The joy of walking in Airedale

READERS who enjoy a country ramble, whether by the water or up the hills in search of an eye-catching view, will find something to whet their walking appetite in the latest book by regular Towpath Talk contributor Lee Senior.

Walking wi’ one foot in the Aire is a selection of a dozen walks of varying lengths ranging from under two miles to almost 10.

In this follow-up to his book Walking in the Aire,

Lee again concentrates on his local turf. He describes Airedale, which stretches from Malhamdale to East Yorkshire where it joins the River Ouse, as a vastly underrated area to walk in with its mix of industry, rural villages and rolling countryside.

For those of you who, like me, have tried to follow walk leaflets and found themselves pondering which way to go next, Lee has gone into great detail with exact instructions such as: “Go right, over an open stile and descend down the left edge of a sloping field adjacent to a wall. Ignore all other paths. Keep straight ahead…”

Each of the 12 walks comes with details of its length, total ascent and time to allow as well as an outline map, gradient profile and illustrative photographs. Lee is keen to encourage the use of public transport and all the walks are reachable by bus or train if required. He has also listed parking suggestions for those arriving by car.

There are also, in italics, snippets of local information or historical facts which help bring each walk to life or suggested alternatives to add to or omit parts of each route.

Of particular interest to towpath walkers is the East Morton-Micklethwaite-Bingley Five Rise Locks Circular – a walk of 3.4 miles which Lee describes as ‘an unadulterated joy’.

Although walkers are faced with a 25-minute uphill section ascending more than 600ft in all, the famous locks make a fitting focal point followed by a relaxing stroll along the towpath of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

Another walk which includes a stretch of towpath is the SaltaireHirst Wood-Gilstead Circular – a 3.4 mile walk with a total ascent of 372ft.

This begins in the World Heritage Site at Saltaire and includes a nature reserve and the Grade II listed aqueduct at Dowley Gap.

The final walk could be included during a city break or a day trip.

The Leeds StationWaterfront-Royal Armouries Circular is just 1.72 miles and can be completed in less than one hour. It showcases the regenerated waterfront with its mix of old and new buildings and attractions.

Walking wi’ one foot in the Aire is self-published by author Lee Senior (paperback, 94 pages, £8.99). It can be purchased direct via Facebook at www.facebook. com/walkingintheaire or by emailing: walkingintheaire@gmail.com

ISBN: 978-0-9956572-3-6