Babs Boot 1st Eyelet RFM Blue Line Walking with Nev

Babs Boot 1st Eyelet 
RFM Blue Line 
Walking with Nev
08/04/206
First walk with Nev. Babs would be so happy.

     
The hottest day of the year so far and although the boys didn't quite make the 1st leg of Babs Boot's walk, also known as The Dales High Way, Nev was a welcome participant.     
As ever the walk was a little longer and higher than I promised but it was a wonderful varied walk with plenty of memories based in the landscape for Nev and a great chance for us .....just to enjoy the walk. 

I talked with Babs before she died about having a walk around her part of the world, when the time was right, as a kind of remembrance. She suggested the title Babs Boot's Walk. So here we are part one the 1st eyelet. For anyone reading who feels left out contact me and join in. You only need to be available every Wednesday. 



The walk starts at Salts Mill, the great survivor of the industrial revolution a jewel in the crown of  West Yorkshire's heritage. What a wonderful place. 


Its a gentle stroll along the canal bank of the Leeds Liverpool Canal busy with dog walkers and runners. They still exchanged greetings as we passed.

We left the canal and headed over the Aire towards Shipley Glen. This building is still an enigma but a lot more over grown than last time I passed. Peter and I have already covered this path on our walk to Otley a couple of years ago. Normally I would have found an alternate route but this is the Dales High Way so I had to rewalk it.



We passed a nice couple with an extremely highly strung dog called Lyra. Great name for a dog.




This is an area Nev knows well so she had some great, happy, stories from the past, near and far, about their experiences here. She suggested some alternate paths in the area and I am definitely up for the exploration. 



We reached the mountain bike tracks and then pushed on up towards Glovershaw Farm



The blossom was awesome.



We had climbed steadily up to the level of Baildon Moor. The views were getting longer and better. We could see golfers and riders on the moor. We saw a Curlew flying and calling at the same time. Skylarks filled the air around us with their jumbled song. Lapwings were cavorting over the marshy fields.

This Lapwing stood quietly for some time as we admired not just him/her but the views and surroundings.
We plodded on past the golfers and the various walkers until we reached the trig point where we rested and chatted for a while.

The panoramic view gives an idea of the beautiful views. This was more like late June than early April, it was quite hot even up here.

Then we headed down off the moor through the dormant bracken.


It was a relatively easy descent. We paused for a selfie near the caravan park.


Saltaire looked beautiful from above in this light. Soon we were back down to cross West Lane and wander through the houses and snickets to the Tramway.


The tramway only runs on a Sunday afternoon so we walked down the slope next to it. To be fair it wasn't too steep.



Then it was a short detour through lovely Robert's park and back to Salts Mill.

Yes we discussed Babs at length but some things are not for this blog. The walk was wonderful and the day happy and sunny. Thanks Nev for a great walk. Nev did great for a 1st walk back but I guess it was a bit tough. It'll be easier next week. Honestly.


The distance would always be ok on the flat but the 870 foot ascent makes it a whole different proposition. 

OS Maps
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/31390167/babs-boot-1st-eyelet-rfm-blue-line-walking-with-nev?lat=53.84288&lon=-1.78457&zoom=14.3812&overlays=os-obstacles-layer&style=TopoAuto&type=2d




             


 

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