~Brighouse to Dewsbury~
17th September 2011
There is no rational argument as to why one would chose to do this walk. My thinking was that the weather could be better further east and Brighouse is quite easy to get to by rail from Burnley.
Thornhill Junction
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
Rainbow
That's the view from home at 07:00hrs. My plan is to catch the 08:27 from Burnley Manchester Road to Halifax for a connection to Brighouse. The rail computers want you to change at Hebden Bridge, but there's a quicker change at Halifax, just three minutes!
Burnley Manchester Road Railway Station
The train was on time, but arrrived in Halifax two and a half minutes late. Unfortunately, the train for Brighouse was closing its doors as my train stopped and I had an hour to wait for the next one. Maybe the rail computers know more about this stuff than I do! I could have caught a bus, but decided to get a brew and a bite to eat and catch the next train.
Halifax Flour Society
Brighouse Railway Station
I had plenty of time to study my map "Bradford and Huddersfield - OS288" on the train and in the cafe and it was not clear if there was a path along the "Kirklees Cut" and under the M62. So I decided to take a higher route out of Brighouse up to Bradley Wood and over the M62. It was not long before the waterproofs were on.
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Brighouse J25 M62 |
Firth House |
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Over the M62 |
M62 up to J24 Ainley Top |
Walk Views
Motorway enthusiasts will notice that the eastbound carriageway has four lanes as it climbs to Ainley Top, whereas the downhill westbound tarmac makes do with three.
Bradley Park Golf Club
For anyone still interested, the Kirklees Way runs alongside the golf club on the left. This is not a pretty walk and it has been no surprise that I have not seen anyone else wearing boots and carrying a map. Golfers appeared bemused that someone was actually following this route and looking for the footpath.
Mirfield
On the way around the golf course, I found a ball. When the time was right, I rolled it on to a green when the fourball coming down the fairway were all chatting away. Two balls were already on the green and two were just short, so I wonder what they made of the situation when they pulled out the putters! I was long gone when they reached the green.
Huddersfield Broad Canal
I took a route down a stretch of the A6107 at Bradley and across Colne Bridge (River Colne) and then a further bridge over the Huddersfield Broad Canal - both enter the River Calder, having travelled from Huddersfield. It's not that wide.
Route 66
The walk continued along National Cycle Route 66, following the track of an old railway. The disused railway bed leads almost to Mirfield Station. Walkers and cyclists can use much of it.
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Back to Brighouse |
The Trackbed |
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Railway Lines |
Old Railway Bridge |
The walk now moves into Mirfield and I followed the main road towards Dewsbury. Note the use of Staffordshire Blue Bricks, hard, non-porous and great for use on canal and railway bridges.
Mirfield Sation Bridge
Mind Your Head! There is an absence of photos from Mirfield, you can draw your own conclusions.
Welcome to Dewsbury!
It's not one of those occasions when the pulse quickens in anticipation. My route can now rejoin the river path, off to the right here.
Shepley Bridge Lock
Just in case there is any doubt, it's raining.
River Calder Weirs
Thornhill Junction
Ravensthorpe Railway Station and Thornhill Junction, lines to the left go to Dewsbury and on the right they come from Wakefield. How exciting! Another line used to come from the Wakefield direction and this one then travelled under the Dewsbury line - out of this shot - and went up to Heckmondwike. I'll be walking on the trackbed soon...
River Calder
That's the bridge carrying the old trackbed linking Wakefield and Heckmondwike. G Wilson Fibres are fibre recyclers and they also make underfelt, just like Ratcliffe's in Burnley. The "boom" across the river looks like a challenge from one of those silly tv programmes where contestants make complete fools out of themselves.
The Railway Bridge
Bridge over The River Calder
And just in case doubt remains, it is still raining.
Dewsbury Flood Channel
This is a relief channel for floodwater, whereas the river loops around and is "weir-ed", this channel will send floodwater directly back in to the river, presumably protecting something or somebody from flood damage.
River Calder at Dewsbury
Dewsbury Railway Station
Soon enough a train arrived and I changed at Hebden Bridge for the journey back to Burnley. Add this to the list of things to do on a rainy day; go to the pub is still in the top five, even after all these years.
It turns out, after post-walk research, that there is a footpath down by the Kirklees Cut and under the M62 - that would have been a better route to Colne Bridge, but then I wouldn't have seen the cars on the motorway or the found the golf ball.
Walkers: Just me.
Time taken: 5hrs 9mins over a distance of 11.5 miles.
Route: Brighouse Station, Bradley Wood, Bradley Park Golf Course, Colne Bridge, Mirfield, Shepley Bridge, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury.
Weather and conditions: Frequent showers.
Greetings Count: A few cyclists on Route 66 and I think I did pass one couple who were wearing boots and therefore were as daft as me.
Richard's Refreshment Review: Well, I had food and drink in TJ's in Halifax. If you ever suffer the misfortune to be stuck in Halifax for an hour, this cafe is well worth a visit.
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2011 ©
Take me back to the start ....