouted at us. It bellowed electronically that ‘You are being filmed on a security camera’. We helpfully made various gestures so they could check that their film was working!
We passed a log cabin holiday site called Farweather Grange – they have outdoor Jacuzzis – what luxury. Then we passed a farm also called Farwether Grange – very confusing. We then descended to Clapper Bridge – a strange sort of arrangement of stones that took us across another brook. Then up again, via a muddy path, to emerge on Bingley Road. Here, we turned right, and walked along the roadside for a few hundred yards, passing Reva reservoir.
After that, we took a path on the right again, which led us towards the Wharfedale Scout Sailing Centre. No-one was sailing any scouts though. We followed a broad grassy path for a mile or so, then crossed a road, found another broad path, and eventually got back to the bottom of the very steep hill we had ascended a few hours earlier. Luckily, we didn’t have to ascend it again – we just passed it by to rejoin the path to Thorpe Farm and thence retrace our steps back to our cars. En route, several of our number stopped to rescue a sheep that had got its head stuck in a fence.
The walk was fairly easy, apart from the vast number of awkward gates and stiles to be negotiated. It must have been a testing ground for the Ministry of Difficult Obstacles!
Medium Walk – The Flouch April 13
Leader: Dave Bennett
I had only been able to walk out the route on the Tuesday prior to the event and at that time a considerable amount of snow was still in evidence, almost all the way round the walk. On the day we were blessed with a very good forecast and 27 people joined me at Morrison’s car park for the drive out to the walk location. The Flouch Inn, sadly, has long gone; though the building remains latterly as an Indian restaurant. The name will remain forever to mark the start of the infamous Woodhead Pass Route from Yorkshire to Lancashire.
I was happy to see that in the few days since my previous visit, much of the snow had gone and apart from a few locations, surprisingly it had not left a sea of mud. Much of the ground was quite dry.
We started by descending to the top end of the Langsett Reservoir and then walked its entire length to reach the car park and visitor centre (and more importantly the toilets) at Langsett Barn. Here I demonstrated my fallibility by leaving the Barn in the wrong direction! Just checking that people were paying attention!
After another slight error I picked up the field path which passes the former Langsett Youth Hostel, sadly now a private residence, and we headed out along the Barnsley Boundary Walk for a distance before turning left to climb towards Hartcliff Hill. We skirted the hill to pick up a walled track heading towards the hamlet of Hillside. I had warned the party that the walk would get more interesting and here it did. The track was covered by deep drifted snow throughout it’s length and whilst it had been walked by others in the previous week, every step was taken with caution as many steps were booby traps waiting to swallow up unwary walkers.
Relief came when we reached the hamlet and dropped down hill to join the Trans-Pennine Trail, heading west. This section of the track has been very recently renovated and the walking became much easier. We reached the bridge which crosses the A628 trunk road where our thoughtful leader had organised several picnic tables for lunch! Not really but I was happy to take the plaudits.
Revived we headed along the track before turning north to go down another sunken, snow filled lane to Bullhouse Mill and out to the road. Almost immediately we left the road on a field path towards the hamlet of Catshaw and another sunken, snow filled lane! Through the hamlet we left the road to head out across the fields to reach Hazlehead Hall where yet another sunken, snow filled lane awaited us.
After crossing the infantile River Don on an old footbridge by a ford we made our way to rejoin the TPT. At Soughley, we left the trail and headed onto the edge of open moorland, heading roughly due south to find yet another sunken, snow filled lane, this the longest and most difficult to pass. With difficulty we did all manage to negotiate the obstacle – by now I had adopted my time tested tactic of keeping plenty of distance between me and the rest of the party. There are times when a hearing difficulty can be a real asset.
A short step through the plantation brought us back to the waiting cars and to a man they all came to thank me for a ‘nice’ walk.
Sunday 10th March 2013- Holmes to Holme 10 miles
Leader: Glynis Holmes
Walkers: Michelle, Sue Williams, Val, Carol Summers, Jill & Andy, Ian Hewitt, Trevor, Morwenna, John Hamlin, Susan Marr and Ian Pickering.
The Weather – We drove via the M1 and Denby Dale as the forecast was for more snow later in the day. Just the odd country road was a bit slushy but we all arrived safely and parked up in Station Road car park, Holmfirth. It was snowing lightly as we arrived and it was bitter cold. We were adding layers only to struggle with them when we called at the public loos in the centre of the town. The snow stopped as we set off.
The Walk Once all warmly tucked in again we were soon passing the eighteenth century church and up the steps by the side of Sid’s Café; a wonderful place to call after a walk. I told the gang that Sid’s café serves pint pots of tea and boozy fruit cake as Michelle and I had found out when we called in after we did the walk over.
Holmfirth is a fine Pennine town with great character nestled in superb moorland countryside. It doesn’t matter which way you get out of town there’s always a grand hill and once at the top a great view by way of payment for your efforts.
We went via a part cobbled track which goes by mill building at Underbank and soon turns into a wonderful grassy way that rises up passes seventeenth and eighteenth century cottages. Then we had our reward; spectacular views back over the stone rooftops of Holmfirth and down in to the narrow Holme Valley. We had a breather at the top of the hill while Michelle took photos of the views and a group shot of us.
We followed the ridge side giving us more views of the snow along the field boundaries and moor edges right out towards Bleakmires, Holme Moss and Black Hill. Wow!! We soon arrived on Cartworth Moor Road and then we could pick up the pace a bit along this flat mile or so to keep ourselves warm. Once at Ramsden reservoir picnic area we had our 11ses, very civilized but too cold to stay for long.
After crossing the dam between Ramsden and Brownhill reservoirs we soon got warm again trundling up the hill toward Holme Village. Sue was back marking for me and after most of us were on the other side of a wall she spotted a deer. We passed a strange eco house half sunken and with glass domes. Now in Holme my names sake we had loos again and a farm shop attached to the pub serving hot drinks and lots of wonderful homemade pies. I went home with an olive bread loaf in my rucksack.
We followed the Kirklees Way for a while making our way over to Digley and Bilberry reservoirs were we had another stop by the Dam. The sun had peaked out a bit but it was bitingly cold so again we didn’t linger; soon making our way back via Holmebridge and the track by the river Holme. After weaving around the remains of the industrial age with mills a plenty, tall chimneys and a mill race; now mostly shrouded by beech and birch woods making it pleasant way back to the main road and we were soon back in Holmefirth. We bid farewell to the ones going straight home and my car load went in to Sid’s Café for that wonderful pint of hot tea. Bliss!!
Long Walk – Dale Winsome Sunday 12.5.13
Leader: Sue Williams
Walkers: Michelle Bray, Mick Mulhearn, Ian Pickering, John Hamlin, Morwenna Holman, Pat Appleyard and Glynis Holmes
Eight hardy souls left Morrison’s car park having been told by myself that we would be heading for Loft house in Nidderdale. Some of my party had been wondering where on earth Dale Winsome was so I finally put them out of their misery.
On reaching Lofthouse, we headed out on the Nidderdale Way towards Thorpe Farm whereupon we headed straight up a steep climb towards the top of the ridge and came out by a very ornate shooting lodge on Thorpe Edge for our coffee stop. Fortunately one of the doors was unlocked so we were able to shelter from the wind – some people seemed to make themselves very comfortable and were slightly reluctant to leave!
After coffee, we continued along the ridge for a while taking in spectacular views of Great and Little Whernside, Scar House Reservoir and much more. On reaching a gate, we then turned right and headed towards Pot Moor High Road and Agill Dam. From here we had extensive views of Wensleydale, the North York Moors and even Roseberry Topping in the far distance. From Agill Dam, we headed up towards the ruins of Low Ash Head where we had lunch. Ian decided to have a look inside the ruin of the farmhouse only to get the fright of his life when a huge raven flew out of the building just above his head.
There were a few choice words coming out of his mouth after nearly having a heart attack with fright (I thought he had seen a ghost at first) but he soon recovered. After lunch, we then headed up over heather moorland towards another shooting lodge nestling in amongst some huge boulders (similar to Brimham Rocks).
Morwenna was very impressed with this area and it may have given her some ideas for her next book as it certainly was very atmospheric.
We finally headed back on moorland tracks passing the rock formation called Jenny Twigg and her daughter Tib towards Bouthwaite and back on the Nidderdale Way to Lofthouse. Shortly before Lofthouse we came across a vintage sports car motocross rally which was exciting to watch – rather them than us. A good day was had by all.
Medium walk 07/07/13 Piethorne Valley
Leader: Ian Pickering
Walkers- Jill & Andy, Pat & Graham Smith, Glynis, Lizzie, David Marsland, Melanie Stockdale, Morwenna, Carol Summers, Pat Appleyard, Ian Nicholson & Colin Smith
Weather: Scorchio !!
My debut as leader for MWC and I couldn’t have asked for better weather (maybe too good). We started out from Ogden Reservoir (not the Halifax one) at 09.45 and could see it was going to be a hot one. The smell of coconut & jojoba sun cream was taking over from the sheep dung. We followed the Rochdale Way past three reservoirs & crossed the dam of a fourth. For the next few miles our walk was hampered by the Pennines answer to the ‘Tour de France’, the shout of BIKE!! still ringing in my ears, although the ladies seemed pleased with all the cyclists in tight lycra.
The clear skies were giving us great views over the Pennines, but finding shade for a drinks break was becoming difficult, we eventually settled besides the fifth reservoir of the day Readycon Dean. At this point Lizzie & Glynis decided to tell new walkers all the doom & gloom of broken bones & collapsed walkers, welcome boys!
After the welcome break we then headed along the Pennine Way up to White Hill, surrounded by waves of Cotton Grass. Our view now stretching across to Calderdale & Glynis’ destination for next week, Stoodley Pike. Now heading across to Windy Hill we gained a welcoming breeze, but my promise of ice-cream at the mast was de-fused by the invisible ice-cream van. As we walked along Windy Hill ridge we had a few moments at a small memorial to someone’s granny (nice touch).
We were now high above the M62 , where a broken down coach party were given a show by a Morley Walking Club ladies stop (nice view). As we reached the Rochdale Way again, some hardy souls were struggling with the heat, so progress was slow back to the finish point around Ogden Reservoir. A good hot day had by all.