East Morton to Gilstead and back

Beautiful weather today for a walk around the Aire Valley.  Got to Monica’s around 12.30 – Gail was already there so quickly got my boots on and we set off.  Monica had planned a walk around the valley on the paths she knew well.  We left her house in East Morton and headed up to Micklethwaite.  

We passed through the village and headed on towards Eldwick.  Once we got up onto the hill tops we stopped for our picnic lunch Corned beef sandwiches and a flask of tea. 

It was so beautifully warm for October – it was still warm even when we were sat having lunch.  From here we continued up to Eldwick – cutting round to Gilstead

 we called in at the shop here and Gail got an ice cream – it was pleasant sitting on a bench in the village while Gail enjoyed her Magnum – eventually dropping down to Five Rise Locks – the café looked pretty full so we decided to give that a miss and walked along the canal back to East Morton.  Along the way there were lots of canal boats moored up so it felt really busy. 

We got back to Monica’s around 4.15 and had a welcome cup of tea.  A lovely 6.5 mile walk really enjoyed it.

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.

Robinwod

Another new walk.  I was recovering from a horrid cold and so wasn’t looking to do anything too strenuous.  Ha – little did I know how tough this walk was going to be.  Parked in Todmorden car park and put plenty of money in the meter.  You never know how long a short walk will take you.  The directions were straightforward and I headed off up some steep steps by the railway station  and turning right to eventually come out at Ewood Lane. Just above there was a path then to follow up through a beechwood to take me up to the top of the hills

 or so I thought- the track was uphill again to Todmorden Edge –

this must be the top – No – the path was up again through a fairly boggy section to emerge onto a moorland track down to some farmhouses.  What had I said to myself this morning - I wanted an easy walk with not too much up – well that hadn’t happened I had just spent ¾ hour walking steadily uphill. I have to admit though the views were worth it –

it was glorious up here on the tops looking across the valley.  From here it was a good stride across the moors to the last farmhouse where there was a way to drop down past a derelict house – Roundfield. Continuing down – this was getting scarily steep now.  The path then joined another track to bear round a promontory to the right looking across the valley to Pudsey Clough.  

The book called this a fine moment.  I made a mental note here – don’t do this walk in wind or ice – the drop off this narrow path was a long way down.  From here the path went steadily downhill steeper in some parts than others –

the way back continued through several fields up and down parallel to the main road to eventually drop down by Scaitclff Hall – back up Ewood Lane and onto the track I’d set off from.  Excellent walk – 4.5 miles of up and down.  Would do this walk again but pick a none windy/icy day when the ground would not be slippery underfoot.

Otterburn

Never done this walk before.  New book and new walk.  This was promoted as a good walk to do with children. It was tricky finding somewhere to park.  Otterburn is the tiniest hamlet with narrow roads.  Eventually found a spot near the start of the walk.  Good start – straightforward hike up a track which went on for quite a long way steadily climbing upwards. 

There were good views all around and a blue sky with white fluffy clouds.  However once I got to the top the way wasn’t so clear.  I wandered up to the top of field but couldn’t really see the way forward.  After reading the book a few times it suggested I went through a large moorland pasture field full of cows to drop back down to the farm track just below me. 

Well I decided to miss that bit out and went down to the farm track and followed that to Orms Gill Green to where there was an old lime kiln. 

From here I picked up the route again walking along Orms Gill Green lane. Eventually the direction was to take an unsigned gate to the right heading along the wall edge down to a track to lovely little settlement through a gate – surrounded by cows –

 which trotted off thank goodness before I opened the gate through to some woodland eventually bringing me through a farmyard and back to where I started.  I had successfully made a 5 mile walk into a 6 mile walk and it had been pretty tricky in parts finding my way –there seemed to have been a lot of unmarked, paths, gates and turnings.

Haw Crag

Excellent day for a walk and because it will soon be coming darker earlier in the afternoon I decided to do Haw Crag while the days were long enough.  This walk started from Bell Busk and parked up in a small lay by just by a viaduct.  Taking the road back to the bridge then walking up the rough track to the field where Haw Crag is. 

I’ve never gone through this field without there being cows in it.  They didn’t move thank goodness as I quickly made my way up the hill.  At the top I passed through a stile and made my way across the field.  The fields here are huge you can’t see the walls at the other side as they are hilly too.  Luckily I spotted a trod which took me over to the left and down to the gate into the next field.  Last time I’d spent quite a while wandering around looking for the way out.  This second field had cows too but they were all laid down in a far corner so a long way from where I was going.  At the bottom I turned along the river bank to walk alongside the river. 

It was flowing fast today after the recent rainfall – the old bridge looked good – had to take a photo.  

The way back from here was straight forward past an old farm building full of derelict rusting cars and back to the car.  5 miles walked – good day.

Gargrave and The Pennine Way

I have done this walk several times before but there is always something new to see – today was no exception.  Walking along the canal at the first set of locks there were several keepers working on the gates maintaining them and to do that they had drained the canal just beyond.  It was really interesting to see the canal basin.  It isn’t as deep as  I thought it would be and the sides get shallower and shallower up to the canal walls.  

It did make the canal look a bit sad and bedraggled.  As I walked around the ground was fairly damp under foot and as I turned back on the Pennine Way a couple coming towards me warned of the field ahead which had just been spread with slurry.  

There little white dog had enjoyed it – it had rolled in it and looked like they would be very busy bathing it when they got home.  Further along as I turned down the trakc to take me back towards Gargrave I came across a whole hedge of Blackthorn absolutely covered in Sloe berries. 

Thank goodness I’d brought a plastic bag in my back pack.  Within 20 minutes I’d picked 4.5lbs.  What a good end to a 5 mile walk around Gargrave.

Hardraw Force Brass Band Competition

No walking involved today – or very little anyway we had come up to support the Friendly Brass Band in competition at Hardraw Force.  Unfortunately it was a dull rainy day.  

But there were plenty of people in the audience who had come prepared with seats, waterproofs and blankets and a little rain was not going to spoil the day.  We had fun and the children clapped and sang along in parts. 

Even though the band didn’t win anything everyone enjoyed themselves.