Pudsey (West Leeds) to Thornbury (West Leeds/East Bradford) (4 miles) - 9th June 2018

Take One (Pudsey to Bankhouse) (3 miles) - 28th March 2018

Had a wet, cold and miserable time attempting the next leg on the Leeds Country Way,  Got lost and disorientated and endured the never ending mud and puddles.  I eventually turned on the wrong path and ascended up to Bankhouse.  Walked on the streets to try and rejoin the trail but gave up and headed to Chapeltown Road for my bus home.

A wet, cold and miserable day on the Leeds Country Way!

Take Two (Pudsey to Thornbury) (4 miles) - 9th June 2018

 What a contrast than to my last attempt!

This walk was a pleasanter experience than my last attempt.  To begin with the sun was shining and it was dry though very warm.  I was a bit disorientated in Pudsey so I waited at the station for the 205 Dewsbury bound bus for Roker Lake Bottom.  There I rejoined the Leeds Country Way...rewalked the stretch until I reached Bankhouse Bottom and I turned on the RIGHT path towards Black Carr Wood, ascended up Westroyd Hill, and reached the Fox and Grapes Pub.  I decided to not stop for a drink and continued on my way.

Descended down the hill and ascended up the fields until I reached a railway crossing.  Had to wait as a train was passing but crossed once the light turned green.  From there walked up Daleside Road towards Bradford/Leeds (A647) Road.  I finished my walk and caught the No. 72 bus back to Leeds.

 

Not long to go...just another 10.5 miles or so to go!

An empty phone box, Thornbury

Gildersome (South Leeds) to Pudsey (West Leeds) (3 miles) - 24th March 2018

Rejoining The Leeds Country Way

A couple of weeks later I returned to the Leeds Country Way.  It took me a while to get my orientation in Gildersome when the bus dropped me off in the village.  I eventually found the road where I needed to walk and rejoined the fields where I got lost last time. 

I religiously followed the Leeds County Way map and its instructions including "reaching the bottom of the field", "bearing left", "crossing a stream" and "turning right at the first group of bushes".  Still it was a challenge as there were no signposts so I headed diagonally towards the direction of Gildersome.  I eventually found a LCW marker and rejoined its path towards Cockersdale.

 

I stopped for a drink at the Valley Inn in Cockersdale and afterwards I descended down the hill towards Nan Whins Wood and walked through them until reaching Tong Lane, outskirts of Pudsey.

Waterfalls Enroute

Buses are hourly from there to either Pudsey or Dewsbury so I had to wait a bit until I got on the Pudsey bound 205 Arriva bus and at Pudsey bus station I got my bus home.