DOWN THE LINE FROM THORNER A 3.5 mile easy going walk which can be muddy in places; 4 stiles
Thorner village appears in the 1086 Domesday Book as "Torneure" (also "Tornoure") which probably means "thorn tree". The Thorner parish area used to include the nearby villages of Scarcroft and Shadwell. Thorner is also noted for having no street lighting, and a pétanque area.
Start point – Mexborough Arms, Main Street, Thorner. There is ample street parking on Main Street. With the Mexborough Arms at your back, cross straight over Main Street to take the road forward ahead of you which is Stead Lane and then right along Butts Garth. Continue forward taking the first road on your left with a footpath sign to Barwick and Scholes. The road eventually becomes a farm track; keep straight ahead and then around a left hand bend. Ignore the steps and stile to your right and just before an old railway bridge, turn right and immediately left on to a footpath with a wooden fence, to your right to reach a metal kissing gate. Now, turn right and follow the footpath straight forward. You are now on the route of the original railway that ran from Leeds to Wetherby.
The passenger service between Leeds and Wetherby was withdrawn in January 1964, closing the intermediate stations. The Leeds to Wetherby was the first line in Yorkshire to fall victim to the Beeching plan published in 1963 and 1964 was the peak year for line closures with over 1000 miles 'axed'. Penda’s Way, Scholes, Thorner, Bardsey, Collingham Bridge, and Wetherby stations were all closed. The service had started life in 1876 when a branch line left the main track near Crossgates station. Originally it was a single line but in 1902 it was doubled.
On reaching a wooden signpost to your left, carry straight forward on the wide path ahead. The path eventually narrows down to a footpath at another kissing gate into a small wood. Once you reach a metal gate, turn left and then immediately right through yet another kissing gate walking along the right hand edge of a field until you reach the next footpath sign and turn right towards Thorner Lane.
Go over the stile and walk straight ahead with a wooden fence and a view of Saw Wood House on your right. Your route is now straight ahead along a well trodden and sometimes muddy footpath towards Thorner Lane. Continue along this footpath over more stiles and in time fine views can be seen towards Thorner in the distance.
On reaching Thorner Lane, cross the road and turn right towards the village. On reaching a wall opposite Thorner Football Club, again cross back over the road on to the right hand footpath and continue towards Thorner passing the Beehive Public House. Continue around a right hand bend and on reaching Scott Hill Close again, cross the main road and continue forward. Immediately after Thorner Village Stores, turn left up the footpath away from Main Street and walk straight ahead via three kissing gates to reach Carr Lane. At this point, turn right passing two rows of terrace houses and the Village Hall on your left where the road bends to the right taking you back to your starting point.
Except where explicitly stated, all rights are reserved, and content should not be copied, adapted, redistributed, or otherwise used without the prior written permission of Harry Bratley the author. The author permits the use of this document for the purpose of following the walk.