April 2018
Sunday walk on 15 April
This will be a slightly longer walk than usual at nearly 6 miles, so we can visit High Royds Chapel and cemetery in Menston before going to Bleach Mill for refreshments.
As usual the walk starts from Burley Station at 10.00. All are welcome so just turn up. Dogs on fixed leads are allowed as long as owners have the required insurance.
We will walk down Prospect Road and through Burley House field to Otley Old Road and Eastfield Lane. Crossing Otley Golf Course to Ellar Ghyll, we then turn right towards the Fox roundabout and follow the footpath to High Royds chapel and graveyard. The Chapel will be opened up for us by Niccola.
We will walk through High Royds grounds and woods then along a farm lane. Crossing two stiles to Derry Hill we have a further three stiles to reach Bleach Mill Lane for refreshments, arriving at around 12.30. The return to the station is down Hag Farm Lane to arrive by 1.30. Walkers can choose to miss out the refreshments if they prefer to get back for the usual 1pm.
Field paths are likely to be muddy in places, and there are a couple of short gentle gradients.
Friday walk on 4 May
The next Friday walk will be three miles. We will follow Carr Beck across the fields towards Menston before returning to Burley via Hag Farm Road. The route is mostly level, with one short but fairly steep field descent and three stiles near to the railway level crossing at Holme Grove.
We will leave Burley Station at 10.00. All are welcome, so just turn up. Dogs on leads are welcome with the required insurance.
The route uses tracks and field paths that are likely to be muddy in places. After crossing the railway line at Holme Grove, we will walk alongside Carr Beck until the junction with the Ebor Way. Turning right to walk past Hag Farm, we will drop down through the woods to reach Hag Farm Road. We will walk through the snickets to reach the refurbished Red Lion for refreshments at about 11.45.
Walkers are Welcome AGM and talk
Our fourth AGM will be at Burley Library on Wednesday 16 May at 7.30.
Following a short business meeting, our speaker this year will be David Dennis MBE from Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue. David has a wealth of stories to tell from his 39 years of service to UWFR. He can also give advice about how to stay safe when walking the hills. Refreshments will be provided. All are invited to what should be an interesting evening.
Working parties May 2 and May 21
Following the successful installation of two kissing gates on the Hag Farm Road to Hermit footpath on 21 March, we are organising a further working party on Wednesday 2 May. The plan is to put down some hard-core around one of the gates we installed, as well as around the stile area on the Heather Rise to Hag Farm Road footpath. Anyone who has tried to walk this path over the past few months will know that this has become virtually impassable due to thick mud.
Three of us that are confirmed so far. More help would be appreciated so that we can ideally have 4 to 6 people at each site to shovel, barrow and rake. We plan to start at 9.30 and work for about 1 ½ to 2 hours.
On Monday 21 May we will be returning to Stead where we worked last year. The plan is to build two sets of steps, do some strimming, and help drain a short section of very wet path.
If you are interested in one or both working parties, please send me an email, or give me a ring on 01943 862965 to discuss. No experience is necessary, and it is a very rewarding if sometimes mucky activity.
Anti-social horses
A number of people have experienced unwanted attention from the horses currently kept in the field between Hag Farm Road and the railway line, as they cross from the Heather Rise cattle arch. The advice from Fiona Plane from Countryside Services, Bradford Council, is that if a horse is aggressive or even bites or tries to bite, then it should be reported to the police and to her (01274 431018) along with any identifying information about the horse. When she was informed about a recent incident involving someone crossing this field, she contacted the landowner who removed the horse the following day.
Otley Walking Festival 23 June – 1 July
This popular local walking festival has 56 walks and events on offer this year covering every taste and ability. Check out their website for more information: www.otleywalkingfestival.co.uk
This will be a slightly longer walk than usual at nearly 6 miles, so we can visit High Royds Chapel and cemetery in Menston before going to Bleach Mill for refreshments.
As usual the walk starts from Burley Station at 10.00. All are welcome so just turn up. Dogs on fixed leads are allowed as long as owners have the required insurance.
We will walk down Prospect Road and through Burley House field to Otley Old Road and Eastfield Lane. Crossing Otley Golf Course to Ellar Ghyll, we then turn right towards the Fox roundabout and follow the footpath to High Royds chapel and graveyard. The Chapel will be opened up for us by Niccola.
We will walk through High Royds grounds and woods then along a farm lane. Crossing two stiles to Derry Hill we have a further three stiles to reach Bleach Mill Lane for refreshments, arriving at around 12.30. The return to the station is down Hag Farm Lane to arrive by 1.30. Walkers can choose to miss out the refreshments if they prefer to get back for the usual 1pm.
Field paths are likely to be muddy in places, and there are a couple of short gentle gradients.
Friday walk on 4 May
The next Friday walk will be three miles. We will follow Carr Beck across the fields towards Menston before returning to Burley via Hag Farm Road. The route is mostly level, with one short but fairly steep field descent and three stiles near to the railway level crossing at Holme Grove.
We will leave Burley Station at 10.00. All are welcome, so just turn up. Dogs on leads are welcome with the required insurance.
The route uses tracks and field paths that are likely to be muddy in places. After crossing the railway line at Holme Grove, we will walk alongside Carr Beck until the junction with the Ebor Way. Turning right to walk past Hag Farm, we will drop down through the woods to reach Hag Farm Road. We will walk through the snickets to reach the refurbished Red Lion for refreshments at about 11.45.
Walkers are Welcome AGM and talk
Our fourth AGM will be at Burley Library on Wednesday 16 May at 7.30.
Following a short business meeting, our speaker this year will be David Dennis MBE from Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue. David has a wealth of stories to tell from his 39 years of service to UWFR. He can also give advice about how to stay safe when walking the hills. Refreshments will be provided. All are invited to what should be an interesting evening.
Working parties May 2 and May 21
Following the successful installation of two kissing gates on the Hag Farm Road to Hermit footpath on 21 March, we are organising a further working party on Wednesday 2 May. The plan is to put down some hard-core around one of the gates we installed, as well as around the stile area on the Heather Rise to Hag Farm Road footpath. Anyone who has tried to walk this path over the past few months will know that this has become virtually impassable due to thick mud.
Three of us that are confirmed so far. More help would be appreciated so that we can ideally have 4 to 6 people at each site to shovel, barrow and rake. We plan to start at 9.30 and work for about 1 ½ to 2 hours.
On Monday 21 May we will be returning to Stead where we worked last year. The plan is to build two sets of steps, do some strimming, and help drain a short section of very wet path.
If you are interested in one or both working parties, please send me an email, or give me a ring on 01943 862965 to discuss. No experience is necessary, and it is a very rewarding if sometimes mucky activity.
Anti-social horses
A number of people have experienced unwanted attention from the horses currently kept in the field between Hag Farm Road and the railway line, as they cross from the Heather Rise cattle arch. The advice from Fiona Plane from Countryside Services, Bradford Council, is that if a horse is aggressive or even bites or tries to bite, then it should be reported to the police and to her (01274 431018) along with any identifying information about the horse. When she was informed about a recent incident involving someone crossing this field, she contacted the landowner who removed the horse the following day.
Otley Walking Festival 23 June – 1 July
This popular local walking festival has 56 walks and events on offer this year covering every taste and ability. Check out their website for more information: www.otleywalkingfestival.co.uk