More winter trees

Walking from home involves either a steep walk downhill, towards Saltaire village, the canal and river, followed of course by a steep trudge uphill on the way back - or vice versa. Arguably it's easier to do the steep climb uphill at the beginning when my legs are fresh, so it's a pity really that that is my slightly less preferred route. It takes me up into Northcliffe Park, a large area of land donated to the people of Shipley by Sir Norman Rae in 1920. It is lovely really. Much larger, less formal and more varied than Saltaire's Roberts Park, it has an extensive meadow, woodland and recreation areas. At this time of year though, the meadow is boggy, forcing me to stick to the paths, and there is little to see along the paths other than trees, grass and sky. 

I like it when I'm in a certain mood, when the sun is shining and the sky is blue and I feel like a taste of freedom. It's expansive, somehow. It doesn't feel like 'home' to me though, not in the way that walking through Saltaire and along the canal or river feels. Additionally, there is a much more limited choice of route, just three or four paths all going much the same way - boggy meadow, tarmac path, muddy woodland or down through the wood in the steep and dark ravine. And there are so many dogs, off the lead. Some are a bit scary, I find. Dogs in Saltaire, more often than not, are on a lead. 

Oddly, it bothers me that there are also no coffee shops in the park. I rarely actually buy myself a coffee when I'm out on my own... but it always feels good to have the possibility there. 

Still, about once a month I'll take the uphill route and mostly I will enjoy the walk. Northcliffe does hold one of my favourite winter trees, the one in the photo above, which I like for its graceful arc of a trunk. It looks to me like it's dancing.