WALKING S Ç Vl *--"" C, O ¡R'
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
w41 -$$ 4r, WALKING s ç vl *--"" c, o ¡r'. ¡ $o rtu ü. 'wþ" LEEDS UNISOTU JULY,2016 No.4l8 TODAY'S WALK NOT-so long ago, the southern flank of Flasby Felt was largely cleared of coniferous trees, revealing views over Airedale from a high-level track. fn¡i*ält uses the track, taking advantage of the views! Front Gargrave, a short section of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal's towpath takes us to Eshton Road Lock where we join the roadside pavement which passes rhrough the parktand of Eshton Hall which we see later. We cross Eshton Beck over Eshton Éridge then enter the parkland of Flasby Hall, crossing a low hill to enter the timetess, farming-hamlet of Flasby. Over Flasby Beck, a farm road rises to New Laithe Farm beyond which a vehicle track cli¡nbs lnore steeply into High Wood on the slopes of Flasby Fell. As the track eases in gradient, so we emerge onto the cleared hillside with tong views over Airedale (ircluding Gargrave) and Ribblesdale. One of Ftasby Fell's twin sum¡nits, Sharp Haw (t,tit ft.¡ riJes to our left. After reaching our highest point of 870 ft. the track begins a long descent. We leave it for fieldpaths which skirt the headwaters of Woomber Beãk and we-eventually ernerge on Bog Lane which continues descending through the quiet hamlets of Stirton anct thortÙy. The lãne levels out and meets t]re 465 (Skipton-Glgrave road) which we cross ro gain the rowpath of the Leeds-Liverpool C¿nal at Thorlby swing bridge. The canal celebrateithe bicenre¡iary of its cornpletion in October. There is now a leisurely return to Gargrave atong the well-maintained towpath and we pass % and posts, % mile another swing bridge, an aqueãuct and further locks. wä may see narrowboats on the canal and negotiating the locks. There are also views of our earlier route on Flasby Fell. We return to Gargrave along the previously-walked section from Eshron Road Lock, arriving in Gargrave about 4.l5pm. CONTENTS PAGES 2 -7 t THE LAST TVALKS PAGES : JOKINGAPART PAGE 9 : DID YOU KNO\ry? THE NEXT \ryALKS 2 THE LAST 1VALKS GRASSINGTON, HEBDEN, LINTON FALLS, GRASS WOOD AND PART OF THE DALES lryAY (8 /z miles) suNDAY, l2'h JUNE,2016 CONSIDERING that there was the World Triathlon being held in Leeds (with all its attendant road ctosures), the Euro 2016 footbatl and the Queen's 90th Birthday Patron's Lunch and processions being televised, possible holiday or other commitments of our walkers plus a discouraging weather forecast of probable thundery showers tater in the day, it was astonishing that I I of us gathered in the Yorkshire Dales National Park car park in Grassington and even more surprising that we were standing in gloriously warm sunshine, shining from a largely blue sky with sumrnery clouds. We had left Airedale in cloudy, cool, damp and slightly misty conditions. So once again this year, waterprooß and wintry clothing were stowed away (for the time being) and dressed in summer apparel we set offalong the lane into Grassington, already quite busy with people. It was the Grassington Festival. From the cobbled square we walked up the main street passing cafes and interesting shops, keeping to the shady cool side as we climbed. Reaching the top of the street we turned in front of the Devonshire Institute and onto Low Lane then, within a few paces, branched up High Lane which soon eased in gradient, leaving the houses behind and becoming a green lane contained between limestone walls. lts elevation on the hillside provided marvellous views across the valley to the bulk of Bunrsall and Thorpe Fell. The unusual rounded hills (rising around the edge of it), named Butter Haw Hitl, Stebden Hill, Elbolton and Kail Hill, were formed on the line of the North Craven Fault - reef knolls, rich in fossil shells, being deposited in the warm, Carboniferous seas along with the limestone before subsequent uplift and subsequent erosion of softer surounding rock. Further west we looked towards Threshfield Moor. We were at the highest point of the walk(770 ft.) and it was very pleasant striding out along the level track, fanned by a refreshing breeze and with the wide sweep of Wharfedale just over the wall to our right. Eventually we entered fields where we followed a path down tluough lush grass then along a tractor track. Stiles and freldpaths then took us into mixed, shaded woodland, another cool respite, and we crossed the sunken driveway of the former Grassington Hospital. We had passed an information board which had told us that we had entered Grassington Park Estate Meadows. The meadou,s are flower-rich meadows (although we didn't see rnuch sign of thern) and are designated as a Site of Special Scientifìc Interest. In the lgth century there were several frelds growing oats, barley and hay with only farmyard manure being applied to the land. When the hospital was buílt about l9l9 (for patients suffering from respiratory diseases or infections such as tuberculosis) the fields were sold and over time there was an increased lack of nutrients in the soil allowing the flowers to flourish. The residents of houses (built on the hospital site) now look after these meadows. We headed across the extensive area of grass in front of where the hospital would have been, now occupied by tluee, well-spaced, large houses. The path consisted of large stone slabs 3 reputed to have come from redundant mills. The open, airy situation with its grand vista would have helped the hospital inmates. Fresh air was believed to be a cure in the earlier absence of drugs. "Was there a roof on the hospital?", Harry quipped. Reaching the other side of the grounds, we passed through another shelter-belt of trees and entered fïelds through which the footpath gradually fell. There were further impressive views, nou' towards the rooftops of Hebden and across the valley of Hebden Beck (a tributary of the Wharfe) and down and across Wharfedale itself. Although there were greyer clouds in ptaces, we remained in glorious sunshine! A walled track later led us out to the Grassington- Pateley Bridge road (86265) on the edge of Hebden village and we walked down past the Clarendon Inn to a minor road junction by the roadbridge over Hebden Beck where we had a short break to look at what would have been the viltage centre with its old roadbridge and cottages. Crossing the main road we continued along the main street, passing a gold-painted postbox in honour of the Olympic gold-medalist rower, Andy Triggs-Hodge whose family home is in Hebden. We also passed (although unrecognisable now) the former village store and post office where so¡ne of the group called for an ice cream on our walk through here in 2003. It has been converted to a house. Passing the former village school (now a café) we arrived at a kissing gate in the wall which invited us irrto the lovely valley of Hebden Beck. A cobbled path slanted down to the stream and a stone, step-stile. The stile had a small gate (covering the gap) which had a strong spring to keep it closed - a feature which seemed to be typical of the area. A delightfi.rl path followed the curving babbling stream downvalley, entering a sunny 'bowl' of ¡neadow where we sat for lunch, some by the stream-side, others further back in the softer shade of trees. It was an idyllic spot with pleasant scenery all around us. Just opposite where we were sitting a 'cut' in the banking of the stream indicated the start of a goit (mill stream) which provided power to mills once located further downvalley, and to our right there was the old millpond, hidden by an arc of grass mounding and retaining wall which formed the dam. Upon resuming the walk, we passed through meadows below the dam and came to a cascading overflow, ¡ts water dancing and shimmering in the sun. We crossed a narrow, rustic footbridge which spanned the stream at its base and continued beside a trout farm which was fed by the goit at the higher level, but beyond the trout farm the goit terminated. The mills were abandoned long ago. Crossing another meadow we aimed away from the beck, rising slightly onto the valley side before plunging through a small coniferous plantation, its soft needles carpeting the footpath. Emerging from cool shade into the sunshine again we passed between two large houses and their colourfi.rlgardens to meet Mill Lane by Mill Bridge. We could see the former mill workers' cottages from here. Hebden cotton ¡nill was sited above them and the corn milljust below them. The latter functioned until 18ól and became a house early in the 20û century, now the family home of the Triggs-Hodges. 4 The cotton mill, an impressive structure, was built in l79l and was powered by a waterwheel using water in the goit. In 1830 the mill was diversified to include worsted power loom weaving as well as mixed spinning, drawing and winding. By 1861, however, the workforce had dwindled to 30 and it closed in 1870 despite two brief-revivals, but even by the 1960s it was just as if the work force had left the day before! The mill plant still provided Hebden's electricity until the 'mains' arrived in the 1950s and the top floor was turned into a roller skating rink (The Dales Skating Rink) complete with maple floor and grand piano! The building was finally demolished in 1967.