St Aidans Perimeter RFM Blue Line

 

St Aidans Perimeter

RFM Blue Line

11/05/26



Todays walk is a good link walk for my Blue Line map but the actual walk was a little disappointing. St Aidans is a great wetlands with a multitude of birds and I imagined the perimeter walk would be bird rich but it just wasn't. It was a very flat walk and even the hill at the end was really small.



I parked in the RSPB car park as a member it is free for me. Passing the first lake I headed off down the wide track towards Allerton Bywater. There were a few dog walkers and a horse rider. They all said hello.


The path through Woodend though park-like was really very pleasant.


Then it was on to the Lines an old railway embankment running all the way to Allerton Bywater. There were loads of friendly dog walkers.
The trees on either side did limit the views but it was still very pleasant.
I headed through the new houses of Allerton, past the mining memorial towards the river.





Another linear park and a representation of the old pottery recorded in concrete, all very nice.





Walking back towards St Aidans on the massive River Aire levee was easy and there was plenty of bird song and more than a few dog walkers.


I reached the point of the walk due south of the start point marked by the giant abandonned mining machine. It was a nice view but I was a long way from the birds.
I tried to work out what this photo was, looking to the north west and then I realised it is the top of some of the buildings in Leeds.
I like the river Aire its big and green lined.



Much of the way to the locks was either along tree lined paths with severely limited views. There were loads of dog walkers and runners. I chatted with quite a few and fell in love with Ruby a beautiful Yorkie cross. Her owner said she had a really loving character.







Many more miles of tree lined paths this time along the Trans Peninne Way (who knew it came this far north).


For a short time I could see the river.



Then it was back into green lined paths no views but easy walking.
I crossed the bridge over the river Aire.


Then it was along a wide green bordered lane past Swillington Park with no views.


Leaving the lane and climbing the last hill I got some great views of the Aire Valley. It was a massive relief to at last see a horizon.



A short hop over the old muck stack and I was back to the start. 

The final view was breathtaking.

A long walk of over 9 miles over a pretty flat route was relatively easy. This was a walk with few views, nothing exceptional to see but it was very pleasant. It is the distance that makes it a challenge.

OS Map

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/31937095/st-aidans-perimeter-rfm-blue-line?lat=53.75403&lon=-1.40869&zoom=13.4167&overlays=os-obstacles-layer&style=TopoAuto&type=2d

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Malham RFM Blue Line Walking with the kids

Image
  Malham RFM Blue Line  Walking with the kids This is the classic Malham Circular walk but it isn't a stroll. We arrived at Malham Tarn car park about 10.15 after the sat nav took us there via Settle. It seemed a long way out of the way but I always trust the sat nav so perhaps there were issues between Skipton and Malham, who knows. The bonus was that we got a fantastic view of Pen-y-Ghent and we discussed the options of walking up it in the future. These kids are adventurous. For me the classic Malham circuit starts at the Tarn. This avoids climbing Gordale Scar and allows the best views of the Cove as you approach it from Malham. For seasoned walkers this is a relatively easy circuit but it's not so for the novice. There are some steep up and downs and  lots of rocks and rough ground. The kids were as ever positive and looking forward to the walk. They had researched Malham so were aware of the main attractions and that parts of Harry Potter were filmed there. The cows...
Read more

Sunny Hollow and the New Dam Walking with my sister and my brother

Image
 Sunny Hollow and the New Dam Walking with my sister and my brother 08/07/24 What a treat, a local walk with Mary and Peter. Starting from the High Street Dodworth we head down Polyfoxes towards Dodworth Bottom. A lovely start to the day not too hot, not too cold and sunny. Up Snow Hill and through Intake Crescent we emerge into the countryside opposite Stainborough Low. This is all familiar ground for us and we even remembered where our childhood friends lived on the way through Intake Crescent. Time has passed though and the landscape has changed beyond recognition from the landscape of our childhood. No mines or pit heaps to be seen. Whats left of Sunny Hollow, no dam, no bankings and industrial buildings bordering the hollow haven't improved the outlook at all. If I am honest I would say it is worse today than 60 years ago but, rose tinted glasses alert, afterall this was our playground.  Three kids walking through childhood memories.   We ascend the bank toward the l...
Read more

Issue Edge RFM Blue Line Walking with Peter

Image
Issue Edge  RFM Blue Line  Walking with Peter 05/09/25  Its been a few weeks since we did a Friday walk and this one was a beaut. We met at the car park near the Digley Res and were on the route by 8.00. We started along the hillside with Digley Res to our right. I  hope you like the artistic photo, actually I just had it on the monochrome setting by mistake. This very large tup was enjoying his breakfast. Through the trees the res was clearly at a very low water level. This is a wonderful part of the world for atmospheric light variations as the local artist Ashley Jackson has recorded for many years. This was to be a day of tremendous light variations. We start with a little hill as we slowly climb towards Holme. Even at this low level the weather was threatening, but beautiful. The hills opposite with the great name of Twizzle Head Moss feature in a walking with Lacey blog. It absolutely threw it down that day and blew a gail. The small village of Holme is a seldo...
Read more