West and East Morton RFM Blue Line Walking with Nev

 

West and East Morton 

RFM Blue Line 

Walking with Nev

24/06/26

 

This was a very hot day. It was just Nev and me today and we had some options to make this walk longer but I doubted we would take them. It was a 50 50 decision on whether to walk at all. 

We started the walk just below Carr Lane in East Morton a place we had walked a few walks ago. It was already in the low 30's and felt really hot. The route went up what looked like a drive for someone's house but was actually a path.

The nice cobbled lane turned into an overgrown path promising lots of nettle tingle. As we reached the next road I loved the windows in some of these properties. These look excessively old almost medieval. I'm not sure if they are but just look at them.

In terms of this part of the village these were modern structures. We wondered what the original fuction of these buildings was. We also went past a cheery window cleaner and we discussed the heat which was the theme of the day. A high bridge over a stream at the wonderfully named Botany was bordered by a very tall house.

We passed Morton dam and the path was green and pleasant. We had been climbing steadily and this was to continue for a while.

We crossed the stream on stepping stones, with the gentle cascade of the small weir waterfall adding a delightful sound and sight. The cool air made it pleasant to linger and refresh ourselves.

What followed was a lot steeper slope and no cover so the heat and the effort were having an effect. It was hard to get your breath. I loved these worker's cottages as did Nev. They were picturesque.

There were many wild flowers most I could not name. Copilot says this little one is Herb Robert. 

We crossed another stream using stepping stones and came a cross a sign new to me.

This little wood called Sunny Dale was steep and cool. Not surprisingly in this heat there were no dog walkers or actually no-one else at all to chat with.

Glen farm was on the hill above us but we were heading back into the woods into the The Glen proper. 

It was green and steep but mercifully cool. The old trees are so characterful. We heard and saw loads of little birds.

In places the dappled light was magical. I was taken with the view on the right with the intense bright spots of sunshine patterning the woods.

The noisy waterfall was below us and pretty inaccessible, a shower would have been great.

We trudged on up the hill through The Glen, a series of ups and downs but trending upwards. A great place to be, so fresh and alive.

The path left The Glen abruptly and we were into the open landscape. The views were great but the temperature had risen alarmingly and we were still going uphill.

Heading towards Upwood Hall farm we were sorry to disturb the lambs but they did not go far from the shade.

The cows seemed please to see us and almost looked like they wanted stroking but they were probably just bored.

Passing the not very tidy looking farm we reached the road above Upwood Hall. Our route took us up onto the moor and back off again. It was about a mile extension to the walk but we decided to decline it as it was just too hot to go any higher.

Upwood farm was unimpressive and so was Upwood Hall.

I thought we could see Salts Mill in the distance but it turned out to be the Damart Mill at Bingley

The path off the road at Highbeck Park looked like a garden and we felt like we were intruding but it was the path.

Has Keighly ever looked so beautiful?

Another good view across the valley. 

The descent was quite rapid across the sheep fields.

It took some time to find the path out of the field and when we did it was quite overgrown.

Nev identified this symbol as a legacy of the pandemic and our support for the emergency services especially the nurses. Feels like a long time ago now. We chatted to a guy outside his very old cottage. I queeried the windows as they looked a bit like a weaver cottages windows but were not right. He said the cottage was buit in the 1540's so was much older than the weavers cottages. They were just well built mullioned windows. Another example of the age of the Mortons.

 

On our left was a pair of sheared Alpacas. Always a welcome sight.

This path went through gardens and felt very intrusive. There was even a large bifold door, open with little kids playing on the carpet, just yards away from where the path passed the house on a lawn. it did not feel right but it was the path.

We were entering East Morton so we had a selfie before we got to the road.

A few more fields to cross and then we were on to Street Lane.

The young cows were in the main keeping to the shade.

I am not sure what this line of corvids were up to. I'm guessing they were crows or rooks but it looked strange, almost spooky. 

Then we were past the Butts estate and to the car and home. We discussed the origin of Butts, and I’m glad to say I was right—it refers to the Butts used in archery practice dating back to the Medieval period.

This was a long walk in this heat but we took our time and much of the uphill was in wooded shade. The ascent of 777 feet combined with the heat was draining. Nev did really well and is staring to embrace the hills as not to be feared but to be enjoyed even when challenging.

os map

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/32624005/west-and-east-morton-rfm-blue-line?lat=53.87453&lon=-1.85331&zoom=15.3463&style=TopoAuto&type=2d