17th March 2019 – Short walk from Myrtle Park, Bingley
Leaders: Philip & Cyn Hirst
Walkers –Philip, Cyn, Pip, Josh, Jill, Andy, Pat S., Dave, Pat, Paige, Emily, Ozzy, Lizzie, Laurie, Jonathan, Lesley, Terry, Robin, Peter, Carol
If the main focus of your walk is Harden Beck tumbling over Goitstock waterfall, then go after a few days of torrential rain and capture it in all its glory, cascading spectacularly in full spate, twinkling in the early spring sunshine. That’s exactly how it was for the 19 intrepid walkers who tiptoed carefully, but not always successfully, through slippery mud, roots and staircases on a 7.1 miles walk.
We met at Myrtle Park, Bingley; another hidden gem of Yorkshire, cleverly concealed behind a mass of roadworks, cones, barriers and diversions with easy parking on a Sunday by the former Bingley Town Hall. The sky was broken – clouds, showers and sunshine –so waterproofs were on at the start, but soon to be discarded. We crossed soggy parkland down to the River Aire bridge and then steadily, oh so steadily, we gained our height as we took the tricky footpath to the waterfall. Coffee, then lunch, was taken in the ever energising sunshine – a welcome break above the waterfall after 3.1 miles. Here the party split – some preferred the slightly shorter route. Mostly we set off cross country for St.Ives Estate; a vast expanse of a Stately Home and Gardens. By now, the sun was out, the temperature soared and most of us were discarding layers. The walk was difficult. Easy in dry conditions, the heavy rain had rendered it rather challenging. The mud and water made surfaces both treacherous and energy sapping. There were inevitably casualties – easily identified by their muddy behinds! But as we crossed the very busy B6429 on the final stage there were plenty of smiling, satisfied faces, eagerly anticipating the delights of the Tarquins Tea Rooms back in Myrtle Park. We recommend the exquisite latte and Bakewell tart. Delicious.
Blubberhouses short walk 17/11/2019
Walkers: Ian, Mel, Laurie, Robin, Jonathan, Andy Bell, John & Sonia Hamlin, Gillian & Alec and new member Anne Nettleton.
We left Blubberhouses church with the threat of rain, but luckily we had none all day. After passing the impressive Blubberhouses Hall, we made our way across Hall Moor and passed the quarry before heading onto Kex Gill Moor. The crossing of the moor was a very wet journey, with some parts well over boot deep. A blocked footpath meant a longer road section than intended although not much traffic on it.
The next bit made me laugh, I had been telling the group about a new café that had recently opened enroute, but when we arrived, I walked straight past the door, much to the disappointment of my fellow walkers. Come on!! Surely they didn’t expect me to stop at a café enroute; I do have a reputation to keep! Shortly afterwards I did allow a lunch break by the side of Thruscross reservoir. Climbing down below the impressive reservoir dam, we picked up the River Washburn, which we pleasantly followed back to the car park. I am still quite proud of my café stunt, ha ha ha!!
Chevin Surprise Short walk 20/01/2019
Leader: Ian Pickering
Walkers: Pat Pitts, Dave & Pat Bennett & kids Marcus, Emily & Paige + Ozzy the dog. Robin, Jonathan, Phil &Cyn, Peter & Carol, Jenny, Pat Appleyard, Glynis, John & Sonia Hamlin, Rita &Brian, Pauline Ford, Yvonne, Mick, Charlotte & my assistant leader Lucas (aged 6).
A good turnout of 21 adults & 4 kids started walking from a busy Surprise View car park, although the surprise today was there wasn’t a view. Looking out towards Otley, all we could see was a wall of fog. After a short tricky road section, we made our way through York plantation to East Carlton, avoiding some frisky horses. Our coffee break was taken behind a wall unaware that some of our ladies were just over the wall having a toilet break, but I think modesty was kept. Just before we reached Bramhope, some of the group splintered off for a shorter route.
After lunch at Bramhope cricket club, we started heading back towards the Chevin encountering several more horses and several more stiles. Soon after entering the Chevin Forest Park we went down to Caley Crags & it got busy with families & dog walkers. Having crossed Chevin road to climb Miller Lane , I did a head count & realized we were a man down, or woman in this case, as Sonia had gone AWOL. I ran back to the forest & found her in a car park, she had stopped to answer the phone & lost sight of us, but everything ok in the end & we re-joined the gang at the top of Miller Lane.
We now got the good views from the top of the Chevin, as we made our way back to the finish. Thanks everyone for turning out.
Ian
Delph & Castleshaw. Medium walk – 07/07/2019
Leader: Ian Pickering
Walkers: Andy Bell, Sue Lund, Julian, Lizzie, President Pete & Carol, Jill & Andy, Robin, Birthday girl Angela, John, Denise & Wendolene.
It was a bright sunny morning as we left the Pennine village of Delph. It wasn’t long before we were climbing up to the small hamlet of Heights, with its old church and strange old pub, the Royal Oak, still in business a few times a week. After elevenses, we followed an old drover’s track to Castleshaw reservoirs.
It was on this track we encountered a worried sheep and her lambs, trapped in the lane, we managed to herd them back to their flock in the field. After crossing the dam, the site of an old Roman Fort was reached, but the site is disappointing as there is actually nothing there. Another climb was done before reaching Brun Clough reservoir, then heading downhill for lunch. The lunch stop brought about a rendition of Happy Birthday for Angela and the birthday girl handed out cake, which turned out to be some delicacy called Tiffin, which was really nice.
Ian was giving out information during the walk but Tonya was impressed with the fact that Marilyn Monroe committed suicide the day after Ian was born, fascinating!!! We joined the Huddersfield Narrow Canal at the Diggle end of the underground tunnel and followed this past busy cafes and ice cream shops. Approaching Uppermill, we left the canal and picked up the old railway line known locally as the Delph Donkey. Following this line through Dobcross, we arrived back to Delph to finish off a nice day with some funny moments.
Elsecar and Wentworth walk. 6th October 2019
Walkers: Alec, Gillian, David, Laurie, Yvonne, Sue and Bob
In spite of the adverse weather forecast seven of us set off, to be rewarded by a balmy sunny day. Once again it paid off to ignore the weather reports. The walk commenced at Elsecar heritage Centre car park and headed towards Tankersley, arriving at Tankersley Old Hall ( film location for Kes), where raincoats and jackets were discarded in the warm sunshine.
From there we headed to Wentworth village via the village of Harley. At Wentworth we had lunch in the grounds of the derelict church. We then set off through the village visiting the beautiful, aptly named, Paradise Square. From there we headed up the hill away from the village and stopped to look around the Needle folly.
From there we had pleasant high level field walking with extensive views east and west. We finally arrived at the Heritage Centre, where we after a short wander round, before returning to the car park.
Middleton Woods & Moor – 12/05/2019
Leader: Ian Pickering
Walkers: Andy Bell, Andrew Sanderson, David Harrison, Sue Williams, Angela Phipps, Carol Summers, John Hamlin, Old Laurie & new member Tina Sinclair.
The sun was shining early as we arrived at Ilkley and most of us opted for shorts to walk in. I had tried to plan this walk to coincide with the Bluebells in Middleton Woods & luckily there was still plenty around as we climbed quite steeply through the wood. Going through another small wood, Tina christened her debut walk with a downhill tumble, thankfully no harm done except a few giggles.
We then took a short detour through a very elaborate wooden gate to visit a sacred burial ground. Very interesting, although Angela was surprised that Ian knew anything cultural. Andrew then tried to lock Tina inside, probably sacrificing her to Satan. After surviving, we headed off again and we were soon climbing steadily onto the open moor. It was then Ian’s turn to hit the deck, aggravating his recent knee injury.
The climb up Round Hill was not really steep but is still quite tough. It was during this climb that we came across a large pink meteorite, well! It was actually a salt rock for sheep to lick, but the meteorite story is much more exciting. Leaving Round Hill, we headed towards Lippersley Pike for lunch but not before Tina fell again, two falls on her first walk must be a record. After a walk down the moor the terrain changed and we went through the lovely Fairy Dell before another short climb.
Having seen no fairies, it was time for some house hunting in Middleton village, swimming pools and 100 grand fences included. A final wander through the Bluebells brought us back to Ilkley Lido and as we all changed into our cossies we were noticed there was actually no water in the pool. A steady walk through the park finished off a really nice day.
Otterburn & Warber Hill. 13/10/2019
5 walkers including Ian, Robin, John Hamlin, Laurie & Beverley.
This walk was meant to be led by Melanie, but due to injury she passed me the reigns. Only the week before, I had done a reccy & it was really wet with overflowing becks & river. Thankfully the water had receded a bit which made most of the route manageable. Within the first few miles from Airton, we crossed about 12 stiles, some of them tricky. I blamed Melanie for this! On the way to Otterburn, we had some fun with a farmer’s young dog.
On the way to Bell Busk, a normally small beck was now a small river, so a longer walk along a quiet road was required. After Bell Busk, we de-toured to Haw Crag trig point, at which point the rain started to come down. A walk along the juvenile River Aire was followed by some very wet and soggy fields back to Airton.
Fairburn Village – Sunday 18 August 2019
Leader: Lizzie Lowe
Walkers – Sue Williams, Lesley, Pauline Ford, Ros, Bill and Hazel, Peter and Carol, Phil and Cyn, Pat and Graham, Bev, Jonathan, Laurie, Sonia, Robin, Alistair, Pat Pitts, Eileen
We parked in Fairburn Village, where at least one of the natives was not friendly, and we walked down Cut Road to pick up a path that led through woods and by lakes, to the River Aire. Here, we turned right onto a ridge path (more woods), stopping for elevenses in a well-appointed shelter with nice views across water.
Eventually emerging from the woods, we saw lakes ahead, right and left. We went left first, round a very large body of water. When we got back to the start point, we stopped for lunch on some conveniently placed flat stones.
Then we went right, round more water, to get to the Fairburn Ings Visitor Centre. This offered coffee, ice-cream or toilets – walkers made their choice.
We then left the watery area completely, crossed the road outside the Visitor Centre, and headed up hill through pretty woods and golden fields, to the village of Ledsham. Turning right, we roamed through Ledsham, leaving the village at the far end – passing through a gate to a clear path which led us up and down, via several stiles and awkward gates, to emerge right opposite our cars, in Fairburn Village.
Lizzie Lowe
Slaidburn & Stocks 11/08/2019
Leader Ian Pickering
Walkers: Andy Bell, John Hamlin, Robin, Michelle and her nephew Richard.
The weather was a bit drizzly as we left the car park at Slaidburn & soon we had mingled in with a larger group. Unfortunately the other group were from Lancashire, but to be fair they were ok & we swapped tales & Roses banter before we left them behind at Hammerton Hall. After walking along an overgrown & wet path, we arrived at a lovely small church which was rebuilt after the reservoir flooded the village.
We had a coffee break in the porch of the church, beating Team Lancashire to the best pews. The trail around Stocks Reservoir was through Guisburn Forest, where we debated whether or not we could eat very large mushrooms & Raspberries. After passing through the one house of Kenibus, we once again contoured the Reservoir.
Heading uphill away from the “Ressie” our route took us across a small moor along a rough path. The weather was now getting better as we followed Croasdale Beck across several fields. We had managed 10miles with not one stile and then got about 7 in the last mile & half. Ian knew about a secret Piglets tiny house, but when we arrived she had gone out shopping. Michelle had offered to buy everyone a drink because she arrived late, but we had a choice of pub or tea shop, I will leave you in suspense which one we chose. To top off a good day, the sun came out briefly as we enjoyed our drinks.
The Tea Shop Walk – East Riddlesden Hall area – 10 March 2019
Leader: Lizzie Lowe
Walkers: Jonathan and Sonia
A very poor attendance, presumably because of the doom-laden weather forecast.
We parked at East Riddlesden Hall. Leaving the Hall grounds, we crossed the main road then set off uphill across the canal swing bridge. By the Marquis of Granby pub, we turned right along Hospital Road, to pass the gloomy gates of the old Isolation Hospital. We took a pathway to the left of the hospital grounds, then climbed left uphill through a new estate, to cross a stile and start walking ever upwards across muddy fields. There was a short snow shower, but nothing settled.
Eventually we turned right past some cottages, then left, uphill again, along a narrow road. Left again, for a little way along a wider road. A sunlit bench provided us with somewhere to sit for our elevenses, and a nice view of snow-capped hills in the distance. We then turned left downhill past a caravan site, to find a rather muddy track which led us through fields and three farms, each more derelict than the last. Between farm 2 and farm 3 we were plagued by a brief and painful hailstorm.
Emerging onto a narrow road, we went left downhill to Riddlesden. Here, between houses, we took a remarkably steep footpath which slithered us down to the canal. We crossed another swing bridge, then turned left along the towpath, in sudden sunshine. After half a mile, we found the towpath blocked off due to building works, so we had to resort to the main road for the final stretch back to East Riddlesden Hall.
The teashop was crowded, but delightful, and the three of us agreed that we were glad we had ignored the weather forecast – we’d had more sunshine than showers, and the brief bits of snow and hail had not caused us too much grief.
Lizzie Lowe
Barwick in Elmet – Sunday 17 February 2019
Leader – Lizzie Lowe
Walkers – Claire Potter (guest), Sarah Gale (potential new member), Pat and Graham, Bev, Robin, Sonia and John, 4 members of the Raine family plus Alan Smith, Peter and Carol, Jenny, Terry Smith, Glynis, Phil and Cyn, Denise, Sarah, Ryan and Josh, Ken, Rita and Brian, Pauline, Elise and Roger plus Ethan, Pat Appleyard, Marj Rapley, Jonathan, Hazel and Bill, Pat Appleyard
38 of us today! The walk began at the Maypole in Barwick in Elmet. Quite a mob in such a small village – the locals must have wondered what was going on. The walk took us down The Boyle, into Rakehill Road, over a stile and out across a field with some rather frisky cows. We then wandered across a stream, up and down other fields, to emerge by Flying Horse Farm. Here we endured the exciting task of crossing the A64 on a busy Sunday.
Having survived that experience, we went through Saw Wood, then turned right across other fields, around some woods, then over a stream to climb up to Thorner. Turning right again, we wandered upwards along a path behind houses, then along Kirkfield Lane. That road led us to a bridlepath called Ellerker Lane. Briefly, we turned right again, then left across several fields, through hedges, over stiles and other obstacles, till we found Mangrill Lane.
We turned right again, and stopped for lunch by some convenient logs and ledges.
Onward then, till we got back to the A64 by the Fox and Grapes pub. After another exciting game of chicken with the traffic, we all got across the road safely. We turned left down Kiddal Lane, then right along Potterton Lane, then right again into Meadow View. Here we found a footpath that led us past ancient earthworks and pretty houses.
At the end of the path was the Black Swan Public House. Here, some of us stopped for a coffee and chat – such a nice day that we sat in the garden! Others said their goodbyes and headed straight home.
Lizzie Lowe
Ilkley Moor Night Walk 15/02/2019
We were once again blessed with good weather & a clear sky for our jaunt in the dark. Six members (Ian, Robin, Andy Bell, Pat Appleyard, Jill & Andy) left the Cow and Calf with 5 head torches & Flamborough lighthouse stuck on Pat’s head. Pat was disappointed the toilet was closed but the fact that we would be on Ilkley Moor at night and no one at all would see her crouch down somewhere didn’t seem to register.
After heading West over Blackstone Beck we soon arrived at Ilkley Tarn, where we encountered a young courting couple. They were in darkness on a bench & didn’t take too kindly to Ian’s boisterous welcome. We had a coffee break at White Wells, where Ian got freaked out! 12 months ago, we sat here and had coffee when out of the blue a taxi came up the track, dropping off a bloke with shopping. But what freaked Ian?? The exact same thing happened again!! The whiskey in the coffee was welcomed.
After a steep climb we walked southwards away from the bright lights of Ilkley and onto open moorland. We arrived at the Poetry Corner to find the poem box empty, but luckily we had a few of our own to read out. Ian warmed us up with some Spike Milligan verses before Jill’s 20 quid is 20 quid poem literally had us crying with laughter and breaking the tranquillity of the night.
Jill’s stargazing phone app was used to identify the stars, & we saw a farming tool, a bloke with a belt, a large bull & Ian’s favourite, a virgin in her underwear. After the fun, it was time to move on and we soon arrived at the Cow & Calf. Whilst Pat was taking photos, Ian said he could hear voices, not the ones telling him to slay all the bad people in West Yorkshire, but just another group of walkers coming over the crags. The car park had the now compulsory car with steamed up Windows, but I don’t think they liked Flamborough lighthouse being shone onto their private business.
Everyone had a great time and the night walk still remains the most fun you can have in the dark with your clothes on!!
Hope to see more of you on the next one.