Wandering homeward

The lane once led to Buck Mill, originally the manorial corn mill, powered by the River Aire through a water wheel. Over the centuries, the mill was expanded and diversified, also producing woollen cloth. It was rebuilt in 1800 and extended again in 1860, by which time it was powered by steam. By the 1900s it was disused and eventually it was demolished in 1923. Hardly a trace now remains.

You can still cross the river by the handsome iron footbridge, built by the local town 'boards' in 1889.

It's a tranquil scene looking upstream along the river. You could almost be miles from 'civilisation', apart from the huge electricity pylons that cross the area. But on the right bank a new industrial development has recently been built, an extension of the urban sprawl along the valley through Charlestown, Baildon. There may be more than one business sited there, but I do know that one of the biggest is Produmax, manufacturers of precision parts and assemblies for the aerospace industry.

The ribbon of green between the industrial site and the river is broad and lots of young trees have been planted that will eventually be a shelter belt, so it remains a pleasant walk along a good, level path. One of the other big companies in the area, Denso Marston, make radiators and thermal products for the automotive, agricultural, construction industries. They have a strong environmental policy and for a long time have supported a nature reserve in the green corridor between the factory and the river. It's an attractive area to explore.

Beyond the reserve, as the path got narrower and more difficult to negotiate, I cut up onto the road and walked back into Shipley that way. From Baildon Bridge I joined the river bank again, following the Aire Sculpture Trail, along the river bank.

There are kingfishers along here, though I didn't spot one. I only saw a frog (!) and a jay high above my head.

The Sculpture Trail rejoins the canal towpath right beside Salts Mill - and so to home, welcome warmth and a refreshing cup of tea. I was out for a good couple of hours, a wander of about five and a half miles. Not planned, but not bad, in fact, mostly rather pleasant.