Five Rise Locks and beyond.

I have to hold my hands up and admit that I had never been to Five Rise Locks until today. Sal couldn't believe that I'd never been there as I only live three or four miles from the place and it probably is the major tourist attraction around these parts. When I do walk the canal, I always go the opposite way to Saltaire.

The weather was perfect. It was a crisp and clear sunny morning, just ideal for a stroll with our cameras. The first thing of note was the Damart factory with it's imposing chimney which can be seen from miles around. This is quickly followed by the Three Rise Locks where the canal rises 30ft. Not only had I never been to these, I had never even heard of them either!

Then it was a short walk on to the main event.

The Five Rise Locks open directly from one to another, with the top gate of one forming the bottom gate of the next. This unique 5-rise staircase has a total rise of 60 feet. You get a great view back down the Aire Valley to Bingley from the top of the locks.

There is also the added bonus of The Five Rise Locks Café at this point where they make a great cappuccino. I think the owner thought us slightly mad when we took our drinks outside but the café is on the sunny side of the canal and it would have been a shame not to take advantage of it's situation.

Suitable refreshed we carried our walk on towards Riddlesdon where we cut down to to the main road and headed to The Airedale Heifer for further refreshments of an alcoholic nature. They have their own brewery, the Bridgehouse Brewery and I had a great pint of their Blonde beer.

On the way back, Sal spotted three deer in a field down by the trunk road; we presume that they had wandered down from St Ives but god knows how they crossed the busy dual carriageway. We then returned back to the canal and spotted a couple of Kingfishers just after the Damart factory.

An exciting and eventful end to a lovely walk with great company.