Leathley

 Leathley 16/07/25 - With T and J

A circular walk taking in three hamlets near Pool in Wharfedale.

After a very unpromising start when we had to walk around 300m along the road with 60mph speed limit and no paths, the walk developed into a very pleasant walk.

Primarily the route took us through farmland, with a short section along the side of the river, passed through Riffa Woods with lunch outside the delightful church of St Mary's in Stainburn.

Only one real hill on the route, which was not particularly high but steep.

Leathley

A lovely hamlet with great views

The River Washburn was like alll the waterways around quite low. 

After leaving the river the route climbed for a while up to Lindley opened some great views over the valley.

Once at the top of the hill the route to Braythorn was relatively flat.  Initially walking on a single-track road and then through wheat fields.

 

After getting over the highest wall style I have ever seen the route continued to Braythorn.  Then turning onto Church Lane we arrived at St Mary's at Stainburn

This is a lovely church, no longer used for worship, but still maintained

The gravestones were partly obscured by bracken in much of th church yard.

The inside of the church was a picture of simplicity

We then followed the path to Stainburn.  After passing this cottage the path led to Riffa Woods down the side of a beck

It was a straight route through the woods.

After crossing the beck the path originally was over fields, before changing into a farm track, which then became a green lane with views of Arthington Viaduct in the distance.

The green lane then became the tarmac drive to Leathley Hall

We followed the drive to the car park.

The Leathley Circular is a charming walk, with panoramic views over the Yorkshire countryside.  

Pateley Bridge and Brimham Rocks

 Walk the World to Rights Walk - Pateley Bridge to Brimham Rocks 13/07/2025

I have been to Brimham Rocks and Pateley Bridge many times but never walked between them

This was a nice walk starting from the centre of Pateley Bridge there was a steep climb over tarmac paths to get out of town before the views opened up.

And the walk up to Brimham Rocks was through farmland.

There was a nice suprise when we had to walk through a field of Llamas.

The land was not showing too many signs of the water shortage in Yorkshire.

I always prefer walks which include something interesting to see.  Brimham Rocks certainly fits the bill.  And made a great location for a lunch break.

And Menwith Hill was on the next hill along.

After a short walk along a road, the path dropped gradually down to the River Nidd

This was a wonderful part of the walk through woodland along the side of the river.

I'm always a sucker for a reflection

A slight detour took us past a very dry Glasshouses Dam

The path then skirted a meadow, although not bursting, there was a fine display of wildflowers.

Before following a walled path back to the centre of Pateley Bridge.

This was a wonderful walk, primarily out of town, with some great panoramic views, a lot of variety in the landscape, including woodlands, a riverbank, and rock formations, with very little road walking and the added bonus of llamas.

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Swinstry and three other reservoirs

A circular walk from Swinsty around three other reservoirs.

The walk itself includes some great vistas, different woodland types, field perimeters, a crag, a little road walking and 4 reservoirs.  The only thing really missing is a riverbank section.  There was some climbing but nothing too arduous under normal circumstances (a bit of effort with temperatures in the high 20s).

Swinstry, with the water way down

After passing through some woods the path opened out onto pastures

 

And then John O`Gaunts Reservoir

Then to Beaver Dyke Resevoir which has been abandoned

Then,  through the Scargill Plantation

And onto the Scargil Reservoir

The next section was the least enjoyable part of the walk, firstly along about 600m along a straight access road to the road to Stainburn Woods.

We made a slight error and went into the woods and missed out on the view of Little Alms Cliff.

  

The route followed forest paths

Before passing through a section of natural woodland until we reached another road section.  Which had views over Swinsty 

And the ever-present Menwith Hill

Then passed through farmland to reach Swinsty

Thankfully, this giant was at the other side of the wall. But that gap was a little unnerving 

And then along a section next to the reservoir back to the car

Then onto the Sun Inn, only a 5 minute drive away for a well-earned drink.

This was one of my favourite walks so far.

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