Weeton and the Wharfe

Sunday 28th March - 7.5 miles. I've already been using Facebook and Picasa to give details of the walks I've undertaken but have now decided that I'll try and blog the walks I've decided to take each weekend.

Why am I walking ?
In March 2009 I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In the period since that first diagnosis, and the shock of finding out that I had diabetes I have, I suppose, concentrated on diet. This has meant that I have not had to resort (yet ?!) to medication. In January of this year Gill, my wife of 29 years, and I decided that we (a) needed to get more exercise and (b) get out of the house on a Sunday. So, we got out the walking books - more details of that in a later blog, the maps and the boots. Since 7th Feburary we've managed to clock up 39 miles and have tried to get into the "habit" of going out each Sunday despite the weather and despite anything else that may be happening in our lives - the walking is going to come first.

This Week's Walk
Thanks to Paul Hannon and his book "Harrogate and the Wharfe Valley".

We were joined by friends Marilyn and John for this walk on a bright, sunny day although the wind was pretty strong. The walk starts at Weeton, a small, sleepy hamlet just off the A658 Bradford to Harrogate road. A very busy road but, within a few minutes, you are in a peaceful and tranquil village. We parked just off Main Street by the Village Green which has, in the corner, a bench in memory of a lady who died in 1932 !!
The walk took us out of the village (note: that the owners of the stables have created a "diversion" around their property, rather than going through their front garden). There follows a steep climb up a field with some fantastic views back across the valley to Almscliff Crags. At the top of the hill you join first a road and then a green path that drops to the main A61 Leeds to Harrogate road. A busy road it is easily crossed and then we march onwards to Swindon Hall and then a period of about 1 1/2 miles of road walking before we reached the low point of this particular route. The guide book states "immediately after Springmoor Lodgeon the right, a stile sends a path down the side of the site". Sadly, the path is completely overgrown and the owners of the chalets have slowly encroached on to it making it a difficult section. Indeed the bottom end of the path has been completely blocked off.
Anyway, leaving this obstacle behind you drop onto the banks of the Wharfe at Netherby Deep (with a warning sign about the treacherous waters hereabout). The river indeed was running fast and free and we found ourselves walking into the teeth of a pretty strong breeze (an understatement perhaps). Eventually, the path brings you back to the main road just short of Harewood Bridge. Just before we reached the bridge we saw signs that, perhaps, Spring has arrived! After negotiating the busy road we re-joined the river bank for the last spell up the river bank before veering off through the wood of Rougemont Castle (an Anglo-Saxon castle apparently !) and making our way back to Weeton.

A good day out ! A great walk, well described by Mr. Hannon and easy to follow.

More pictures (I know I'm not a good photographer but I might get better as time goes on) are available from this link.

Next week we plan to go walking on Friday - a significant date for me since it will be my 55th birthday. What better way to celebrate than to go walking. Although, I've just seen the weather forecast - maybe staying indoors will be the order of the day !