Loadpit Beck Wood, Bingley

This little walk is more or less on my doorstep and I never even knew it existed. Sometimes it is all too easy for me to jump in to my car and head for the Dales or the Lakes and, by doing this, I miss some right local walking gems. A few months ago I went up in to The Folly in Cottingley Woods which, up until then, was another local beauty spot I had never visited and I thought it was a magical place. I have Sal to thank for both of these finds; not having a car and not being a good public transport traveller can certainly have its advantages. She really is an expert on on her local Bingley area, both in walking, exploring and historical terms.

There is really not much of a description I can give to this walk as it was just a straightforward stroll along the top of a wooded ravine with Loadpit Beck running along its base. The Beck starts life in the River Aire in Shipley and meanders its way through Shipley Glen before finally finishing its little adventurous journey in Compensation Reservoir which is just out of Eldwick.

It was a sunny walk with all the vegetation being green and lush. Also it was a walk filled with birds who merrily sang away and accompanied us along the entire length of our journey. Just before we returned back in to human habitation, the beck and path met at a delightful bridge where numerous footpaths converged. You could have headed off on The Dales Way Link which would have taken you to Ilkey and beyond or followed one of the many paths on to Baildon Moor. We returned to the tarmac though, namely because it was the way up to The Anchor Inn in Eldwick!

After wetting our whistles in the beer garden we set off back to Gilstead which had been our original starting point. I was told there were a few different paths which we could have taken on our return journey but, as we had enjoyed our walk through the woods so much, we just reversed our steps.

Sal had come up trumps again with this walk, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I also thoroughly enjoyed her company. We said we could come back in autumn when the colours in the woods would be spectacular. All we have to hope for now is a sunny autumn day when neither of us has any commitments. The commitments part should be easy but the sunny day could prove to be a bit tricky!!