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2001 survey results

4. FOOTPATHS

Silsden is very fortunate in having seventy-nine footpaths within the Parish, the majority of which pass through open countryside. Thirty-two of these paths have been upgraded and put to good use in the well known Silsden Circuit and Access Routes. The Circuit is twelve and a half miles long and circulates the hills to the East, North and West, including two and a half miles of the canal towpath providing a green corridor to the South.

Four access routes, two to the east and two to the west meet the circuit from the town centre. All routes are signposted and way marked and provide walks of varying lengths. Local people, the local walking group and walking groups from outside the district, use the routes. 

The canal towpath is very popular locally and can be accessed by lanes leading to the attractive swing bridges.

A few highlights are as follows: -

The canal aqueduct to the south of the town gives access to the towpath. (Construction of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal began in 1770. This lock free section between Bingley and Skipton was the first to be completed and opened in 1773.)

Just prior to the second swing bridge at a copse of trees, Holden Beck flows under the canal. Diversion through the stone stile allows a view of the remains of two limekilns. (The hilly terrain here is believed to be due to dumped spoil during construction of the canal.)

Lodge Hill bridge deviates from the swing bridge theme, being a stone structure. (Named after the Lodge of the original deer park)

The canal is a picture when the rhododendrons are out and is crossed at the Booth swing bridge (Named after the family who lived at what is now Keighley Golf Clubhouse.) On walking the full length of Riddlesden Golf Course, there are views over Keighley and the Aire valley.

Alder Carr and Spring Crag Wood with the blue bells in the spring and the brown leaves of autumn are a splendid sight. Underfoot runs the Barden Aqueduct (built by Bradford Water in the 1850’s). Inspection hatches can be identified.

In Holden Beck Wood there is a ford, waterfall and footbridge. (The original stone bridge was swept away in a cloud burst in 1900.) The Barden Aqueduct reappears as a pipe. We eventually pass the rocks sculpted by the weather at Doubler Stones. After a short stretch of moor, with old shooting butts, we come to the disused quarry at Millstone Lumps. (Abandoned millstones can be seen.) The view over Addingham and into the Dales is spectacular.

The deeply worn track of Windgate Nick has been used for centuries as a connection between the Wharf and Aire valleys. A rock with a carving of a fireman’s helmet is passed (carved by firewatchers in the 1940’s.)

At Nab End there are panoramic views of Silsden and its reservoir, also the Aire valley and the hills above Steeton and Cowling. Passing over the main road (Blackburn, Addingham and Cocking End Turnpike road of the early 1800’s) we then go onto the West.

Great Gill (SS1)* is wooded. There is a footbridge at the meeting of Foster Cliff and Great Gill becks with an additional footbridge over Foster Cliff beck.

Bracken Hill Gill (SSI)* is also wooded with a beck, we then come to the ruined 17C farmhouse of Tar Topping with views over Silsden and the Aire Valley. The canal is crossed at Cowling swing bridge (named after the Cowling family) and we are back to the towpath, to eventually pass the warehouse of a bygone age and the current leisure boat yard.

On the return to the aqueduct we pass under the main road and the Bridge pub with the old stables for the horses that originally towed the canal boats. (A pub has been sited here since the 1600’s. The present pub was built on top of the “Boot and Shoe” in 1799. Note the stone plaque in the rear wall. The original front door is clearly seen at the old road level, along with horse mounting steps.)

Of the two Access routes to the West, one crosses two becks and passes a fine display of daffodils in the spring. The other crosses Bradley Green (the old village tip) to eventually ford the beck.

To the East the two routes cross the Park; one passes the stone gateposts and a walled enclosure at Swartha, (site of Moorfield, a mansion house demolished in 1952). The other passes through the old hamlet of Brunthwaite and then crosses Silsden Golf Course.

A further attraction, not part of the circuit/access routes is Swartha Wood (SSI)* with bluebells and white wild garlic in the spring. A “fairy glen” at all times, with a waterfall and gurgling beck and a secret, the Victorian architecture of the Barden Aqueduct.

Moorland walking is available to the North and Northwest.

A directional guide to the Silsden Circuit and Access Routes is available from the library at a nominal charge.

* SSI - Site of Special Interest.

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2001 survey results