Walking and Rambling discussion

Hamma52 · 19 Jun 2025

One of my favourite past times is hiking, so I'm glad I've found this thread!

I'm lucky enough to live in beautiful North Wales, with the heart of Eryri being a mere 20 minute bus ride.

My favourites? There's too many to pick! My favourite area would have to be the Carneddau range. I love the walk up to Carnedd Llewelyn from Idwal Cottage. The route up Pen yr Ole Wen is a lung buster, but the reward is about an hour and a half of easy walking above 3000 feet. It's a magical place that section from Pen yr Ole Wen - Carnedd Dafydd - Carnedd Llewelyn.

I'm also a big fan (pun intended) of Tal y Fan near Conwy, Elidir Fawr above Llanberis, and the ring of mountains surrounding Llyn Anafon, near Abergwyngregyn (Foel Dduarth, Drum, Foel Fras, Llwytmor).

I've lived in North Wales for 4 years now and I feel I've only just scratched the surface of this truly magical landscape. I've also recorded every peak I've bagged. More than happy to share routes if people would like!

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Acey · 20 Jun 2025

Hamma52 said:
One of my favourite past times is hiking, so I'm glad I've found this thread!

I'm lucky enough to live in beautiful North Wales, with the heart of Eryri being a mere 20 minute bus ride.

My favourites? There's too many to pick! My favourite area would have to be the Carneddau range. I love the walk up to Carnedd Llewelyn from Idwal Cottage. The route up Pen yr Ole Wen is a lung buster, but the reward is about an hour and a half of easy walking above 3000 feet. It's a magical place that section from Pen yr Ole Wen - Carnedd Dafydd - Carnedd Llewelyn.

I'm also a big fan (pun intended) of Tal y Fan near Conwy, Elidir Fawr above Llanberis, and the ring of mountains surrounding Llyn Anafon, near Abergwyngregyn (Foel Dduarth, Drum, Foel Fras, Llwytmor).

I've lived in North Wales for 4 years now and I feel I've only just scratched the surface of this truly magical landscape. I've also recorded every peak I've bagged. More than happy to share routes if people would like!

Lucky you to live in such an ideal place,spent more hours than I care to remember wandering over the hills ,(Snowdon 26 times,Tryfan 4 or 5 and most of the others as far south as Cader Idris,too old now so only memories and pics are left I'm afraid !

Hamma52 · 20 Jun 2025

Oh wow what a stunning photo!

Crib Goch is always mega, but when you've got a cloud inversion as good as that?! Looks stunning!

Iskra · 20 Jun 2025

Does anyone have any recommendations for walking routes that are easily accessible to Leeds or Wakefield, where you can just get your head down and do a speedy 5/6 miles without too many obstacles to cross please and easy navigation? I'm thinking similar to the Old Woodhead Route track bed walks in South Yorkshire or the Monsal Trail. Canal routes are fine too.

Acey · 20 Jun 2025

Hamma52 said:
Oh wow what a stunning photo!

Crib Goch is always mega, but when you've got a cloud inversion as good as that?! Looks stunning!

Absolutely mega day,started about 06 30 and didn't get back to Pen-y -Pass until about 18 30,the inversion lasted all day ,even had a couple of Valley Hawks pay a visit,you don't forget days like that !

Bradford PA · 20 Jun 2025

Iskra said:
Does anyone have any recommendations for walking routes that are easily accessible to Leeds or Wakefield, where you can just get your head down and do a speedy 5/6 miles without too many obstacles to cross please and easy navigation? I'm thinking similar to the Old Woodhead Route track bed walks in South Yorkshire or the Monsal Trail. Canal routes are fine too.

The Leeds-Liverpool canal starts at Leeds with many rail stations fairly adjacent to the route towards Skipton (Kirkstall Forge, Apperley Bridge, Shipley, Saltaire, Bingley, Crossflatts, Steeton & Silsden and Skipton). There are scenic climbs eg: the Five Rise Locks between Bingley and Crossflatts stations or loops that can be done using the River Aire one way and the canal the other eg: from Apperley Bridge or Steeton & Silsden stations. Convenient shops and pubs en route.
Walks along former railway lines include the Spen Valley between Thornhill near Wakefield and Low Moor (station) and the Greet Northern Trail over the viaducts (train to Bradford and bus to Thornton or train to Keighley, bus to Cullingworth for these). The Worth Valley Railway has paths either side for most of its 5-mile length so trains and the river can be seen together with, of course, a steam train option for one direction or a regular bus service to Keighley.
For a spectacular but straightforward moorland hike, set off from the Bronte Parsonage at Haworth and visit the Bronte waterfall and Top Withins ruins. Remote, but close to civilisation. Signposted through a country park.
All of the above would fit into your mileage bracket.

Hamma52 · 20 Jun 2025

Acey said:
Absolutely mega day,started about 06 30 and didn't get back to Pen-y -Pass until about 18 30,the inversion lasted all day ,even had a couple of Valley Hawks pay a visit,you don't forget days like that !

Fantastic photos! Hoping for a day like that myself one day!
Last time I did the Crib (last summer), it looked a little like this:

Beautiful in its own right, but the majesty of a cloud inversion is unforgettable.

Iskra · 20 Jun 2025

Acey said:
Absolutely mega day,started about 06 30 and didn't get back to Pen-y -Pass until about 18 30,the inversion lasted all day ,even had a couple of Valley Hawks pay a visit,you don't forget days like that !

Stunning stuff!

Bradford PA said:
The Leeds-Liverpool canal starts at Leeds with many rail stations fairly adjacent to the route towards Skipton (Kirkstall Forge, Apperley Bridge, Shipley, Saltaire, Bingley, Crossflatts, Steeton & Silsden and Skipton). There are scenic climbs eg: the Five Rise Locks between Bingley and Crossflatts stations or loops that can be done using the River Aire one way and the canal the other eg: from Apperley Bridge or Steeton & Silsden stations. Convenient shops and pubs en route.
Walks along former railway lines include the Spen Valley between Thornhill near Wakefield and Low Moor (station) and the Greet Northern Trail over the viaducts (train to Bradford and bus to Thornton or train to Keighley, bus to Cullingworth for these). The Worth Valley Railway has paths either side for most of its 5-mile length so trains and the river can be seen together with, of course, a steam train option for one direction or a regular bus service to Keighley.
For a spectacular but straightforward moorland hike, set off from the Bronte Parsonage at Haworth and visit the Bronte waterfall and Top Withins ruins. Remote, but close to civilisation. Signposted through a country park.
All of the above would fit into your mileage bracket.

Thank you!

Acey · 20 Jun 2025

Hamma52 said:
Fantastic photos! Hoping for a day like that myself one day!
Last time I did the Crib (last summer), it looked a little like this:

View attachment 182303
View attachment 182304

Beautiful in its own right, but the majesty of a cloud inversion is unforgettable.

Stunning pics ,once you get over the initial " blimey " it really is a spectacular walk ( I prefer it to the Aonach Eagach myself )

Kite159 · 20 Jun 2025

Iskra said:
Does anyone have any recommendations for walking routes that are easily accessible to Leeds or Wakefield, where you can just get your head down and do a speedy 5/6 miles without too many obstacles to cross please and easy navigation? I'm thinking similar to the Old Woodhead Route track bed walks in South Yorkshire or the Monsal Trail. Canal routes are fine too.

Similar to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, you have the Calder Navigation & Rochdale Canal, from Brighouse* towards Hebden Bridge & beyond which is a decent towpath surface in the majority of places. East of Brighouse the towpath is a bit more hit & miss in terms of ease to follow. Potentially even you have the option of heading from Leeds towards Castleford or even Wakefield to Castleford although I'm not sure what the towpath will be like for speed walking.

(And I presume you have done the Blackburn Valley line?)

D6130 · 20 Jun 2025

Kite159 said:
Similar to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, you have the Calder Navigation & Rochdale Canal, from Brighouse* towards Hebden Bridge & beyond which is a decent towpath surface in the majority of places. East of Brighouse the towpath is a bit more hit & miss in terms of ease to follow. Potentially even you have the option of heading from Leeds towards Castleford or even Wakefield to Castleford although I'm not sure what the towpath will be like for speed walking.

(And I presume you have done the Blackburn Valley line?)

What's the Blackburn Valley line?

Iskra · 20 Jun 2025

Kite159 said:
Similar to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, you have the Calder Navigation & Rochdale Canal, from Brighouse* towards Hebden Bridge & beyond which is a decent towpath surface in the majority of places. East of Brighouse the towpath is a bit more hit & miss in terms of ease to follow. Potentially even you have the option of heading from Leeds towards Castleford or even Wakefield to Castleford although I'm not sure what the towpath will be like for speed walking.

(And I presume you have done the Blackburn Valley line?)

Thank you for the suggestions. I'll probably try the Wakefield area ones first.

Yeah I've done that one as it's very local

D6130 said:
What's the Blackburn Valley line?

It's a disused competing railway from Chapeltown Central/Chapeltown & Thorncliffe (South Yorkshire) to Meadowhall, that runs parallel to some of the current Hallam Line, that is a good cycle way and footpath. It passes through the 'Blackburn Valley' and 'Blackburn Meadows' although these terms are not widely known outside of Sheffield. It was opened by the South Yorkshire Railway, became Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln Railway and then the Great Central. It closed to all traffic in 1954. If you search online for 'Blackburn Valley Trail,' you get relevant results.

eastwestdivide · 20 Jun 2025

Iskra said:
Does anyone have any recommendations for walking routes that are easily accessible to Leeds or Wakefield

Slightly further afield, but along the Keadby Canal, Thorne South-Crowle-Althorpe, parallel to the railway too. Sliding rail bridge at Keadby and impressive bridge (used to lift) over the Trent at Althorpe. Only snag is the stopping trains are only every 2 hours.

D6130 · 20 Jun 2025

Iskra said:
Thank you for the suggestions. I'll probably try the Wakefield area ones first.

Yeah I've done that one as it's very local

It's a disused competing railway from Chapeltown Central/Chapeltown & Thorncliffe (South Yorkshire) to Meadowhall, that runs parallel to some of the current Hallam Line, that is a good cycle way and footpath. It passes through the 'Blackburn Valley' and 'Blackburn Meadows' although these terms are not widely known outside of Sheffield. It was opened by the South Yorkshire Railway, became Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln Railway and then the Great Central. It closed to all traffic in 1954. If you search online for 'Blackburn Valley Trail,' you get relevant results.

Many thanks. Every day is a school day!

Kite159 · 20 Jun 2025

eastwestdivide said:
Slightly further afield, but along the Keadby Canal, Thorne South-Crowle-Althorpe, parallel to the railway too. Sliding rail bridge at Keadby and impressive bridge (used to lift) over the Trent at Althorpe. Only snag is the stopping trains are only every 2 hours.

I need to research into that canal, but I presume someone can walk from Althorpe all the way towards Thorne and onwards to Kirk Sandall (it seems there is no path for the section from Kirk Sandall towards Doncaster, although there is something on the north bank in Doncaster (going underneath the ECML) but looking at Open Street Maps it suggests it's a dead-end

THC · 20 Jun 2025

Kite159 said:
I need to research into that canal, but I presume someone can walk from Althorpe all the way towards Thorne and onwards to Kirk Sandall (it seems there is no path for the section from Kirk Sandall towards Doncaster, although there is something on the north bank in Doncaster (going underneath the ECML) but looking at Open Street Maps it suggests it's a dead-end

A few of the canals and navigations in that part of the world lack towpaths or even nearby footpaths to walk beside them. Some years back I wanted to walk from Sheffield along the navigation to Doncaster but only ever made it as far as Rotherham Central before cutting my losses. Still, it was a very interesting walk all the same.

THC

Kite159 · 20 Jun 2025

THC said:
A few of the canals and navigations in that part of the world lack towpaths or even nearby footpaths to walk beside them. Some years back I wanted to walk from Sheffield along the cut to Doncaster but only ever made it as far as Rotherham Central before cutting my losses. Still, it was a very interesting walk all the same.

THC

The Don Navigation does have some gaps in being able to walk alongside, pretty sure when I was looking at the map the path in Rotherham ends with the A6123 bridge (with a bit missing near Central), then a short section in Swinton/Kilnhurst with a gap before a footpath alongside at Mexborough towards the River Dearne then nothing until the Conisbrough Viaduct for a section into Doncaster, ending near the prison (shared with the Trans-Pennie Path).

I was in that part of the world last Sunday after strolling from Chapeltown, meeting up with a section I walked a few years ago (Sheffield to Meadowhall) when there was a bus route which went via the Snake Pass

eastwestdivide · 20 Jun 2025

Kite159 said:
I need to research into that canal, but I presume someone can walk from Althorpe all the way towards Thorne and onwards to Kirk Sandall

Pretty much. It gets a bit awkward round Kirk Bramwith, but from the Trent to Thorne is fine.

THC · 20 Jun 2025

Kite159 said:
The Don Navigation does have some gaps in being able to walk alongside, pretty sure when I was looking at the map the path in Rotherham ends with the A6123 bridge (with a bit missing near Central), then a short section in Swinton/Kilnhurst with a gap before a footpath alongside at Mexborough towards the River Dearne then nothing until the Conisbrough Viaduct for a section into Doncaster, ending near the prison (shared with the Trans-Pennie Path).

I was in that part of the world last Sunday after strolling from Chapeltown, meeting up with a section I walked a few years ago (Sheffield to Meadowhall) when there was a bus route which went via the Snake Pass

I didn't bother with the Don Navigation but went up the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal instead. That was my mistake, clearly.

THC

Kite159 · 20 Jun 2025

THC said:
I didn't bother with the Don Navigation but went up the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal instead. That was my mistake, clearly.

THC

It's one of those waterways with many names

Ken X · 20 Jun 2025

We use the OpenCanalMap App as we do a lot of boating but it also shows footpaths really well. So much so it gets used by us all over the country to find paths.

Occasionally it doesn't differentiate between private and public paths but this is rare.

Well worth a look.

johnnychips · 22 Jun 2025

Kite159 said:
The Don Navigation does have some gaps in being able to walk alongside, pretty sure when I was looking at the map the path in Rotherham ends with the A6123 bridge (with a bit missing near Central), then a short section in Swinton/Kilnhurst with a gap before a footpath alongside at Mexborough towards the River Dearne then nothing until the Conisbrough Viaduct for a section into Doncaster, ending near the prison (shared with the Trans-Pennie Path).

The Don Valley Way from Hillsborough to Doncaster has to leave the valley because of Aldwarke steelworks. From Dalton, it sends you through Thrybergh, which is not exactly Chipping Camden, through Thrybergh Country Park (which is nice) then a nasty section along roads till you regain the River Don again just outside Kilnhurst. There isn’t really any alternative.

Having done the Aire, I started on the Wharfe last Saturday. Its confluence with the Ouse is at Cawood just north of Selby, so I took the Coastliner to York then the Arriva 62 to Cawood. As with the Aire, trees obscured my view of the confluence, and it is fair to say that there are not many walkers round here as the paths I took to avoid walking on the roads - there isn’t a path next to the river - were non-existent, blocked and overgrown. It was more pleasant from Ulleskelf to Tadcaster, where I had a nice pint of Sam Smiths at the friendly locals’ pub The Falcon in sight of the brewery.

The walk from there to Wetherby was much more pleasant, though again it wandered away from the river at times, and I enjoyed a pint in the beer garden of the somewhat chavvy Swan and Talbot before returning to Leeds on the X99.

Yesterday was a bit grotty. Because of the forecast, I planned a short day, so got the X98 to Wetherby and set off from there at 1130. It was really nice along the river to Linton, and pleasant away from the river to East Keswick. After that, the path was really dreadful. It was certainly there, but neck-high in weeds in several places. It took me till 1630 to get to Harewood Bridge. I gratefully leapt on the frequent 36 Harrogate-Leeds bus, got off at the Wetherspoons in Chapel Allerton - very nice too - drank cider and emptied grass seeds from my boots.

Picture shows a 185 on the viaduct al Ulleskelf.

_toommm_ · 23 Jun 2025

A lovely circular hike on 12th June from Glenridding, via Striding Edge, up to Helvellyn. A gorgeous day for it, and luckily the rain kept away until I was safely back in Windermere:

THC · Saturday at 18:20

Sudbury to Bury St Edmunds, 20.5 miles. An early start before the heat took the day to walk between two of west Suffolk's prettiest towns with a third, Long Melford, thrown in within the first five miles. A real mixed bag, with old railway lines, field paths and lots of back lanes, I managed to avoid just about every other settlement before crossing into Nowton Park for the final couple of miles into Bury. Just in time for the sun to finally emerge.

THC

Kite159 · Saturday at 21:10

THC said:
Sudbury to Bury St Edmunds, 20.5 miles. An early start before the heat took the day to walk between two of west Suffolk's prettiest towns with a third, Long Melford, thrown in within the first five miles. A real mixed bag, with old railway lines, field paths and lots of back lanes, I managed to avoid just about every other settlement before crossing into Nowton Park for the final couple of miles into Bury. Just in time for the sun to finally emerge.

THC

Something which I was toying with last weekend had it been not so hot, doing the old railway path towards Long Melford and following footpaths which suggest it follows the old railway into the Lavenham area

THC · Saturday at 21:27

Kite159 said:
Something which I was toying with last weekend had it been not so hot, doing the old railway path towards Long Melford and following footpaths which suggest it follows the old railway into the Lavenham area

It does, by and large, and this is a good time of year to do it as it gets very boggy with any rainfall.

THC

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