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FEBRUARY,2015 No" 402 UIì|ISON TODA.Y'S \ilALK

ancl2Ð02' WE have walked this route {in some form or another) in1974,1990 I. commemorating the passing through Myrtle Park, we cross the using a footbridge Wood we approacn ee1!!o.ot Bridge' a Festival of Britain of 1 95 1 . Skirting Holme House erect edin 1723! By Beckfoot packhorse bridge rpu*ing Harden Éeck which cost f,10 when contain boulders from the Farm (1617) we pass alorr"g medieval Beckloot Lane, whose walls Airedale glacier.

Aire, and the riverside lVe cross Cottingley Briclge, an ancient crossing point on the ioin of course the footpath NoticJthe aqueãuct (1897), canying Bradford's water s¿pply, and glacial moraitre' flrlá,r", of the Bingley'bypu* iaOSó¡ Hiist Wood looms ahead upon a Canal 30 ft' gäfore entering it'ire see tie 7-arches aqueduct carryi'g t¡e Leeds-Liverpool at Hirst Locks and tread the canal above the river. Passing through Hirst wood v/e emerge employees at his huge mill towpath to Saltaire'moiel' village built by Sir Titus Salt for his His statue stands proudly in Roberts Park'

to Prod Lane on the slopes lVill the Shipley Glen Tramway be open? Open or not, we climb Loadpit Beck' Ancient of Baildon Hill but soon descend into shipley Gien where we cross Little Beck before a final footways (ginnels) rise ancl fall within the wóodland and we cross continuation of Beckfoot Lane' ascent takes us up to Prirnrose Lane in Gilstead - once the

at Dowley Gap Bridge and Down the long hill we rejoin the canal near the 7-arches aqueduct towpath I've pass through a variety we head past scourer e?idge into Bingley. Learring the which raise the canal over 59 ft' of housing, eventually ,ea"h]ng the 5-rise 'staircaseilocks The café might be oPen? railway to emerge by All Returning into Bingley, past the 3-rise locks, we cross the 4650 ancl about 4 4'I5pm Saints Chgrch. Thã Liversicle footpath returns us to Myrtle Parl< -

CÛNTENTS PAGES 2-4 : THÐ I,AST WALK PAGE 5 : CHANGE TF DATE FAGE 6 .. BURLEY ERTÐGÐ UPÐAT'E PAGÐ i : A CÛLÐ WfNÐ B[-Ûl'VS T'E{E WAï-K TT{AT'NEVER IVAS PAGE I : T'EIE' I{EXT W'4LK 2

THE LAST W,A.LK

BAR\ryICK-IN.ELMET, SAW \ryOOD AND SCHOLES (7 Y't míles\ suNDAY, 25tr' JANUARY, 2015

THERE was almost a hint of Spring in the air as we slowly gathered in the car park of Bar-wick-in-Elmet's village hall. Even though the air itself was quite cold, the car park was sheltered from any breeze and the slightly higher sun shone with some noticeable warmth from large areas of blue sky. We were sharing the car park with footballers and a rnartial arts group but there was ample space for all. One advantage of the latter group being there was that the hall was open * an added 'çonvenience' for some of the walkers! J 'F . We were a larger group of 18 and sei oùt in the pieasant sunshine, walking along Croftway opposite the hall to the junction of Welfare Avenue where we turnecl along a footpath beside the green to enter Barwick's main street. The teeling of Spring was reinforced by the sight of heathers, primulas, pansies and snowdrops as we passed through the village and we noted repìica ploughs and flower beds that would be featured later in the year as part of 'Barwìck in Bloom'. Passing roadside cottages, The Gascoigne A.rms and the famous towering white maypole we turned along The Boyle and diverted from the route to just within sight of the large mound on Hall Tower Hill.

Barwick-in-Elmet is one of the most historic communities in our area with its roots going back to the age of the Ancient Britons. It was from here that the small British Kingdom of Elmet was ruled by pow-erful Celtic chiefs. It is said that the fortified mound (or Barugh) r,vas raised by peasants carrying soil in sacks rnade of animal skins.

These British kings were subdued by the Romans in the l't century AD who stayed unjtil 4104D. The Anglo-Saxon raiders took their place and tradition says that Edwin the Anglican king had his royal residence atop the high mound. But, after 1066, it was the Normans who built a motte and bailey castle - a simple wooden stockade on top of the hill, its thìrd and final defensive role. The manor was granted to the Norman baron Ilberl de Lacy, Lord of Pontefi'act.

Returning to the Methodist Cliurch we continued along The Boyle, passing a variety of lrouses, arrd fhe roarl fell throush a woorled cuttins- its embankment showing signs of more snowdrops. We clescended to meet Rakehill Road but kept straight aheacl, following a track down by houses towards a ford. The stream rvas Rake Beck/Pottefton Beck and the track was part of the Leecls Courrtry Way which we w'onld be follow"ing through to Saw Wood We left the last houses of Barwick and crossed a wooclen footbridge over the stream, takirrg then the continuation of tlie track (a green lane) on the other side of the steam. Skirting patchy snow inthe hollow (remaining frornthervintry'snap' only a few days earlier) we starteclto clinlb the rising green lane but soon cut through a gap in the hedgerow to continue the ascent in the adjoining field As expectecl, the ground was muddy and slithery in piacesl

Over tire rounded hill views opened out to the surrouncling rolling countryside, a stucly of green fielcis and brown woodland with farm buildings on the opposite hillsicle, and from the bro,,v of the hill we could hear and see traffic on the dìstant York Road (464) We descencled the fleld-edge inio a shallow valley, avoiding 'I(eep Out' and 'Private' signs and crossing J another tvooden footbridge over another branch of Potterton Beck. A stile took us into a long narrow field, the first of a few fìelcls which led us up the valley of Potterton Beck towards Yorl< Road.

We dodgecl molehills of lovely friable soil and passed through a sheep-grazed meadow, fèeling warm in the absolute calm of the valley. Soon we were in siglrt of the 464. noting the almost continuolts traffic speeding along it in both directions.

Leaving the {ields as we approaclied the elevated road on l(iddal Bridge, we entered a w'oodecl dell, the footpath winding amongst vegetation near the high retaining wallof the road. Crossing the stream (issuing from under the bridge) we were faced with a receiltly- fellecl, iarge tree crossing our path - the result of very recent gaies - but fortunately its thick crlver of strrrcl-y ivy stems assisted Lis tc scrambie over reasonahly easilit. The path climbed steps and we passed through a gap in tire wall, arriving af the roadside in dribs and clrabs which was an advantage in crossing the road in small groups. There were occasional gaps in the speeding traffrc and to everyone's relìef we crossed easily and safely. We were near the 'Rec'l Bus' café and of course there w-ere suggestions (in jest?) that we should stop there for iunch. We rvoulcl have filled ihe upper deck!

A fi¡gerpost pointed our way into I(idclal TVood (part of Saw Wood) and trying to ignore the various items of litter which extencled tiom the roadside into the w-ood, we follow-ed a pleasantly meandering path occasionally wet in its earlier stages then drier later. The bare woocl was relieved here and there by glossy hollies and the msset colour of remaining leaves and as we strocle on we noticed there was some light rain falling fì-om a passing cloud - lnore rioticeable in puddles on the path. The noise of the busy i'oad slowly receded behind us aud we attained the encl of the wood r,vhere there was a path clivergence. The Leeds Country lVay went aheacl, airning straight for Thorirer village, but we left the L.C.W. ancl turned ieft, heeping just within the bòundary of the wood and accompanying a rill.

We quickly became confinecl between the rill and overgrowth, the narrorv path becoming gh-rtinous w'ith yellow mucl! However, much of it w-as later avoided by taking another circuitous ror-rte which returned us lafer to the same path as its surface began to improve. Beyoncl the overgrolvth, and past the rill, the path opened out as a 'normal' path which once again passed through the pleasant woodland. Here, a fallelt lree (and a lorv ridge besicle the path) pror;iclecl suitable seating fol'lunch. The cloud had passecl over atlcl tlie suu shone once again, frltering through the trees and lighting the tields beyond the rvooclland bounclary. Within the woocl all was still and r.r'e felt cor¡fbrtably warm, especially afÌer walking. lt was also surprisingly quiet (apart lrorn us) with no birds or othel life! Even York Road r¡¡as practieally inar-rdible - except for one roaring motorbikel Lunchtime ltassed very pleasantly.

Resr-rnii¡g algng the woodland path we carrre to the end of the wood ancl ttlrned along Watery Lane. a wirje access track whose surface was good at first but deteriorated to mud fr-rrthei alo¡g ¿ts \,ve appi.oached a gate. We rnanagecl with the heip of stepping stones ancl enterecl a fìeld, turnirrq along the field-eclge path which w.as also rnudcl,v, some of the fielci being puncled in places. Bnt the path inrprovecl as we crossecl a brow and started a descent r,vith ui"r,s across the nnclr-rlating countryside. The houses of village rvere close by. Upori crossing ihis brorv. we tvere (tbr the trrst time) erposed to the chilly" westerly wincl r.vhicir 4

was particularly strong when (at the foot of the slope) w-e stepped onto the grassy , . çmbankment of the former Leeds-Crossgates-Scholes-Thorner-'Wetherby railway

On a calmer, sunnier day this would have been a splendid lunch place but today (as anticipated) the raised embankment was not a place to linger long, for besides being exposed to the cold gusty wind, the sun had disappeared behind more general grey cloucl making it a very uninviting place. Thank goodness we had stopped earlierl

So without delay we turned south along the old tracl<-bed, facing into the wind, which later eased as we entered trees through which the black-ash path meandered. Swathes of snow lay in the hollow of an adjoining field below the ernbankment. Unfortunately this pleasant ,,rterlucle was short-lived as a metal gate barred further progress along the trackbed anC we were obliged to continue along a fieldside path in the adjoining field whiclr had now risen to our level. What a shame that this potential footway and cycleway was out of bounds and hacl become overgrown - w'e could have continued along it to Scholes!

The fieldside path rose gently beside the enormous field. The old railway ran alongside, becoming swallowed in an overgrown cutting whose drainage had obviously become blocked in places. The freldpath was enjoyably finn underfoot (as the trackbed) and, apart from some later mud, we emerged unscathed by the side of tlie York Road again. Despite its almost continuous lines of t¡affic we crossed without any problem, the 'sight line' being much better on this occasion.

A long straight tarmac driveway (bounded by an avenue of trees) led from an imposing gateway - the access to both Woodhouse Farm and Whinmoor Nook Farm - and we sauntered along in brilliant and slightly w-arm sunshine. Views extended again across the rolling countryside towards Barwick, Parlington Park and Aberford. Reaching the divergence of ways we turned towards Whinmoor Nook Farm, now orÌ a rough vehicle track which 'bypassed' the farm buildings and aimed towards the houses of Scholes not far away.

Tlre sun clisappeared and we heacled into the strong, cold wind once again, a corttrast with the condìtions minutes earlier! Dodging puddles we emerged from the farm irack (and one fì-om Stocl

We becarne a group of 19 as Pete managed to catch up rvith us, after a belated startl

The houses, gardens (ancl cars!) maintained our interest as we strollecl along Nook Roacl - a great variety in one street .. and we joined The Avenue which took us up to a T-junction by The Buffers public house, once Scholes railway station. Again, we could see the olcl raihvay track, part olit r"rsecl as the car park. Flags of the nations bordered the drjveway We emerged in the main road (Station Road).

The long pavement clroppecl through Schoies village and gave us more reprieve ñ'om the muddy sections of the rvalk and we were able to stricle out in procession, passing the school and rnore houses. We stopped briefly down by St.lìhilip'sChurch for a bit of historical background Scholes catl trace its roots back to before the Nornian Coucluest wlien it became par-t of tlie 'f extensive properties ownecl by ihe cle Lacy barons, [-or ds of Pontetì act heìr manor house was situated at the southern edge of the community next to rryhat is the village hall - the site opposite where we were stancling. They had a moat which was probably tbr fish stocks. Irt 1294the de Lacy lands were passed into royal hands as part of the Duchl, of Lancaster. In tl'ie 14tl'and 15tl'centurjes the Gascoignes movecl into the ai-ea purchasing Barnbow and adjoining Lazencrof\ before moving into their Parlington Park mansion at Aberford tn 1546 They eventually owned houses, mines, woodland ancl fàrmland around the area.

'We moved on. passìng the Barley Corn p.h., and a little fui1her along tire main street we turnecl along a ginnel to enter a fielcl tliror-rgh rvhich we cüt, crossing a bricige cver a small stream in its micldle \,Ve later ernergecl in the Barwick - Slvarclifie road, crossing to auother enclosed path between houses to enter a larger field. The path bore left tbilorving a iow hedge to enter Bog Lane. By norv, the sky w-as generally overcast and leaclen but ìt remaitiecl dry. The wind continued to be variable ancl sorne places remainecl pleasantly shelterecl.

Having briefly rejoined the Leeds Country Way on Bog Lane (an unfortt¡nate name for a reasonably firm trackl) r,ve strode out again, the track curving ahead between low heclges, again with open views. Soon we left Bog Lane (and the L.C.W.) and turned along another vehicle track, entering an interesting cluster of coftages and farms at Barnbow Carr. The right of way followed the clrive to Lower Barnbow Farm (the house was unclergoing extensive modernisation) then turnecl beside a boundary fence to enter a fieid over a stile. There had been no suitable place to sit for our afternoon break in these later stages of the walk so we had a 'stancling stop' in a sheltered corner of the field. Again there were long views over the surrounclitrg fannland.

Further freldpaths were surprisingly firm unclerfoot and in a 'dog-leg' fashion they returned us to the Bar-wick Road, emerging on the road fiom a farrn driveway. The finai part of the walk followed the roadside footpath into Barw-ick and we took this part at our own pace, returning along Chapel I-ane to the viilage hall car park abor"rt 3 pm. AlthoLrgh the earlier sunshine hacl gradually given way to heavily overcast skies, the weather had been very kind to us tbr the Jaruary walk. Mud was, of course, expected - and we got it - but there were other sections of the'uvalk which provided ea.sy, firm walking gi'ring,.rs i;ienty of chance to savour the viervs. It remained fine as we prepared for the hornewarcljcirrney. It had beeti a good dayl

CI{ANGE ÛF DATE

IF you have saved tlie programme of walks for this year (printed in the Christmas Newsheet) please coLrld you change tile clate of the 'Masham, River Ure, Hacl

'W.A,LK TûÐAV'S 1{S QUITE E,{SY

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"Nearly there ," not tnuch further,' tþrily two ¡wøre stiÍes before Lun€f?, "

Sent in by John Williamson

tsURLEY BRIDGE - UPDATE

NO news yet regarding the recent planning applications for the bridge. The decision was supposed to have been in December? 7

,4 COLD WIND BI,OWS

SINCE, late l971our walks have been suppor-ied by NALGO and (lafer) UNISON as part of their range of social activities. Now only the wallcs and crown green bow'ling remain, both having run for the same length of time. The union has parlicularly supported us by financing the copying and disfribution (postage) of the monthly Newsheet which has not only kept everyone informed but has acted as a publicity document also. You will llrobably have noticecl that they have tow fiuancecl 400 issues of Newsheets.

But, it seems that IINISON are feeling the pinch in these austere times ancl are seeking to make savings 'across the board' and tlris would apply to the postage olNewsheets to people missing a walk, particulari;,to N0N-ürembers of L]I{ISON. I }:ave recently been askecl how n.ìany rvalkers are members, to rvhich l could not reply, though UNISON themselves have a database of members and retired mernbers. It therefore seems that NON-members (including N0N-retired rnembers), at least, will not receiv e a New-sheet througl-r the post in tuture.

Naturally" I anÌ extremely sorry to have to tell you this but sr-rggest that if vou are a NON- member (or have relinguishecl your membership upon retirernent), you coulcl still continr,re to receive the New-sheet by, say, sending me a book ol stamps (on which l wor-rld wlite your narne) so that I can post them direct to you.

So be prepared, the Newsheet will still be handed out on the wallcs but may stop coming tlirough your letter-box. Please contact me if you still wish to receive the l{er,r,'sheet otirer thatl by attending the walks.

See addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail aclclress at tlte end of the Newsheet. Steve Retired Membership (life) of IIIrIISON is f,l5

THE WAT-K TH,âT'NEVER. WAS trÞ{ October 1992 we should liave done a 9-rnile walk fiorn Ðmbsay, near Skipton" iaking in Crookrise Crag Top, Rylstone Cross aud Nofion Tower.

This is a poem, written by a member of the group (still in contact) tiiat summed up the sitr,ration perfectly. And yes, w-e clici do the r,vall< on a much better day sometime later!

'We should have had a lovely walk on Ernbsay's vales ancl crags, but r,vhen we got to North-West Leecls we ilet the snow-r,vhite snags.

We thel nret up with leader Steve i.vho saiC, nc, rtoi toda'¡, I

with snow and w-ind and low-slung clouds no views we'd see this way.

There was a danger too of skids, ahazard to our party. And without skis or huskies we didn't feel too heartyl

Some viewed the snowplough's progress from the 'calf where they were lurking. Some 'steamed' up to the railw-ay, and were 'chuffed' to find it working.

These last went on a railrvay trip, and then called for a drink. The chain of walks for'92 now had a missing link.

There'll be a happy ending, we'11 do this walk or bust with summer skies o'er Embsay Moor you'll not see us fur dust! Enid Turnbull

THE NEXT \ryALK

OUR next walk is a request wallc

We return to lovely 'Wharfedale (hopefully on a clear Spring day) to clo a circuit which we first did in September 1973 then repeated (with an aclclitional section) in April 1998

Apar:t from the memorable views tiom most parts of-the walk, we pass through continually changing countryside * riverside, meadows, piantations ancl rough pasture ou a variety of tracks, lanes, enclosed ways and fieldpatlts.

Part of the route is along the . We pass through tiny, stone-built hamlets such as Langbar, Deerstones and Storiths and pass through làrmsteads The 'focal point' of the wall< is Bolton Abbey village with its Priory (founded I 154), the pictr-rresqr-re ruins situated on the banks of the River Wharfe.

The narror.v valley of Kex Beck (beiorv Deerstones) is another picttu'esqLre 'hiclden' place on our route. Apart from a short ascent from this valley, the -¡alk includes trvo longer ascellts - on the slopes of Bear¡sley Beacon (early in the walk) ancl FIaw Pike (later in the walk) - and 9

these provide the wonderful views of hill and dale. There will be occasional rest-stops during these ascents. There are toilets in Addingham and Bolton Abbey.

See the attached poster for details.

DATE : SUNDA Y O 22,,d MARCH' 2015

TIME : Please meet 10.15 for 10.30 am (we return about 4.15pm)

PLACE Plcase park and meet in the Memorial llall car park in Addingham (lower end please). The toilets are 4 minutes walk up the Main Street on the right.

ITEMS FOR TF{E MARCH NEWSFIEET by 11'r' March please

Tel.Nos. 0II3 2675487 (home) Stephen Johnson A7796412156 (mobile) 22Wynford Rise Please note: my new e-mail address is [email protected] LEEDS LS16 6HX

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