Leeds to Garforth 21/02/15

8.9 miles, via Richmond Hill, Halton Moor & Temple Newsam.

The original route to the coast resumes, and a fresh trail is burned across Leeds, as per my annual plan, and a bright morning comes on with a 9.10am start, leaving the station via the City Square entrance, to make for the Bond Street - Commercial Street - Kirkgate axis across the town centre, which might be my favourite street in the city, as the history runs thick along it, whilst the throng of shoppers gradually diminishes as you pass on beneath the railway in the direction of the Leeds Minister. Onwards across the Parish Graveyard, and over the Inner Loop Roads, away from the new developments that have grown at this end of town, and on to Marsh Lane, to find the site of Leeds' first railway station of 1834, naturally located near Railway Street, which leads us on to the industrial units and terraces of Richmond Hill, with East Park Road following the deep cutting of the railways heading east. Not venturing into East End Park itself, at the old edge of the city, instead slipping onto Halton Moor road, possibly the last forgotten ancient lane in the city, and now a cycleway leads out of the city in a completed unexpected green space, rising above Neville Hill railway yard and the industrial estates of Cross Green, and grazing the bottom edge of the Halton council estate.

Across Wyke Beck, which appears a lot in the eastern parts of Leeds, and join the rising path that leads into the Temple Newsam estate, offering another good view or two of the city as it passes alongside Halton Moor wood, before crossing the golf course and joining the access road and leading into Pump Wood. Taking a path between the stables and the farm, we drop to the descending path in front of Temple Newsam house, down to the bottom of the lawn, and through Charcoal wood to meet the rising track up to the Avenue, offering the best possible scenic vista of the estate along its entire length. Beyond, its on over Bullethorpe Lane, following the bridleway over the M1 and through the farmsteads of Hollinthorpe before hitting the footpath around one of Swillington's clay pits, and a field boundary walk to offer broad views of our destination, Garforth. Meet the A642, and descend taking the confusing footpaths that lead arounf the local Holiday Inn, before meeting the A63, and pacing its side from the Gaping Goose to the old Toll House. Thence it's through the town via Lidgett Lane and Main Street, past the Garforth Academy and the central shopping strip, to meet the A642 again, and to roll up at the intact, unspoiled (and manned!) old NER railway station, for a 12.35pm finish.


5,000 Miles Cumulative Total: 1422.6 miles

2015 Cumulative Total: 20.4 miles
Up Country Total: 1327 miles
Solo Total: 1195.6 miles

Commercial Street, Leeds. On the ancient East-West axis, one of the
original Medieval streets of Leeds, which still has a smidgen of  a Georgian
feel to it, the Leeds Library is also of important historical note.

Marsh Lane Goods Yard, Leeds. Site of the first Railway station in Leeds,
the Leeds & Selby's terminus endured from 1834 to 1863, before the
line to the current station was built. It has been derelict since the 1970s.

Richmond Hill Cutting. Originally bored as a tunnel in 1834,
it was opened out in 1893 when the line was quadrupled, and
now forms a chasm that is as dramatic from below as it is above.

Halton Moor Road. Every city has ancient tracks which the modern world
never quite absorbed, and since Pontefract Road became the A63, this might
be the last on in the city of Leeds, only NCN 66 has put a claim on it so far.

Near Temple Newsam. This field made quite the most baffling optical illusion
as the low sun reflected off the fine grass, creating a watery, shimmering effect
that made it lack texture, making it almost impossible to focus your eyes upon it.

Temple Newsam House from the Avenue. The best view in the park, and a triumph
of the 18th century picturesque, courtesy of Capability Brown, as dramatic an approach
as you could wish for, though this never formed the main approach to the house.

Garforth from Leeds Lane. Nowadays a suburban enclave to the east of Leeds,
 it shows very little of the mining heritage that put it where it is, having done most of its growth
after the 1970s. It was on my places to potentially live list in 2007 before I chose Morley.

Selby Road Toll House. Touring around the country, this is another thing
you will start to spot, roadside buildings that once functioned as toll
houses on the 18th century turnpikes, this one on the Leeds to Selby Road.

Garforth Railway station. With so many stations around West Yorkshire
being little more than platform and shelters, it is an absolute delight to discover one that
still has all its original buildings and features intact, and serving their original functions.

Next Up: The alternate Coastal route resumes.