Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.: June 2020

Saltaire catch-up with Sal

It had seemed like an eternity since I had last been out with Sal. Our circumstances dictated that we had to stay apart and our only contact had been through the internet and the odd phone call. As some of the lockdown restrictions had eased, we decided to bite the bullit and see each other whilst still abiding by the social distancing guide line.

Sal rode her bike along The Leeds-Liverpool Canal towpath and we met in Saltaire. I bought us a couple of takeaway coffees and a pasty each and we went in to Roberts park to scoff them and have a natter. It was fabulous to see her again but felt so strange to be having to keep 2 metres apart. We caught up with all our news and gossip and then had a short walk through the park and on as far as the weir on the River Aire.

By then it was rather miserable and raining quite heavily so we reluctantly agreed to go our seperate ways and also agreed to meet up again and maybe have a walk in either Myrtle Park or even go up to St Ives which we both had missed.

A morning of mixed emotions with both happiness and sadness. One thing is for sure though, it was ace to see her again.

Robert's Park Cafe

Salts Cricket Club Pavilion

Wild flower meadow

River Aire Weir

The Tern Terror

Leeds Liverpool Canal

Saltaire

Salts Mill

Leeds Liverpool Canal

Refreshment Barge

Saltaire United Reformed Church

Saltaire Railway Station

Salts Village

Vack Alleyway Salts Village

Salts Village

Bins, Salts Village

Salts Village

Salts Mill

Arncliffe to Litton stroll

This was a beautiful short walk which I have known about for years but never been on. The day was absolutely gorgeous and if anything I was a bit overdressed. I hadn't walked more than a couple of hundred yards before my jacket came off and I was stuck with carrying it for the rest of the walk.

The walk basically followed an old bridleway out of Arncliffe before meeting up with the River Skirfare. Our dry spring had certainly taken it's toll resulting in very little water in the river. Infact in some places it was no more than a trickle. The stepping stones which are often under water weren't needed as that part of the river had dried up completely.

As I approached Litton I could see people sitting outside The Queens Arms which was strange as all the inns and hotels were still in lockdown. As it turned out, it was the owners and some friends who were just having a coffee in the afternoon sun. We started to have a little chat about the current situation and I asked the owner if I could sit down and have a break before heading back. He kindly went inside and brought out an ice cool pint of water which was well appreciated.

Feeling refreshed I returned back to Arncliffe by the same route. I suppose I could have walked down the road but where is the fun in that? On any normal day I would have called for a pint in Kettlewell but as this option was still not open to me I just carried on home.

I really must get my OS maps out and see if I can find an alternative route back, maybe there is one on the other side of the Dale. Inspite of the fact that I had to retrace my steps, I thoroughly enjoyed my stroll. It certainly was good to get out into the fields and connect with the wildlife again and the sunshine was a real added bonus.

I was beginning to feel a bit easier about the Covid situation as well as I was starting to despair at the thought that I might not be able to get out in to The Dales at all this year. Still loads of uncertainty of what the future holds though.

Littondale Barn

Hay Meadow

Littondale Bridleway

Littondale

River Skirfare

Littondale footpath

Hay meadow, Littondale

Bridleway

River Skirfare

Arncliffe-Litton footpath

Heysham

The Government had announced a week earlier that the 'stay local' rule had been relaxed and we could now travel in our cars for our daily exercise. Maybe I had stretched the meaning of that a tad by having a day out in Heysham but I excused myself after having watched local people going out on six hour bike rides and half day walks for the past month whilst I stuck strictly to the one hour exercise rule.

I love Heysham because the old part of the town is totally unexpected with it's narrow streets, cottages and most beautifully situated church. The small High Street is very quaint and attractive with it's coffee shops and pub but it is The Church of Saint Peter and the ruined Saint Patrick Chapel which are the real jewels. Also, just off the main path through the churchyard was Glebe Garden, a previously overgrown and neglected area transformed into a peaceful and pretty corner by local volunteer gardeners, I have included some photos of the garden at the end of this blog as it was so pretty.

St Patrick's Chapel, which sits in the grounds of St Peter's Church, was founded on the site in the 7th or 8th century and near to the chapel is a group of six rock-cut tombs with a separate group of two near-by. St Peter's Church was recorded as being the location of an old Saxon church and some of the fabric of that church remains in the present church. It's a beautiful spot and sits on a headland looking out over Morecambe Bay. Unfortunately there is a slight blot on the landscape, namely the Ferry Terminal which has been here as long as I can remember but must bring work to the area so can be excused.

It was a beautiful sunny day so there were a few tourists and locals about but not too many to make it feel unsafe. I could clearly see the Coniston and Wasdale Fells of The Lake District across Morecambe Bay as I walked around Heysham Head which juts out in to the romantically called Half Moon Bay.

I had a nice quiet sit down on the rocks and reflected on the past six weeks of lock down which I had just about survived in one piece even though I hadn't had any human contact. I've always been a bit introverted so I'm one of those people who is quite happy to be on their own but only when it suits me and in lock down I had no choice on the matter. I still had the problem though of not being able to see Sal which didn't help things.

On my way back to the car I passed The Heritage Centre. On the wall of the right hand building was a large plaque, The Spirit of Heysham which was carved by a Michael Edwards to depict the village’s historic legacies including St. Peter’s Church and St. Patrick’s Chapel with its hilltop barrow graves. Each year in mid July the village holds a 2-day Viking festival which I would love to go to one year.

I drove through Morecambe on my way back and had intended stopping for a walk along the promenade but it was just too busy with very few of the people social distancing. I hope that people do not forget that we have had over 65,000 more deaths this year than we have had previous years and this has to be down to one thing and one thing only...the virus. Just simply returning back to our old ways and habits will certainly bring along a second spike and all the pain and deaths that will come with it.

Anyway, enough ranting from me. I really enjoyed my day, it was good to get away to somewhere different for a few hours.