Thank you to Paul Sidorczuk for the correction on Kirkstall Forges originally Closure Date, I have always had 1902 in my brain as the closure date and saw a 5 as a 2.
If as planned the two new stations are to have no direct service than a walk along the canal is perfectly feasible.
Appleby Bridge new station is quite isolated for foot access and defiantly seems laid out to form a transport hub with most passengers turning up by car or bus. West Yorkshire Metro website talks about an Appleby Bridge Station Bus Link, but gives no times or destinations. I presume that passing buses will be diverted via the station as well. This gives a public transport option between the two stations, as folk could take a 747 (hourly) or a 947 (intermittent) as well as whatever transpires as a bus link, up the hill to Yeadon or Rawdon,(Approx 1 mile away and 300 feet higher) where buses run down the A65 (every 10 minutes)to Leeds via Kirkstall. It has been stated that Buses along the corridor will divert via the Kirkstall Forge development. This would be a good option for anyone doing the jaunt on a Metro Card. Having said that if you were to get your times wrong, you could be deposited at a barren building site with a long wait. I don’t see any hurry to open Kirkstall as although there is a park and ride element most of the building work on what is an almost totally cleared Brown Field Site is not finished.
By foot from Appleby Bridge it is approximately a third of a mile down the A658 to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
Just downhill from where the new road built to serve the new station joins the A658 is the :
Stansfield Arms which is pleasantly oldie worldly and food orientated but has a drinking area with reasonable beer.
Having joined the canal trundle along the canal for 2.5 miles when you will see on your left just before the Leeds Ring Road the:
Railway, Pleasant if family orientated set up, reasonable beer, but a bit bland and underwhelming. Near the site of Calverley and Rodley Station.
A quarter of a mile further on having passed under the ring Road. a small swing bridge on the right leads to the:
Rodley Barge, Decent Beer, Cosy canal side etc
Across the road The Owl use to be excellent but I have not been in since the previous landlady was forced out by A Pubco raising the rent.
Rejoin the canal and proceed past the site of Thomas Smith and sons Crane works on the right, Another little swing bridge could take you to the:
Crown and Anchor Never been but is suppose to be OK.
However you might may wish to carry on for a further 1.5 miles till you hit Pollard Lane at Bramley Falls where the:
Abbey Inn, nice Pub, decent beer, overshadowed by Stone abutments for a bridge over the Airedale line at the site of Newlay and Horsforth station.
Is hidden away but signposted off the canal.
From the Abbey Inn it’s about half a mile further along the canal to Kirkstall Forge.
This presumes however that they will be access to the station from the Canal, a crossing of the River Aire being required to achieve this.
Walk is flat or downhill through pleasant countryside. As the crow flies its 3.5 Miles as the canal meanders it's around 5 or 6 miles.
If as planned the two new stations are to have no direct service than a walk along the canal is perfectly feasible.
Appleby Bridge new station is quite isolated for foot access and defiantly seems laid out to form a transport hub with most passengers turning up by car or bus. West Yorkshire Metro website talks about an Appleby Bridge Station Bus Link, but gives no times or destinations. I presume that passing buses will be diverted via the station as well. This gives a public transport option between the two stations, as folk could take a 747 (hourly) or a 947 (intermittent) as well as whatever transpires as a bus link, up the hill to Yeadon or Rawdon,(Approx 1 mile away and 300 feet higher) where buses run down the A65 (every 10 minutes)to Leeds via Kirkstall. It has been stated that Buses along the corridor will divert via the Kirkstall Forge development. This would be a good option for anyone doing the jaunt on a Metro Card. Having said that if you were to get your times wrong, you could be deposited at a barren building site with a long wait. I don’t see any hurry to open Kirkstall as although there is a park and ride element most of the building work on what is an almost totally cleared Brown Field Site is not finished.
By foot from Appleby Bridge it is approximately a third of a mile down the A658 to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
Just downhill from where the new road built to serve the new station joins the A658 is the :
Stansfield Arms which is pleasantly oldie worldly and food orientated but has a drinking area with reasonable beer.
Having joined the canal trundle along the canal for 2.5 miles when you will see on your left just before the Leeds Ring Road the:
Railway, Pleasant if family orientated set up, reasonable beer, but a bit bland and underwhelming. Near the site of Calverley and Rodley Station.
A quarter of a mile further on having passed under the ring Road. a small swing bridge on the right leads to the:
Rodley Barge, Decent Beer, Cosy canal side etc
Across the road The Owl use to be excellent but I have not been in since the previous landlady was forced out by A Pubco raising the rent.
Rejoin the canal and proceed past the site of Thomas Smith and sons Crane works on the right, Another little swing bridge could take you to the:
Crown and Anchor Never been but is suppose to be OK.
However you might may wish to carry on for a further 1.5 miles till you hit Pollard Lane at Bramley Falls where the:
Abbey Inn, nice Pub, decent beer, overshadowed by Stone abutments for a bridge over the Airedale line at the site of Newlay and Horsforth station.
Is hidden away but signposted off the canal.
From the Abbey Inn it’s about half a mile further along the canal to Kirkstall Forge.
This presumes however that they will be access to the station from the Canal, a crossing of the River Aire being required to achieve this.
Walk is flat or downhill through pleasant countryside. As the crow flies its 3.5 Miles as the canal meanders it's around 5 or 6 miles.
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