Otley circular

I had various errands to do over Otley way, so I decided I'd combine them with a walk. There's a comfortable circuit over the river, through the park and back through a nature reserve, about three miles in total and thus ideal for a morning that was dry and sunny-ish but with rain forecast for the afternoon. 

The main road bridge over the River Wharfe is quite narrow. It dates back to 1229 though it has been upgraded and widened a few times. Since the 1950s it has had a pedestrian footbridge cantilevered along the outer side, to separate foot traffic from vehicles for safety. That footbridge has come to the end of its life and so work is underway to replace it. It has necessitated the installation of a temporary footbridge, rather ugly and rather damaging to either side of the river, though no doubt when it's removed the park areas will be reinstated. One side is Wharfemeadows Park and the other side is a little green space known as Tittybottle Park, apparently after the Victorian mothers and nannies who used to nurse their children whilst relaxing by the river. 

Boating on this popular stretch has been suspended whilst the work takes place. Normally there's a business hiring rowing boats for use between the bridge and the weir further along. The weir is a legacy from the mills that used to use water power. It now generates hydro-electricity from an Archimedes Screw.  

It's a pleasant amble along the riverside, where there are plans to resurrect the long-derelict Lido (outdoor pool). There's a large and well-used children's play area, a café, a skatepark and an outdoor gym. It's the only outdoor gym I've ever seen being used! They must be a healthy lot in Otley. 

Eventually you can cross back over the river on another footbridge, strung with 'lovelocks'. Otley Council must be more tolerant of this practice than some, as a few of the locks look quite old and well-rusted. 

The river flows broad and leisurely at this point though, like all our waterways, it is critically low. I think it will take many months of rain to replenish our rivers and reservoirs.