After the usual 'school-run' this morning, having various (shiney) 4x4s not parking too closely in case they catch some of the muck off mine :lol:
I'd decided to head off somewhere, as I was on annual leave
Did I go North or South???
South would have meant heading through Wakefield & queuing all the way in, so north took me off without stopping until reaching Leeds ring-road at Crossgates.
I headed off at Otley Road & decided to go look at a supposed ford over the River Wharfe at Castley (found in an old book about old track-ways, highways & paths)
This ford had last been used in the 1930s by horse & cart, but the entry/exit may still be discernible on the ground??
Allegedly crossing the Wharfe by Ings FarmSo with that riddle crossed off, as the banks wouldn't support an attempt, even if the river was low enough & the landowners amenable to anyone trying, it was off to Otley for a walk round.
Sadly Wharfe View Cafe was 'chokka', so onwards to Ilkley.
I had a pleasant walk round this nice little town, I'd like to live there, but it's rather expensive.
With a couple of corned beef pasties from Greggs to compliment the flask I'd made before setting off for school, I headed up onto the Moor onto Keighley Gate
On one corner there's a preserved section of the older surface, it's stood the test of time for now
Climbing higher past White Wells, the tarmac ends & it gets a bit steeper.
Passed 2 ramblers who stood aside & waved :shock:
track passing to east of Cowpers CrossAt almost the summit I pulled over & switched off.
Before I'd got the flask out I had a Golden Labrador & a Springer Spaniel round my feet, as a couple of walkers came off the Moor
Pleasantries were exchanged.
Then whilst eating a Bradford Council 90 came off the open moorland & pulled up alongside me.
"Uh-Oh!", I thought, "Is it no longer a road?"
But the Ranger got out, nodded his head & walked off to meet a group coming over the Moor from the direction of the Cow & Calf.
Whilst parked there, a FreeLander (3-door) came past, with a English Mastiff trotting alongside :lol: :lol:
Then a blue Frontera
As I pulled back onto the track, a green '05' plated 90 Hard-Top came up behind me. He followed at a reasonable distance until we got to the gate at Whetstone Gate.
I opened it, he offered to close it
Presumably he was out enjoying the day too, as he didn't look like a farmer
It's just a nice alternative way of crossing from Wharfedale into Airedale, or visa-versa, and it's even nicer in the height of Summer (with a full picnic)
Few images here
