W4{ s'ñ$ 4., wArKrrllG s 6:. vl """' c) o IN 1;¡ LEEDS UNISOTU MARCS,2016 No.4l4 TODAY'S \ryALK FROM Wharfemeadows Park in Otley a footpath follows the River Wharfe downstream, passing below meadows which suieep down from Farnley Hall, the long established home of ih. Fa*k.t family. The path later veers across a meadow to meet a lane near Leathley Bridge. We cross the tributary River Washburn and pass Leathley Lodge, joining Leathley Lane (86l6l) which meanders into Leathley village' Notice the stocks near the Norman church of St. Oswald, also the lSth century almshouses which contained a school and hospital. Through Leathley, we take a footpath which re- crosses the Washburn and climbs near Farnley Lake to meet Famley Lane which passes the lodge and entrance to Farnley Hall. Fieldpaths take us up to Farnley and Farnley Church. There is a long view down Wharfedate to the Arthington viaduct and beyond. The access driveway to Haddockstones Farm becomes a track to Haddockstones Plantation, a freldpath then continuing over Farnley Moor with enensive views along and across Wharfedale (from our highest point today of 680 ft.) including Otley Chevin, the'Guiseley gap' and llkley Moor. Contouring fieldpaths aim for Clifton and we join the Six Dales Trail. We cross Newall Carr Road, taking the lane which descends through the timeless hamlet. Notice Chapel House, its foundation lone dated 1900. The Six Dales Trail aims for Newall but we continue down an enclosed footpath, wentually spilling into fields below with views over Otley. We pass through East Wood and emerge onto Weston Lane. There will be the option of visiting Cockpit Farm tea room/garden at Weston before we descend through the parkland of Weston Hall, one of the homes of the Vavasour family. Returning intoOtley along Weston Lane we rejoin the Six Dales Trail and turn along Green Lane which becomes a brookside footpath and emerges near Otley Bridge. We return through Wharfe¡rleadorvs Park about 4.15 - 4.30 pm. CO¡iTENTS PAGES 2-5 : THE LAST IVALK PAGE 6 : LAMBING TIM[, FROIU AN OLD NEWSHEE"I'' THE NEXT WALK 2 THE LAST WALK HAREWOOD, RIVER WHARFE, EAST KES1VICK AND RIGTON MOOR (8% miles) SUNDAY, 2I" FEBRUARY, 2016 IT'S not often that the chosen car park for our walks is almost full before we arrive but that was the case on the last walkl The large lay-by at the junction of Hanogate Road and Wike Lane was almost taken by another walking group (and others), which, combined with some poor parking, left linle room for us but fortunately an 'overflow' space further along the lane amply accommodated the rest of us. VIhen assembled, we were actually a small group of 12. The other group set offjust before us, walking in the opposite direction. The morning was dry and cloudy and quite mild for February but the main weather feature was a strong and occasionally very gusty wind, though the lay-by was reasonably sheltered by a wood. Carefully crossing the busy Harrogate Road (A6l) we entered Harewood Park through large, ornate gates and gathered for a brief introduction to the walk on the wide vehicle track beyond, from where there was a splendid view across the rolling acres of parkland which fell away from us towards the imposing façade of Harewood House, and to the distant hills and moors of Wharfedale. Capability Brown designed the parkland. The present Earl of Harewood's ancestor, Herrry Lascelles purchased the estate in 1738 and Edwin Lascelles completed the house in 1771. We turned downhill along anothèr track by a lodge (partially demolished) and entered a broad belt of woodland just as a sudden gust roared through the tree canopy above us - setting the scene for the day! This tract<, a 'permissive way' would take us tluough the woodland, parallel to the Harrogate Road, to arrive in Harewood village. The track curved gently, sometimes frrm underfoot, sometimes soft and peaty as we came to a rutted section, but it was a pleasant saunter mostly sheltered from the wind - and peaceful, despite being within sight of the wall bounding Hanogate Road. There was evidence of emerging bluebells amongst the leaÊlitter of the wintry woodland floor. Rising slightly, the track eventually curved towards Hanogate Road and wound its way between the trees, reaching a gate in the boundary wall beside which there was the forlorn ruin of a stone-built house, the date 1675 inscribed in the decorative, ogee door lintel, a house of character at one time, with its mullioned and arched windows but now a sad, roofless shell. We spilled out onto the pathway by Harrogate Road as if leaving 'a secret garden' and rvalked up into Harewood by the imposing entrance to Harewood House. Noisy rooks fluttered in their rookery in the trees above, some nest-building with twigs carried in their beaks. We continued alon_e the pa.rement. passing the junction of Harervood Avenue (4659), the Harewood Arms and the little war-me¡norialgarden by the bus shelter. The garden was colourful with daffodils. We also passed the end of Church Lane where a signboard enticingly advertised the 'lvfuddy Boots Café' ñ¡¡rher along the lane at the village hall. 3 Resisting the obvious temptation at this stage of the walk, we kept on beside the main road, also passing stone-built cottages and a cul-de-sac of more modern houses. Recrossing the Aól as Harewood Bank began to dip away, we strode down the opposite roadside verge with a grand view of Wharfedale unfolding towards Woodhatl and Linton. The darker,hazy shape of the North York Moors could be seen in the far distance. Through the tracery of woodland on the other side of the road we could clearly see the ruin of Harewood Castle which also rose above the trees. The castle was rebuilt in 1367 by the-then Lord of Harewood, Sir William de Aldburgh on the site of a 12ü century fortress. Sir William de Aldburgh was a renowned warrior much involved in the wars against the Scots and had acquired the estate through marriage to Elizabeth heiress daughter of John, Lord Lisle, whose family had held the estate for many years. The castle's last resident, Robert R¡her, lived there until his death in 1637. We had merged with the Ebor Way through Harewood and we would follow the trail downvalley to where we would meet Harewood Avenue again. Fitts Lane, a vehicle track, led away from the road (as the road started curving down Harewood Bank) and we descended the valley slope enclosed between trees and bushes. Being more exposed here, the gusty wind soughed through the grove of trees at first bounding the track. Later, between hedgerows, the track levelled out in the broad valley bottom and we reached the riverside, turning along the riverside path with the wind behind us. The Wharfe ran fast, though surprisingly low considering very recent rain. There was evidence of the flooding only two months earlier with undercut banks and flattened vegetation bent in the direction of the cunent. We also walked across srathes of sand as if we were on the beach. "We should have brought our buckets and spades!", someone shouted. Rolls of hay had been rolled against a hedge-line by the water, all lined up instead of being scattered across the field as others were that had escaped the flood. The riverside path took a huge curve through the broad flood plain and it became a single-file patl¡ raised upon a levee. There were many clumps or drifts of snowdrops flourishing along the riverbank in the flattened vegetation or amongst thickets of willows - a cheery entourage.- Across the river, we passed some of the buildingi ofNetherby which we estimated might have been built high enough to avoid the floods. To our right, beyond the flat flood-plain of water meadows, we could see the Stochon Farm 'hill climb' on the steep valley slope below Harewood Avenue. Some walkers passed us in the opposite direction, battling against the wind, and we wondered how we would fare later in the walk. It was about midday by norv and we were surprised to see the cloud parting occasionall.n- to reveal some brightness or even sunshine prompting thoughrs of lunch, but where cot¡ld we stop in such wild conditions? Carthick Wood lay ahead, perhaps an ideal place (even though leafless),its squar trees providing some shelter ancl seating? 4 We climbed a stile in a wire fence bordering the wood, noting that the floodwater had indeed risen to the top of the stile steps, evidenced by a natural (perfect!) interwoven fence made up of grasses, etc. below that level. Another more dramatic result of the flooding was the footpath (or lack of it!) between the river and the wood. In places the narrow footpath disappeared over the edge of a 'cliff (formed by the undercutting of the high riverbank by the river) only to continue some distance away! Fortunately there were other connecting footpaths meandering within the wood and it was by one of these that we found a good lunch place, reæonably sheltered and with a scattering of logs on which to sit. We even enjoyed the fitful sunshine as we sat there and there was a view from the wood across the (hidden) river towards Bank Hill. At92 ft.a.s.|., this was the lowest point of the walk. After about halÊan-hour, and not feeling unduly cold, we resumed the walk, following the meandering path through the calm of the wood.