LCA Walk around Old Farnley.

Sunday 24th March 11.30 a.m. Join Rob for this 5 mile walk around Old Farnley with Packhorse paths and beckside trails.
Meet at the car park in Farnley Hall Park, Hall Lane, Farnley, Leeds, LS12 5HA.

The walk takes us through the Park by good paths to New Farnley and Upper Moor Side, then along Tong Beck and Pudsey Beck to Troydale. A short but steep climb through the woods takes us up to the Beulah Inn, a licensed cafe/pub with a good range of drinks and meals. From the pub it is a 10 minute walk back along Hall Lane to the Park. The walk is 5 miles long with mostly good flat paths, some of which are clearly ancient pack-horse routes, but there are a couple of quite steep woodland descents and ascents to and from the beck-side paths.

Apart from wonderful countryside a stone’s throw from Leeds, we will pass by an old Lancasterian schoolroom founded in 1813 by Quaker educationalist, Joseph Lancaster. Lancaster was an early innovator in public education and, although a rigid disciplinarian, was very unusual for his time in being opposed to corporal punishment of children. Accordingly I felt that “Schooldays” could be a poetry theme. An alternative could be “Becks”. There are no toilets at the start of the walk (apart from those provided by nature) but the Woodcock Inn, 2 miles into the walk at Upper Moor Side has toilets that can be accessed, discreetly, without going through the pub.
Public transport: bus no 42 runs every 15 minutes on a Sunday and I intend to catch one from stop P4 at City Square (bottom of Park Row) at 10.42. Alight at the terminus at Old Farnley Village Green at 11.04 . This is 10 mins walk from the rendezvous at Farley Hall Park. To reach the Park cross from the bus terminus towards the Village Green and into Cross Lane, bearing left after 3 or 4 minutes into Hall Lane. A couple of minutes later the Park’s main entrance will appear on the left and the car park is clearly visible. Anyone catching the later bus from Leeds at 10.57 (arr. Old Farnley 11.19) and following these directions should also get there just in time. Bus no 15 also goes to Old Farnley but takes at least 10 mins longer and only runs hourly, so not recommended. However if you get one at 10.45 that may just get you to the rendezvous in time.
Bring suitable outdoor gear, water and packed lunch. Further details: Rob 0113 216 449.