The Leeds Country Way (LCW) crosses Whitehall Road close to Drighlington and since that’s the nearest point to home it’s there that we decided to start out on our venture.
Initially we’d thought about using public transport to get to the start points and then return from the finish points the same way. Unfortunately in most cases that would mean a bus into Leeds, then a bus to the start point and then the same in reverse when we were done. Eight bus fares is more expensive than leaving a car at both the start and finish so that’s what we’re doing. Not too green really but we make up for it in other ways trust me.
We drove to our end point at Thornbury and abandoned Lisa’s car there. We then drove back to Whitehall Road and parked my car in the Valley Inn car park at the top of Dale Road. I figured that we’d be having a pint there on our way home so I didn’t feel guilty about just dumping my car and walking off. Hope that’s OK Mr Valley Inn Landlord Sir.
The weather was predicted to be sunny with showers and I don’t think Lisa was too impressed about the showers part but fortunately it stayed sunny all day and there was a breeze that cooled us down on the way round. I’m up for walking in all weathers (hell I used to do it for a living) but I think Lisa may be a dry weather only walker. Hopefully she’ll brave the elements when it comes to it and it surely will knowing the vagaries of the British weather. Rumour has it we’re having a half decent summer this year for a change so you never know.
We left the Valley Inn at 11.15am and set off downhill along Dale Road towards the bottom of the valley. I couldn’t help think that I’d become the hiker off The Fast Show even though I was just wearing a hoody and combats. I felt like singing Tra La Laaaa as I walked along. Incidentally, this scene from the fast show featuring said hiker has me in stitches every time I see it!
When we reached the bottom of the hill and passed the barking dogs on the way we came across what I think was Dale Farm where we were supposed to turn off the metalled road and walk off up an unmade track. There were some goats with big jocking horns all sunning themselves underneath an upturned skip. A few of the kids were bleating and looking at us so I couldn’t resist a photo opportunity.
Once we left the farm we followed the unmade track that led us to Tong Beck. Our walking guide told us to stay with the beck all the way along the valley so this is what we did, passing through Nan Whin’s Wood. On the way through we came across a family and their Rhodesian Ridgeback. I’ve always liked this particular breed of dog but Lisa had never seen one in the flesh. We stopped and talked with the family for a while and the guy told us that back in Africa Ridgebacks would be used to hunt Antelope and other deer like critters. Apparently the dogs run alongside and then barge the running prey until they fall over. Apparently the trait is still present today and Ridgebacks can have you off your feet in no time at all. Don’t know if that’s right but the guy convinced us anyway!
After crossing Tong Lane we re-joined the Beck and continued towards Bankhouse Bottom. At this point we were crossing large fields most of which were empty until we came across a few grazing cows. They seemed interested in us and started moving our way. Perhaps they thought we were farmers or something. It wasn’t a scary cow incident or anything but I started wondering if there was a bull somewhere in the field, some of which was out of site over the crest of a hill. We didn’t hang about to find out. I suppose I’m sounding like a right Towny here aren’t I. Ho-hum.
We followed the Beck and passed through Fulneck Golf Course. I’ve since learned that the Beck at this point is actually the boundary between Bradford and Leeds. More fields followed until we reached the bottom of Westroyd Hill. In an adjacent field were perhaps fifty or so young cows and one white horse of about the same stature. They were all running about in a big stampede from field to field and the horse was having a whale of a time. Perhaps it thought it was a cow or something, who knows. If I could have acted quickly I could have videoed it but the moment passed and that was that.
We climbed up out of the valley and we knew there was a pub at the top, the Fox and Grapes where we stopped for a pint and a bag of crisps each. It was a nice clean pub and we may go back there for a Sunday Dinner one day.
I do hope pubs like that survive the current financial climate because it will be a sad loss if the majority of our drinking houses disappear. We’ll be left with bland chain bars in town and city centres and a part of who we are will disappear. One more reason to hate capitalism for me.
After leaving the pub we descended back into the valley and made our way up towards the main A647 at Thornbury. In this section there is a long uphill climb along a cobbled path. I must walk too quickly and Lisa kept telling me to slow down. I didn’t realise I was that fit!
Once the path levelled out we crossed over the level crossing and on towards the main road and back to Lisa’s car. I think it was around 3.00pm by this time which was longer than anticipated but we’d messed about a bit and stopped at the pub. I think we’ll allow a similar time for the rest of the sections we’re going to cover.
So part one completed, eleven more to go. Things to take next time will be our camel back rucksacks that we brought back from New York a few years ago. We’ve actually only used them once when they were filled with Skittle Vodka at Glastonbury last year. We’ll fill them with something less explosive for the walks though.
There are a few more pictures from this section of the walk on my flickr site.
