THE WEST RIDING No 155 | Oct 2018 Journal of the West Riding Area of the Ramblers’ Association COVER PHOTO: Autumn woodland at Hardcastle Crags (near Hebden Bridge) Let’s celebrate Autumn Walking! With regards to the RA’s average age profile, member Stephanie Blythe contributes a very valid and interesting perspective on the matter— the RA needs to keep attracting new members, so does it really matter if new members are of retirement age? I’m an active retired sixty-something and often hear groups I belong to lamenting their age profile. One organisation I belong to even seems to avoid showing pictures of ‘oldies’ in its magazine. But an interest popular with Blackmoorfoot Reservoir, older people - like jazz for example - will Huddersfield by Caroline Spalding keep going as long as new participants replace those who pass on. Yorkshire is a fantastic county to explore Walk, created by Peter Davies; we’ve also Shouldn’t we embrace the fact that, as on foot, all year round. Whilst the days are seen the launch of the Wakefield Way, Jim Vickery says in his article: “it is not shorter and the weather getting a little festivals aplenty and a packed programme of too surprising that retired people... are colder, you will still find many people walks offering a broad choice for all members the most likely to find time to do some out and about in countryside. Our winter and newcomers in the region. The long, hot serious walking?” Doesn’t it follow that program will give choice all through the summer may seem a long time ago now but we should concentrate on those people season and offer the chance to experience perhaps it did entice some novice walkers to when we are trying to attract new the most beautiful of places in the autumn take their first steps in the great outdoors. members? There will always be newly and winter months. We suggest some of our retired people looking for sociable and own personal favourites inside this edition, The Ramblers Association continues to healthy activities to take up. but we would love to know yours too! face declining membership numbers and “competition” from other walking clubs Stephanie Blythe It’s been a good summer for and groups, but let’s be thankful that the walking… RA is still alive and well; able to campaign In the next edition we hope to feature and protect our rights of way. After all, some winter walks for you to consider ...with much to celebrate! 40 years since the if we didn’t do it, who would? Let’s keep in the New Year. Please send in your Calderdale Way was established and the broadcasting our message and campaigning suggestions, ideally with photographs, to Silver Jubilee of the Brighouse Boundary our causes. Above all, let’s keep on walking! [email protected] www.facebook.com/RamblersYorkshire www.ramblersyorkshire.org [email protected] News in Brief—What’s happening in the West Riding Area? Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Calderdale Way! 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Calderdale Way, which runs 50 miles through this beautiful patch of West Yorkshire. Created in 1978 by local civic trusts and societies to establish a connection between the districts in the newly created Calderdale borough, throughout the spring and summer Calderdale Ramblers have been walking the entire route in stages, finishing the final section on September 23. From the lush beauty of wisteria and laburnum shrubs surrounding Shibden Park, Halifax in May, to the sweltering moorland heights during the summer heatwave; Calderdale Ramblers have traversed the valleys, cloughs and packhorse routes, passing many a remnant of Calderdale’s industrial past to celebrate and enjoy this magnificent region! Collaborative Achievements This Summer Huddersfield Ramblers have held a couple of path maintenance days in conjunction with the Kirklees Countryside Volunteers. In June I joined them in Kirkheaton, Kirklees, to lay hardcore onto a bridleway that had been reported as too boggy. An enjoyable morning’s work and a great example of the achievements the Ramblers can make when we collaborate with other likeminded groups across the region. Later, in August, Huddersfield Ramblers, supported by KCV, visited Meltham to reclaim unusable paths. They constructed a flight of steps up a bank along path Meltham 49 as well as clearing head-high gorse and brambles from Meltham 48. Oliver Main photo: The repaired Kirkheaton bridleway in June. Taylor, of Huddersfield Ramblers, said: “We find this work genuinely rewarding and would encourage other groups to work Inset: Meltham path 49 with their local authority to find out about opportunities to and the newly constructed help their local footpath network in this way.” staircase thanks to Huddersfield Ramblers Caroline Spalding Group AGMs—Notice to members Tuesday November 6th - Calderdale Wednesday November 21st Saturday November 24th 7pm Oddfellows Meeting Hall, Halifax - North Kirklees - Take A Hike HX1 2JF 7.30pm Black Bull,Birstall 2pm Victoria Hotel, Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3DL Wednesday November 7th - Ripon Saturday November 24th - Bradford 10am Old Deanery Hotel, Ripon 4.30pm Bingley Bowl Club, Crossflatts, Sunday January 6th - Wakefield BD16 2DF. Preceded by short walk 3.30pm Castleford United Reform Thursday November 8th - Craven commencing 2pm (same venue) and Church. Preceded by a 5-mile walk 7pm at the Glusburn Institute, Keighley followed by a meal at Busfields Arms, commencing 1pm from the Fairburn BD20 8PR East Morton, BD 20 5SP 6.30pm. Please Ings RSPB Reserve CP near Castleford Saturday November 17th - Harrogate book your meal attendance with Muriel Wesley Centre, Harrogate 07981 106 470 The West Riding Rambler No 155 | October 2018 Seating at Nidd Gorge, photo by Dorian Speakman Clear skies, golden leaves and crisp air Where we love to walk in Autumn! Crimsworth Dean and includes five separately-identifiable woods: Gates Wood, Scotton Banks, Spring Wood, Bilton Banks and Coalpits Wood. Nidd Gorge is famous for its flora and birdlife, and at this time of year fungi are abundant; it even boasts an Iron Age hill fort at Gates Hill, near the car park. Nidd Gorge is well worth a visit at any time of year, but autumn on the south side may be the best of all. A Walk Above Dentdale Abel Cross, photo by WRR readers may not be aware that there is now a useful 0748 Caroline Spalding departure of the Leeds-Carlisle train on Mondays to Saturdays, and also, on Saturdays only, Western Dales Bus is running its Close to Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, atop which sits Abel connecting S1 bus service from Dent Station at 0935, to meet Cross (above) is a wonderful spot for an autumn/winter walk the 0915 arrival from Leeds. By taking this bus to Sedbergh following the mostly tarmac bridleway from Hardcastle Crags (arrival 10.07) it is possible to walk back to Dent Station along National Trust Midgehole CP HX7 7AA up the slope of the the north (Garsdale) side of the ridge wall that includes Aye Gill valley then descending to Lumb Hole Waterfall SD 992 314 - a Pike and Rise Hill. The route looks daunting on the OS map, photograph of which inspired Ted Hughes to write the poem ‘Six as there is no marked path beyond 694898; but in fact some Young Men’ just before the First World War. The beech tree leaves years ago a series of stiles were installed over the cross walls, turn to a coppery-gold colour in the autumn on the woodland facilitating this splendid high-level walk return, which can prove boggy in the depths of the winter. Nidd Gorge Colourful Autumn Walks A rewarding place for an autumn walk Yorkshire Dales National Park along the Dales Way As the name suggests, this is a steep-sided valley, with between Bolton Abbey and Burnsall. broadleaf woodland covering the south side of the River Nidd. Leeds Harewood Park and Golden Acre There is a variety of trees to admire in their late-season foliage, especially sycamore, oak, beech and rowan. On the north side Bradford Middleton Woods, north of Ilkley. The St Ives Estate of the river, conifers proliferate. & Country Park in Bingley comprises moorland, woodland and meadows; with adventure playground for children. Access is easy from several directions, but the newly-improved Perhaps a way to encourage the youngsters to get walking! main car park is at 331584, 1.5 miles west from Knaresborough on the B6165, where there is a large information board. There Wakefield Newmillerdam Country Park (car park: WF2 6QQ are many good footpaths, with a footbridge plus boardwalks charges apply) lake surrounded by coniferous woodland. over boggy patches; the main path south of the river is part of Kirklees Holme Valley. The Fleece Inn, Holme, allows the Harrogate Ringway. At the north-west limit of the gorge walkers to park in their pub car park on condition that you the restored Nidd Viaduct joins up with a fine multi-use track return for a rewarding beverage after your walk! Inside you leading directly to Harrogate or Ripley, offering easy walks in can collect a pamphlet of local walks compiled by a regular either direction. to the pub which are fantastic. Climbing to the top of the bank gives excellent views of the Calderdale Crimsworth Dean, Hardcastle Crags, Cragg Vale. extensive woodland. The whole site encompasses 114 acres, The West Riding Rambler No 155 | October 2018 Buses at Garsdale Station summer 1975 Dales Rail Appleby c1976 How the West Riding Ramblers led the way to save the Settle-Carlisle line Geoff Grange, former West Riding RA Rambles Secretary, recalls the Many people believe that this special pioneering work by West Riding Ramblers which led to the saving of Ramblers train run on 9th June 1974 was the Settle-Carlisle line, one of the most popular railway lines serving directly instrumental in saving the line from walkers in any National Park in the UK or mainland Europe.