A Local Walk

We're experiencing warm, sunny weather at the moment so I took advantage of it and took a walk on Saturday afternoon while Mr P was resting after a morning of gardening.  I've come to appreciate the trails that I can walk not far from home even if most of them are at the top end of our hilly village. Further out from this village in the north-west of the city we have open countryside and the many reservoirs managed by Yorkshire Water called "The Lakeland Loop".

The area is crisscrossed by old routes once used by packhorses and other horse-drawn carriers.  These trails were important to the local economy and are now used as a leisure resource.  Heritage Highways have created a number of walks, horse rides and bike routes to help local people explore the rich history of the area.  The British Horse Society has sponsored the research needed to train up volunteers so that the trails and bridleways are well maintained and sign posted.

Below are some of the photos I took on Saturday's walk not far from home.  The trees are back to life in full leaf now and there are many wild flowers to be enjoyed along the way (even in the new park at the top of our road where the grass has been left long and many species of wild flowers were planted last year along the edge of the playground).

 English bluebells are still blooming in shady places. 

It was a joy to hear the birds singing and capture this little sparrow pecking the ground for insects among the fallen new leaves.

Back near home I was pleased to see the wisteria flowers that droop down so prettily.   Back in our own garden the neighbour's hawthorn tree that gives shelter to garden birds in the Spring and Summer months and berries to feed on in the Autumn and Winter was looking beautiful against the clear blue sky.

Thank you for coming by.  I hope you have a pleasant week whatever you're doing. 

Our week at the beginning of December

After our time of being snowed in it was a relief to get back to my walking routine and another library visit.  On this particular day there was drizzly rain so not the best time to walk around the park. 

My reading will be non fiction as I reserved and collected Edmund de Waal's The Hare With Amber Eyes - I gave my copy to our DiL and now want to re-read the book again.  The other book is Hilary Mantel's memoir Giving Up The Ghost after watching a television documentary about what she remembers of her early childhood.  

We had our covid booster vaccination on Wednesday after getting our official National Health Service letter to say that we could attend a session.  After researching online I found the address of our nearest centre, not too far away, where we could drop-in without an appointment.  It was in a huge building that had once been part of one of our city hospitals.  The experience was good as there were lots of volunteers and medical staff on hand.  Fresh masks were given out to each person and there were many booths with screens where staff were checking details in the system for the vaccinations we've had so far.  We were soon home and resting.

 

Yesterday I walked up the hill to the Post Office to get a letter and card posted off abroad.  Although it was a gloomy sort of day it gave me the opportunity to take a walk around the old part of the village, up to the woods, passed the fields were horses graze and locals ride their horses.  Other walkers were out and about and I caught a glimpse of a rider exercising her horse along the bridle path in the woods.

Plenty of berries for the birds

Evidence of the old cobbles in the local lane.

One of the pubs near the Post Office and shops.

There was a lot of activity in the grounds of the former school and sports centre as diggers were at work.   A notice informs us that there will be a park on the site by the end of  February next year.

Back to the corner of our road.  The view shows how high up we live as we get the same kind of view of the hills across the valley from the back bedroom window of our house. 

Some more photos taken early this morning. 

The former lodge to the manor house (the manor house was demolished many years ago).

Another pub was recently refurbished and is now decorated for Christmas.  To the right the road winds down a steep hill to places such as the park and library and up hill passed the parish church it goes on to other villages such as Bradfield and Oughtibridge.

I hope you enjoyed the walk.  Thank you for your visit.  Have a good weekend.