From the top of Shipley Glen, I walked down through the woods where outcrops of millstone grit stud the valley side. The views over the Aire Valley from here are far reaching. At the top of Trench Meadows a huge tree has fallen, its bare branches looking like the ribcage of some mythical giant.
I wandered down to Crag Hebble Dam, built in 1911 across the stream called Loadpit Beck to supply water to the dye works at Salts Mill. It's a peaceful spot though, like many of our water courses, the dry summer has led to an overgrowth of algae that rather spoils the beauty.
Another ancient bridleway links the mill dam with the Milner Field estate, once home to Titus Salt Junior.
The boundary of the estate here is marked by a peculiar metal 'kissing gate', erected in 1872, known locally - for obvious reasons - as 'The Birdcage'.
Another track leads along the estate's boundary to one of the two gatehouse lodges built for the mansion at Milner Field. The mansion itself was demolished but the gatehouses remain and give an indication of the heavy Victorian Gothic style of the original building.
Again, good views from here looking out towards Shipley. (Saltaire is hidden, to the left.) The cows belong to Milner Field farm, once the home farm for Salt's estate, which still continues as a dairy farm.
From the gatehouse, the broad straight drive back down to Saltaire is the Coach Road, once the main carriage drive up to Milner Field House.
It surly is a scenic route and your photos are beautifully composed.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely photos of the path you took, and thanks for explaining what were the destinations.
ReplyDeleteYou have so many beautiful places to walk.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful walk. That moss-covered wall!
ReplyDeleteThat was very much my kind of walk! Thank you for taking us along.
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