Followers

Saturday, 13 October 2018

Swartha & Brunthwaite


The weather wasn’t good today – it had rained all morning – there had been weather warnings for strong winds and floods since Thursday night and so when it came to 1pm I was glad the rain had stopped.  Looking at the forecast there was only going to be a small window of dry weather and so I decided to stay fairly local and do a walk I knew reasonably well.  Parked in Silsden and set off along the canal tow path heading back towards Keighley.  It was still windy out and causing waves and ripples on the canal water.  I stayed on the canal to Holden bridge and turned up here to the farm – crossing over the small road to go into the field on the right.  This was a short stiff pull up to the top of the field though a stile and up again through the next field.  Here was a short narrow pathway to go out onto a country road leading towards Silsden Golf Course.


The track goes down to a private house and hidden behind a huge hedge on the left is a path leading onto the course itself.  To say there had been rain and it was so windy there were lots of groups out there golfing.  It must be hard when it’s so windy. Through the course and up onto High Brunthwaite – in the past I’ve spent ages looking for the right way through this section of the walk but someone must have been and put markers as it was clearly indicated today making all this much easier.  

Having said that when it came to finding the stile into the trees and Brunthwaite beck wasn’t so easy to spot. This was my favourite part when you suddenly see the remains of a double arched stone aqueduct – used for carrying water from Barden moor reservoir to Bradford. 



It amazes me every time I see it. Climbing up the otherside of the beck and along the top eventually emerging onto a road by Swartha House Farm.  I then took the road up to Swartha before turning down through a kissing gate and a lovely green way to a walled snicket dropping down again to a large set of allotments and onto the main Bolton road.  The last bit of the walk is to cross the road and walk down Townhead back into Silsden.  I like this walk and really enjoyed it 3.5 miles and as I got back in the car the heavens opened and it rained again.  Good timing.


No comments:

Post a Comment