Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Towers Walk, Leeds





What a gorgeous day.

Crossing the Leeds & Liverpool towards Holbeck.






















Ah, The Midnight Bell - a good place to start!








OK we're on our way.


The famous Scarbrough Tap, from under the railway arches.

Sorry lads - no stopping!









Wetherspoons, at Leeds Station.















An unusual view of one of the newest of Leeds' office blocks.

This one situated right where the River Aire disappears under the railway station.










The towers can be seen from almost any point along the walk - hence "The Towers Walk".

The Millennium footbridge over the River Aire in the foreground.





The old and the new along the canal towpath.


The wonderful parapeted bridge has stood unused and forlorn for a number of years, since the closing of Leeds Central station.










Up onto the road now. Whitehall Road to be precise.

One of a series of depictions of the famous Leeds Owl. This one in stone on Monk Bridge.








The East Coast express, from Leeds to King's Cross, passes close by the walkway above the Armley Gyratory.










The walkway under the railway is pretty grim. Lights not working, dirty, smelly...come on Railtrack!













Obviously we're right under the flightpath for Leeds/Bradford Airport.










Low Hall Mills, Holbeck.



















The footpath under the now disused railway track has seen better times as well.







Holbeck - or Alexandria?













The marvellous frontage of Temple Mill. Built to replicate the original Egyptian Temple of Edfu.












The "Dalek".


Bridgwater Place - now holds the title of tallest building in Leeds(at least for the time being).








We pass by the Cross Keys.


Later boys, later.











Holbeck - or Florence?















The Florentine bell-tower, known as the Giotto tower, and built in 1899. Modelled on one of the towers of Florence Cathedral.


...and yes, the bells were ringing!











The Leeds version of the twin towers.
The smaller tower was built in 1864, and is a copy of a Lamberti tower, in Verona.












Back at the Midnight Bell.


Maurice enjoyed the surroundings. Claimed he was injured, and couldn't do the walk.
Yeah, right!









Now we can get on with the serious business
- make mine a Leeds Pale!






















The florentine tower seen from inside the Midnight Bell.











Late for the sky.


Late evening sunshine as we head back to the station.







































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

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?