High Austby and Nesfield

I have walked around Nesfield and Austby before but not this walk.  Parked up in Ilkley, very busy, probably because it was a lovely day and a bank holiday.  I crossed over the river and headed up to Owler Road.  This is the road I come onto when I’ve walked over to Ilkley from Addingham.  So today I was seeing it in reverse.

At the top I crossed the stile into the woods, they were full of Bluebells and Wild Garlic, beautiful. At the end I walked through the fields to eventually come to Nesfield turning right up a track towards a house.  Before I got to the house a narrow path leads off through bracken, although at this time of year the bracken hasn’t started growing.  I’ve walked up here before and it brings you up onto Langbar Moor.  But today instead of going straight up onto the moor the direction was to turn right to Upper Austby and through a farmyard eventually joining the moor road.  After walking along the road eventually a bridleway gate was on the right to go through and take me down to through a field. As I kept going down eventually I came into Hardings Lane and Myddleton Lodge.  Turning left along the lane to a stile which took me into a field and down to the bottom where the stile there took me into Middleton Woods – again absolutely full of Bluebells.  They smell beautiful and always remind me of my Nan, they were her favourite flower.  I love them too.

Following paths back down through the woods I eventually came out in the fields by Ilkley Lido. There was a bank holiday fair there today although it was fairly quiet now I’m sure it would be busy come evening.

Back in Ilkley I had a coffee in one of the small cafes there, everything was with toast.  A café heaven for me as I love toast.

A lovely bluebell extravaganza walk just about 5 miles.

Newchurch

Nice day, new walk.  I didn’t want to do one of the hills today like Pendle, I’m saving that for later in the year when it’s not windy and clear skies so I can enjoy the views.

 

So today off around to Newchurch.  The start of the walk is as though I was going to go up Pendle. But when I got to the Upper Reservoir banking, instead of carrying along side I turned and walked across the banking to a stile at the far end. 

  The path then steadily climbs up until eventually looking back I could see all Pendle Hill and the paths criss crossing it showing the various ways up to it’s summit. The summit is 1230ft, 375mts, while not high like Pendle Hill it still gives some magnificent views over the valleys. 

The route then took me down the otherside until I eventually joined the narrow Well Head Road – turning left and heading into Newchurch itself. 

Just before the village is Faughs Quarry.  The walking book said there was a carving in there but I couldn’t see it at all.  (When I got home I asked google to show me the carving- the green man of stone and it’s a man’s face – next time I go I hope to find it). 

There is a lovely Church here which dates  from 1544.  Near the porch was a witches grave, supposedly Alice Nutters.  

 

The road wanders through the village and then I turned off through a gate which took me through a field and then eventually a stile on the right led into a plantation which was lovely and quiet. Eventually I came out on a narrow rough track which dropped down and back into Barley.  A surprisingly nice walk – a lot better than I had though it was going to be  just over 4 miles and I will probably do this one again.

Malham Classic

Took me ages to decide where to go today.  Eventually plumped for Malham.  If I’d left it much longer it would have been too late to go anywhere.  As expected the place was heaving.  It seemed ages since I’d been here.  As I couldn’t remember this entire route I took my trusty walking book. Headed off to Janet’s Foss first.  All the spring flowers were starting to come out it was lovely.  Following the tracks eventually I came out on to the main road, shall I go to Goredale Scar or miss it out.

Curiosity won over and off I trekked down the stream-side path.  It is still an amazing place to visit – I spent a few minutes watching people climb up and down the rocks – there was water running over it in parts today after all the rain there has been lately. I then turned back the way I’d come and headed to the road.  Taking the path in the lay by up the fields heading up to the top of the hills.  I was glad I’d brought my book as I’d forgotten about the crossing over the road at the top to head across to the top of the Cove and the Limestone Pavement.  I did remember the last time I was here it was very wet and like trying to walk on slippery glass.  It was a lot pleasanter today the ground was dry and lots of visitors were sat enjoying the views.

As I walked across the top I thought about all the steps to get back down. However, when I got there and set off down they weren’t too bad.  I think it must have been because it wasn’t windy today; it seemed a lot easier anyway. 

At the bottom there were the RSPB stand with lots of strong telescopes.  The lady asked if I wanted to see the Peregrines nesting in the Cove. Did I !!! I certainly did.  One of the RSPB guy’s checked and re-trained one of the telescopes and pointed me in the right direction.  There high up on a ledge near the top of the Cove was a beautiful Peregrine. She was stood on the edge looking around all relaxed, preening and cleaning her feathers casually looking around.  She was stunning.  It made my day.

Ponden Kirk

A sunny Sunday so we decided to go on a Picnic.  Ponden Kirk our destination.  We all piled into the Ford Freda and drove up to the roadside of Ponden Reservoir.  Geared up and got ready for the off.  As we were getting ready to go a car drew up asking if we had seen a labradoodle running around as theirs had escaped.  We hadn’t seen any dogs and our Bernard was safely on a lead.

It was a lovely day and we all had our sun cream and sun hats on.  A stiff climb up past Ponden Hall and the children were already saying are we nearly there yet.  It’s a good thing we had brought lots of snacks and yummy things to eat when we got there.

Eventually we were up on the top of the moor and the path was clear to the stream where we were going to picnic.  Memories came flooding back of how when I was a child Mum and all the Whites from Marsh used to come up here for the day, picnics, towels, swimsuits we used to spend the whole day here playing building dams, paddling – just messing around.  Good times.

We sat and enjoyed our snacks and drinks taking in the beautiful views.  You can’t beat the moors. (not in my book anyway).  We then set off back around the moor – we never like to go back the way we came.

Forest of Trawden

Decided to do a new walk today, even though I’ve been to Wycoller many times – I have never done this walk so it felt nice to be going somewhere different.   Parked in the car park on the road down to the village.  The weather was lovely so the car park was pretty full.

I set off down through the village following the stream past all the tumbledown buildings and out of the hamlet.  From here I followed the beckside through Turnhole Clough.

It was lovely and quiet and clearly off the beaten track for most Wycoller visitors.  The path just follows the beck for quite a way eventually coming to a substantial bridge which is part of a bridle way – here I turned right up onto the moor pathway.  This follows what is called a sturdy wall.  It was very tall and well built not like the usual moorland tumble down walls that are all over the place.  .  This eventually comes to a junction of tracks in the middle of moorland.

Here I took the right hand turn down a farm drive and past a farmhouse.  A few fields and farm houses further on I entered a grassy track which I should imagine is pretty boggy in winter, it was full of reeds and still felt pretty damp even today.

As I kept walking down eventually bearing left across some steep fields Wycoller and Fosters Leap came back into view.  Eventually going past a farm house I turned down a wall side to drop back down to Wycoller beck.  Turning left I followed the stream back into Wycoller.  This was a really lovely walk and I think I will probably do this again later in the year. It was about 4.5 miles and not hard going at all.

Swartha & Brunthwaite

This morning it had kept raining then fairing up and just after lunch it was fine.  Although there were still plenty of rain clouds about so I didn’t want to go for a walk high up in case another rain cloud burst.  Also it was quite breezy.

I’ve only done this walk once before and it was a couple of years ago. It’s not very long so I thought it would be good for a day like today.  Parked up in Silsden on one of the back roads and headed off down to the canal.  Down some steps by The Bridge Pub which is closed down now. Walking along the canal side the houses on there are pretty, some of them are fairly town houses.

As I came to the first swing bridge I had to refer to the little book.  Good thing I did cos this wasn’t the one to cross – directions were stay on the path and cross at the Brunthwaite swing bridge. This then takes you up a track by a farm and eventually you pop out onto Silsden Golf course.

I was surprised the weather was horrid but there were lots of golfers out there having a game.  As I walked alongside the course following the green and white poles as instructed there was a nice shiny golf ball just showing among the brown winter leaves.  (Someone had definitely hit their ball off course).  The greens didn’t look too bad to say we’ve had so much rain, someone must spend a lot of time looking after them.

Eventually I left the golf course and came out onto a small back road.at High Brunthwaite. As you cross over and look across the valley the views are lovely.  Eventually I turned down into a path through trees – and hidden away in there is a tall double arched aqueduct – this was to carry water from Barden Reservoir to Bradford.  A nice hidden gem.

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Eventually the path brings you out  onto a road which takes you to the hamlet of Swartha.  Following grassy paths to eventually pop out on Bolton Road.  After crossing this road I took the back lane back down into Silsden.  A lovely walk of about 4 miles.

Walk Around Swinsty Reservoir

It was another fine day, maybe not quite so warm as yesterday but nevertheless warm enough for a walk with Melanie, Jo and the children.  We got to Swinsty around quarter to three.  Mabel had been to a party in the morning so it was a late set off. 

The car park at Swinsty was full we had to crawl around slowly looking for a space. Eventually parked up and geared up for our walk.  Albert was in the buggy today and this is a good push chair walk.

As we set off the outlets from the reservoir were overflowing, I can’t ever remember seeing so much water coming out. 

 It was very loud too. It was a little muddy as we went around but not too bad.  Aggie and Mabel ended up with stones in their boots.

  

In between being bored George said some things were good, the fungi on tree stumps were pretty impressive and the daffodils were adding splashes of colour as we walked around.

 As we turned back up the other side of the reservoir back towards the car park we came across the old pump house, always interesting to see all the workings inside.

  As we continued along the driveway the reservoir house came into view scaffolded up – must be some major work going on.

 As we crossed the embankment the second outflow was impressive too – so often we have come here and it’s been dry with no water at all coming down it.  Today it would have knocked you off your feet if you’d tried to walk across it.

It was a good 4 mile walk around and we’d all worked up an appetite for our chicken and dumplings tea.