A Junior Pensioner Nidderdale Way Walk by Diane Lawton
J
ust a reminder of some of the pleasant days we’ve had, whilst we are experiencing this awful cold, wet and wintry weather. One of our favourite pastimes is walking and occasionally we do this with comrades from our pensioners’ group. On this particular occasion, it turned out to be yet another beautiful sunny day with clear blue skies for Jeff to lead the walk, this time starting from Pateley Bridge. We started with a steady climb uphill, with a spectacular panorama over the village behind us as we progressed, and then the views of Nidderdale began to open up. We were surprised to find a llama grazing in a field as we passed. As we walked along the traffic free lane of Ladies’ Rigg, one of our group who had an interest in biology, gave us a running commentary on the colourful wild flowers in the hedgerows alongside our path. Then we had a lovely downhill stretch into a valley, passing a farmstead with a multitude of various categories of geese, free range hens and sheep (Old MacDonald’s Farm sprang to mind). When we reached Low Hole Bottom, Jeff informed us that the private house we came
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Life & Leisure
across was once Pateley Bridge YHA and centuries earlier it had been cottages for the lead miners. We continued along broad tracks to eventually drop down to the old Merryfield mine workings, where there are still pieces of metal wreckage in places. We descended the steep hillside amongst the spoil heaps, to the remains of the Prosperous lead smelting mill next to the stream, which ceased operating in 1872. This was our spot for lunch, where we sat surrounded by the ruined walls, to tuck in. After that we crossed the bridge and followed the path through the woods up to a broad vehicle track. The return leg was a welcome downhill stride, where pheasants could be seen darting across the path to hide in the bracken and ferns, and rabbits were cleverly hiding in places
in the fields, unnoticed until they moved about. The track led through a number of caravan sites, some with colourful displays of potted plants in the doorways, all basking in the sunlight. We diverted from our path to see the 35ft diameter waterwheel which remains as evidence of the former hemp mill, which is now converted into apartments. Further on, we decided to leave our track again to take a tea break alongside the river. This was a good choice as we were rewarded by seeing a kingfisher flash by us as it flew the full length of the river downstream. The remainder of our walk was a pleasant riverside path back to Pateley Bridge. Most of us decided to treat ourselves by calling into a café in the main street, to enjoy home made scones and pots of tea. Happy days!