#birchcliffe

The after-effects of bad colds lingered into early May.  However, we were inspired to make an effort Tuesday, by Ray Mears extoling the health benefits of woodlands on breakfast telly.  As grey skies brightened in time for a late afternoon walk, we set off for Nutclough, detouring on Valley Road to watch falling cherry blossom before heading along Foster Lane to find hidden gammon enclaves,…

The Friday of the early June jubilee bank holiday weekend, we strolled leisurely up to Nutclough.  At the entrance, miniscule pink flowers garlanded moss-covered walls.  A passing acquaintance remarked on the fresh-looking feel of the greenery.  Low water levels made access to the swamp, islands and waterfall a doddle.  A thin trickle seeped into the glade.  Jubilant yellow Welsh poppies and…

On officially the hottest March day since 1968, we decided it was about time we re-visited Midgley Moor.  We set off for the square, got pasties from the bakers and rounded the corner to wait for a bus up to Lane Ends.  Alighting at the Hare and Hounds, we retraced the route we took in 2016, up Popples Lane towards Dick Lane, and turned left until we reached the track opposite a farmhouse up to…

Confined Walks 6 – Common Bank to Old Town

On a hot Tuesday amidst the early August heatwave, we considered ideas for a shady walk.  The picturesque Buttress route led us down and round to the top of town and up the unnamed old cobbles towards Birchcliffe.  School Street, leading to Osborne Street, rose steeply beneath the blistering sun.  On entering Common Bank, we immediately felt cool in the dark wood.  Unlike other nearby woodlands,…

Confined Walks 3 – Riverside

By Easter, I became quite anxious as idiots (including neighbours who appeared to have friends round and flit from one house to another) seemed heedless of ‘social distancing’.  But a fine Easter Sunday convinced me I should get out of the house.  We ventured down the Cuckoo Steps onto the all but deserted main road.  As we waited for cyclists at the corner taking photos of the eeriness, we…

Early Spring in Common Bank and Nutclough

The mild weather continued into late February.  On the last Sunday, we took one of our familiar circular walks, starting out along Oldgate, over the packhorse bridge, up Bridge Gate and across Commercial Street onto the historic cobbled route towards Birchcliffe.  At the top of the steps, we proceeded upwards on School Street to the start of Common Bank Wood.

We could hear a dog barking from…

A late May Sunday, we forced ourselves out of the house despite feeling tired and lazy and initially walked to the Sunday market.  Phil nipped in the newsagents while I looked at a few new stalls along the roadside.

He came over and was taken by the posh pie stall with a massive queue of punters being fleeced (which later prompted us to consider ideas for selling stuff to idiots).  I said he…