December News 2016
November walk
Thanks to everyone who came on our walk to Stead and Clevedon House last month. Despite the dire weather forecast we had a dry and very pleasant walk. In fact it was warm enough for the group to choose to have refreshments on the terrace at Clevedon House. Just goes to show it pays not to be put off by the forecast – although of course it can be wrong in the other direction!
December walk
Our next walk on Sunday 18 December will explore the footpaths above Burley Woodhead. The walk will be slightly shorter than usual at about 4 miles, partly to account for the climb up onto the moor, partly so we can accommodate a slightly longer refreshment break at Bleach Mill and/or enable those with seasonal commitments to head off earlier. We will meet as usual in Burley Station car park at 10.00 and then head off up Hag Farm to cross the new bridge again to reach the Hermit. After crossing the road we will head up to the moor via well drained footpaths, walking alongside Carr Beck for a short while. We will aim to drop down to Bleach Mill to arrive about 11.45, and back to the station before 1pm.
January 15 and February 19 walk proposals
In order to extend our repertoire of walks, and following positive feedback about the idea, we will experiment with a linear walk in January using the 10.12 train from Burley in order to start walking from Menston. We will also try out another suggestion, that of having refreshments at the end of the walk rather than part way through. The Red Lion in Burley have said they would be happy for us to arrive at about 12.15 for hot / cold drinks. This also opens up the option for those interested, of remaining behind to have lunch.
A number of people have asked us whether dogs could come on the walks. We have consulted our insurers, who say that our third party liability cover does not include dogs. However, they suggested that there would be no problem from their perspective in dogs coming on our walks providing dog owners had third party cover under their pet insurance (and that we undertook the necessary risk assessment). We are, therefore, proposing to have a ‘dogs are welcome’ walk in February, ensuring that the route does not include dog unfriendly stiles. We would insist that dogs are well behaved and on leads at all times and that owners confirm they have the appropriate insurance cover (most pet insurance schemes appear to include third party liability). Please let us have your views about this proposal. We will review after February and then decide how often we are able to include ‘dogs are welcome’ walks in our programme.
Footpath improvements
Hopefully some of you will have noticed the improvements to the steps up to the old railway line at Heather Rise. A small group of Walkers are Welcome volunteers cleared them of debris during November following a request from the Health Walks group. The group have now successfully tried out the route which enables them to extend their range of Tuesday morning short walks.
The stretch of footpath between Scalebor Park and Stead seriously damaged in the Boxing Day floods has been similarly affected following the recent storms. It was reported to Countryside Services the following day, who have been negotiating with the landowner about a more permanent solution to the problem. Hopefully repairs will be completed shortly.
We believe that all the suggestions for footpath improvements raised with the group at the May 2016 AGM have now been addressed. If you have any further suggestions for better way marking / footpath sign posting, path repairs, or replacing stiles with kissing gates, please let us know.
Strimmer Training
Bradford Countryside Services have offered to provide us with training in the New Year in order for us to be able to borrow and use their heavy duty strimmers. It will take approximately one and half hours and will be done at the end of the afternoon on a weekday at their base in Shipley. If you are willing to join a working party next year to help clear overgrown footpaths around Burley, then please let us know and we will keep you informed of possible dates.
Walk leader training
Some of you who have been walking on Sunday mornings may be interested in attending walk leader training being provided by Baildon Walkers are Welcome. Two of us have already undertaken earlier training provided by Mervyn Flecknoe from the group, an experienced Holiday Fellowship Holidays walk leader. It is scheduled to take place on Saturday 11 March from 9.30 to 12.00 at the Methodist Church in Baildon and is fun as well as being very instructive. Please let us know if you would like more information. Costs would be met by Burley Walkers are Welcome, and the expectation in return would be to offer to lead or be backstop for the group at least once on a Sunday walk or during our walks programme during the Summer Festival at the end of August 2017.
Thanks to everyone who came on our walk to Stead and Clevedon House last month. Despite the dire weather forecast we had a dry and very pleasant walk. In fact it was warm enough for the group to choose to have refreshments on the terrace at Clevedon House. Just goes to show it pays not to be put off by the forecast – although of course it can be wrong in the other direction!
December walk
Our next walk on Sunday 18 December will explore the footpaths above Burley Woodhead. The walk will be slightly shorter than usual at about 4 miles, partly to account for the climb up onto the moor, partly so we can accommodate a slightly longer refreshment break at Bleach Mill and/or enable those with seasonal commitments to head off earlier. We will meet as usual in Burley Station car park at 10.00 and then head off up Hag Farm to cross the new bridge again to reach the Hermit. After crossing the road we will head up to the moor via well drained footpaths, walking alongside Carr Beck for a short while. We will aim to drop down to Bleach Mill to arrive about 11.45, and back to the station before 1pm.
January 15 and February 19 walk proposals
In order to extend our repertoire of walks, and following positive feedback about the idea, we will experiment with a linear walk in January using the 10.12 train from Burley in order to start walking from Menston. We will also try out another suggestion, that of having refreshments at the end of the walk rather than part way through. The Red Lion in Burley have said they would be happy for us to arrive at about 12.15 for hot / cold drinks. This also opens up the option for those interested, of remaining behind to have lunch.
A number of people have asked us whether dogs could come on the walks. We have consulted our insurers, who say that our third party liability cover does not include dogs. However, they suggested that there would be no problem from their perspective in dogs coming on our walks providing dog owners had third party cover under their pet insurance (and that we undertook the necessary risk assessment). We are, therefore, proposing to have a ‘dogs are welcome’ walk in February, ensuring that the route does not include dog unfriendly stiles. We would insist that dogs are well behaved and on leads at all times and that owners confirm they have the appropriate insurance cover (most pet insurance schemes appear to include third party liability). Please let us have your views about this proposal. We will review after February and then decide how often we are able to include ‘dogs are welcome’ walks in our programme.
Footpath improvements
Hopefully some of you will have noticed the improvements to the steps up to the old railway line at Heather Rise. A small group of Walkers are Welcome volunteers cleared them of debris during November following a request from the Health Walks group. The group have now successfully tried out the route which enables them to extend their range of Tuesday morning short walks.
The stretch of footpath between Scalebor Park and Stead seriously damaged in the Boxing Day floods has been similarly affected following the recent storms. It was reported to Countryside Services the following day, who have been negotiating with the landowner about a more permanent solution to the problem. Hopefully repairs will be completed shortly.
We believe that all the suggestions for footpath improvements raised with the group at the May 2016 AGM have now been addressed. If you have any further suggestions for better way marking / footpath sign posting, path repairs, or replacing stiles with kissing gates, please let us know.
Strimmer Training
Bradford Countryside Services have offered to provide us with training in the New Year in order for us to be able to borrow and use their heavy duty strimmers. It will take approximately one and half hours and will be done at the end of the afternoon on a weekday at their base in Shipley. If you are willing to join a working party next year to help clear overgrown footpaths around Burley, then please let us know and we will keep you informed of possible dates.
Walk leader training
Some of you who have been walking on Sunday mornings may be interested in attending walk leader training being provided by Baildon Walkers are Welcome. Two of us have already undertaken earlier training provided by Mervyn Flecknoe from the group, an experienced Holiday Fellowship Holidays walk leader. It is scheduled to take place on Saturday 11 March from 9.30 to 12.00 at the Methodist Church in Baildon and is fun as well as being very instructive. Please let us know if you would like more information. Costs would be met by Burley Walkers are Welcome, and the expectation in return would be to offer to lead or be backstop for the group at least once on a Sunday walk or during our walks programme during the Summer Festival at the end of August 2017.