First day of lockdown and I'm on my bike.
11am ish and having finally broken the bonds with the house I'm on my way. All set for parts east, a quick breeze through Cross Gates and Colton and a very quiet A63 stretches off into the distance. So naturally I turn right and south. On a whim I decided to explore a little and after skimming Swillington I dropped down to the river and canal at Woodlesford where I picked up the canal path going east.
I have never ridden along here before even though I had spotted it was possible on the map and always said I would one day. Well today was that day. I took the north side of the canal and I pedaled slowly along enjoying the sunshine and the wam fresh air. There were a few people about but it really was only a few. The path was wide and well surfaced which was just as well because I was on skinny tyres:
After a couple of miles I came to Lemonroyd Lock where the canal drops and lets boats and barges out into the River Aire. Presumably lets others back into the canal as well.
I crossed over to the south side here and turned left and east in the direction of Castleford (or Cas Vegas as it's sometimes called locally)
More wide well surfaced paths took me slightly away from the river, but always close, with nary a soul about anyone would think the plague had arrived.
A mile or so further on a wide bridge took the path back over the river but I carried on and as the path ran out I found myself on a grass embankment. River to my left and a huge flooded area to my right:
It's an area that normally has some large ponds/small lakes but to me it looks like in the recent rainy spell the area flooded completely. Maybe the river overflowed the embankment?
There are temporary pumps still in place to drain the area.
The path had petered out and I could get no further along the river edge I knew where I was in the general scheme of things but wasn't so sure on the specifics so I took a rough track off to one side and after a false turn or two found the main road which took me into Cas.
Castleford wasn't actually closed. But it might as well have been. Not quite but almost a ghost town. It's usually a busy busy place, not today.
After passing the old Allinsons Flour Mill I hooked left back over the river and canal and I was back onto the canal path going back the way I came.
Just here is the confluence of the Rivers Calder and Aire:
There are even traffic lights from the Aire into the Aire and Calder Navigation Canal:
So it was back west and upstream again alongside the Aire. I passed Allerton Bywater which was opposite the spot with the water pumps. A couple of miles further on after tracks, paths and grassy fields I passed by a designated wildlife area and came back across the river on the wide bridge I mentioned earlier. On once more, passing Lemonroyd Lock again and now, back alongside the canal, I skirted Lemonroyd Marina and made it back towards Leeds passing Woodlesford Lock and Fishpond Lock. I can't get any more photos attached but Woodlesford Lock was a pretty sight, flowers everywhere.
A few people about now walking and cycling but it was never busy. At Fishpond Lock I crossed over again and also crossed the Aire once more and I found myself going under the A1M which skirts the east of Leeds.
The obvious route seemed to have melted away and I found I was going over old industrial roads. It turned out the be the old Knosdrop Water Treatment Plant (as was) and also the site of the old Skelton Grange power station. Concrete roads strewn with rubble from a bygone era. Once majestic buildings and structures pulled down and the area left empty. Nature claims it back as if nothing had happened.
Places like that have a magic all their own. Silent save for birdsong and deserted but for animals and insects. ( and the occasional bloke on a bike )
I wasn't too sure where I would end up precisely but knew I wouldn't get lost so I pressed on regardless and after some toing and froing crossing and recrossing the river and canal again I passed Thwaites Mill and came around the arse end of Cross Green Industrial Area and to the south of Leeds.
Collecting the main road at Hunslet I left the solitude and quiet of the canal and rode back home through East End Park and Harehills. Normally both very busy but today like a quiet Sunday.
So it was a slow ride what with all getting off and walking over lock gates and stopping for photos but very enjoyable anyway.
All in just a tad under 30 miles and pretty flat at 1000ft
View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/46142589
11am ish and having finally broken the bonds with the house I'm on my way. All set for parts east, a quick breeze through Cross Gates and Colton and a very quiet A63 stretches off into the distance. So naturally I turn right and south. On a whim I decided to explore a little and after skimming Swillington I dropped down to the river and canal at Woodlesford where I picked up the canal path going east.
I have never ridden along here before even though I had spotted it was possible on the map and always said I would one day. Well today was that day. I took the north side of the canal and I pedaled slowly along enjoying the sunshine and the wam fresh air. There were a few people about but it really was only a few. The path was wide and well surfaced which was just as well because I was on skinny tyres:
After a couple of miles I came to Lemonroyd Lock where the canal drops and lets boats and barges out into the River Aire. Presumably lets others back into the canal as well.
I crossed over to the south side here and turned left and east in the direction of Castleford (or Cas Vegas as it's sometimes called locally)
More wide well surfaced paths took me slightly away from the river, but always close, with nary a soul about anyone would think the plague had arrived.
A mile or so further on a wide bridge took the path back over the river but I carried on and as the path ran out I found myself on a grass embankment. River to my left and a huge flooded area to my right:
It's an area that normally has some large ponds/small lakes but to me it looks like in the recent rainy spell the area flooded completely. Maybe the river overflowed the embankment?
There are temporary pumps still in place to drain the area.
The path had petered out and I could get no further along the river edge I knew where I was in the general scheme of things but wasn't so sure on the specifics so I took a rough track off to one side and after a false turn or two found the main road which took me into Cas.
Castleford wasn't actually closed. But it might as well have been. Not quite but almost a ghost town. It's usually a busy busy place, not today.
After passing the old Allinsons Flour Mill I hooked left back over the river and canal and I was back onto the canal path going back the way I came.
Just here is the confluence of the Rivers Calder and Aire:
There are even traffic lights from the Aire into the Aire and Calder Navigation Canal:
So it was back west and upstream again alongside the Aire. I passed Allerton Bywater which was opposite the spot with the water pumps. A couple of miles further on after tracks, paths and grassy fields I passed by a designated wildlife area and came back across the river on the wide bridge I mentioned earlier. On once more, passing Lemonroyd Lock again and now, back alongside the canal, I skirted Lemonroyd Marina and made it back towards Leeds passing Woodlesford Lock and Fishpond Lock. I can't get any more photos attached but Woodlesford Lock was a pretty sight, flowers everywhere.
A few people about now walking and cycling but it was never busy. At Fishpond Lock I crossed over again and also crossed the Aire once more and I found myself going under the A1M which skirts the east of Leeds.
The obvious route seemed to have melted away and I found I was going over old industrial roads. It turned out the be the old Knosdrop Water Treatment Plant (as was) and also the site of the old Skelton Grange power station. Concrete roads strewn with rubble from a bygone era. Once majestic buildings and structures pulled down and the area left empty. Nature claims it back as if nothing had happened.
Places like that have a magic all their own. Silent save for birdsong and deserted but for animals and insects. ( and the occasional bloke on a bike )
I wasn't too sure where I would end up precisely but knew I wouldn't get lost so I pressed on regardless and after some toing and froing crossing and recrossing the river and canal again I passed Thwaites Mill and came around the arse end of Cross Green Industrial Area and to the south of Leeds.
Collecting the main road at Hunslet I left the solitude and quiet of the canal and rode back home through East End Park and Harehills. Normally both very busy but today like a quiet Sunday.
So it was a slow ride what with all getting off and walking over lock gates and stopping for photos but very enjoyable anyway.
All in just a tad under 30 miles and pretty flat at 1000ft
View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/46142589
Last edited:
(could get to like this )... had to call at Dr this morning drop of my prescription so thought as it was lovely i would go back the scenic route.. 
35 miles 
