I had visited this moor on the outskirts of Bradford a few times but never in summer when the heather was in bloom. I do think I caught the back end of it with this visit, maybe I should have gone there a few weeks earlier. Even so, it was still spectacular. The sun played ball and me; eventually making an appearance which really made the colours pop.
The varid history of Harden Moor goes back to the Bronze Age and this is evidenced by the cairns on the moor which can date from anywhere between 2000-700BC and are examples of Bronze Age burial mounds. The moor originally started at Bingley and spread as far as Cullingworth and included St Ives Estate. The Brigantes, who occupied the territory before the Roman invasion, used a gritstone outcrop that overlooks Bingley as an altar in what is believed to be a form of Druidism. Cup and also ringlet marks have been found carved in Altar Rock (also popularly known as Druid's Altar). Also, due to finds of coins and other artifacts, it is believed that the Jacobite army of 1745 passed over Harden Moor in November of that year en route to Preston. As with other neighbouring moorlands, Harden Moor was used for military training during the Second World War. Empty shell casings and tail fins from mortar rounds have been found scattered across these moors.
Quarrying has been prominent on the western edge of what is now Harden Moor for over 300 years, with many of the quarrymen residing in the nearby hamlet of Ryecroft. The sandstone from these quarries (Yeadonian, which is rough rock and rough rock flags) was used to construct the iconic buildings in Saltaire and other local towns and villages. That is the area where all the photos were taken and you can see the remains of the quarries in them.
Many tracks and bridleways cross the moors which makes it very popular with walkers and horse riders. A few years ago I did hear a cuckoo on the moors.
