Castleford Allerton Bywater RFM Blue Line

 

Castleford Allerton Bywater 

RFM Blue Line

04/05/26




On a dull May Bank Holiday Monday I had little hope that this would be any other than an urban walk with a bit of river and canal side. I wasn't really looking forward to the walk except as a couple of hours of excercise. I was wrong this was a brilliant walk.

I walked through the old terrace streets towards Normanton. It is odd how Normanton and Castleford have got so many old terrace streets whilst most of the old mining areas have basically knocked down the terraces and built more modern houses in their place. It is not a very pleasant urban environment but to be fair everyone I passed was happy to exchange a cheery hello. They deserve better.
Thankfully I left the town and entered the greenway, a very pleasant old railway line with loads of dog walkers and runners. 
I had a chat with a few people but to be honest many were already in groups chatting so I just said hello. What a brilliantly friendly place.
The old railway crossed the active rail lines at Whitwood Junction. A little further along according to my map the path should have gone through this hedge. Well that wasn't happening so I just continued to the next marked path.
I guess because this path was so good the old one is no longer in use. The river Calder is over on the left flowing through this wide flood plain.
I enjoyed watching the boats going up and down the river. This smart one emerging from under a bridge was particularly fine.
Castleford loomed out of the gloom on my right but it is so flat it just looks like a row of houses.
There is no development of the north bank but on this side there are some very fine riverside houses. Looks posh for Cas.
I like the way all the houses facing the river follow the same style, its very pleasing to the eye. The swan didn't care.
I really liked the Millenium footbridge and judging by the footfall there were both visitors and locals using it. It is a symbol of regeneration and there are other signs in Cas of redevelopment but there is a long way to go. The proximity to Leeds should make it an ideal commuter town so I can only see a bright future for the town. On the other hand Normanton seems stuck in the depression of the 1970's.
   Crossing the canal via the main road I headed into fields which was a bit of a relief.
Pretty soon I was back on the Aire and Calder Navigation towpath heading towards Allerton Bywater.
The mining memorial was spectacular, worthy of any coalfield town. The place seems to have a lot of city type development so I am guessing this is firmly part of the Leeds's commuter belt. 
I headed out of Allerton Bywater along this road with a full hedge of blossom. Looked wonderful.
It was then a short hop to cross the busy A656 notable as it is the route of a Roman road called Roman Ridge. It always amazes me that we still use the routes the Romans laid out 2000 years ago. They were some builders those early Italians.

The understated name plate leaving Allerton was in a massive contrast to the memorial but still included an industrial relic. Then it was down an ugly road towards Fairburn Ings RSPB site.
Leaving the road onto the ings things improved markedly. The blossom was overwhelming. I started to hear some more interesting birds including Cetti's Warblers, Greenfinches and Chiffchaffs.
In gaps in the hedgrow I could see the cattle in the marshy grassland and the open waters on my left. I saw what I thought was a Great Egret standing upright in the distance. I managed to get a photo and it turned out it was a Spoonbill. Happy days.
                    
As I approached the hide at the end of the lake I heard a Cuckoo in the distance. There were 4 birdwatchers in the hide and I stopped for a chat about what was there. The 3 birds in the distance on the left in this shot are all Spoonbills. The other notable bird was a Black Tailed Godwit a small wader. One of the guys let me look through his scope at it. I didn't stay long and thanked them for their hospitality when I left.
Where the path reached the river I had to stop as I had such a pain in my ankle I could hardly walk. I was very worried. I took my boot off and a big chunk of angular stone fell on the floor. It must have got stuck in the top of my boot. Anyway crisis over my foot soon recovered.
I crossed the bridge back into Castleford and could see the  Millenium Bridge in the distance.
The town centre is ugly, full of vape shops, hairdressers, nail bars and mini marts. Being a bank holiday most were shut. I didn't hang around and was soon back at my car.



I have had a lot harder walks but this one was definitely interesting. Bird watching highlights and a town trying to improve itself. A friendly bunch of locals but a depressing town centre. Better than Normanton but so far behind Barnsley its not true. Things can only get better.

os map
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/31819905/castleford-rfm-blue-line?lat=53.73383&lon=-1.34464&zoom=13.4942&overlays=os-obstacles-layer&style=TopoAuto&type=2d

    






















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