Canal walk : Hebden Bridge to Sowerby Bridge 2009

Another Autumn walk. This time on the canal towpath, from Hebden Bridge to Sowerby Bridge.

The boats look twice as deep with their reflections.

Bacon, eggs, and what else, did you say?
It was 2-0 to the leghorns, when the ball was lost
An early morning angler tries his luck

A canal cruiser passes through Brearley

An idyllic spot, overlooking the canal & river, at Brearley Springs

The River Calder and the Rochdale Canal are hand-in-hand pretty much all along this stretch

Washed it last night & can't do a thing with it!

A cosy suntrap!

A heavy dew is still clearly visible on the picturesque bowling green, at Luddenden Foot

This section of the Rochdale canal, is particularly serene, and is popular with walkers of all ages

The famous Puzzle Hall Inn. Home to good music, good food, good crack & obviously good beer.

Former home to Platts brewery. The tower stands forlornly, at the back of the pub, no longer in use.

Sowerby Bridge boat marina

Now, is it to be the Navigation or the Shepherd's Rest?

Egton Bridge 2009

The River Esk in springtime

The pheasants are really tame around Egton Bridge, and beautifully coloured

Donkeys at the start of the walk

Always look sad don't they?

Buzz off !



An early season bee enyoys the sunshine.

Now that's what you call recycling!

After a brisk walk through meandering Eskdale, we get our breath back on the NYM steam railway up to Goathland

"Aidensfield" Police Station!

Horizontal rain as we start walking again. This time on the course of the original railway line, dating from 1836, from Goathland to Grosmont.

This spring lamb doesn't seem to
mind, as he stays dutifully close to his mum.

That's what happens, if you choose jeans & trainers for a walk in the rain!

Maddie can still raise a smile though - even when her feet are soaking wet!

Kath "enjoys" her walk by the swollen Eller Beck.

Aah! Beck Hole! The Birch Hall Inn, that little known gem of North Yorkshire.

Time to dry out a bit, sample one of their famous Beck Hole Butties, and linger over a pint of something good.

Only 2 licensees in the last 85 years, and the pub deliberately kept as it was, more or less, in the 1860s when first used as a shop/pub.

A shame to leave really!

Back onto the old railway line, which is pretty self evident in this picture.

Guess what? It's stopped raining!

Our self-appointed gate opener has found us a timely resting place, before we drop down into Grosmont, for the final leg - back to Egton Bridge











St.Hedda's church, Egton Bridge.

Worth a visit, for the story, and the shrine, of Fr.Nicholas Postgate.

A pheasant in the garden welcomes us back.













...as does a dandelion clock.



Time for a quick one in The Postgate(named after Fr.Nicholas).

The Black Dog, as it is known in "Heartbeat".

Expertly manicured!

...and expertly negotiated!

The famous stepping stones over the River Esk.

Shortcut to the Horseshoe.

Return by this route is not advised, if your visit to the pub includes a lot of beer!







A perfect ending to a good day's walking. An evening meal, and a few ints of Durham ales, in the wonderful Horseshoe Inn.

Stone flagged floor, coal fires, real ale(of course!), beautiful garden, riverside setting, great food...what more can a man want, but a good
woman?

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