Saturday 13 April. 12 miles. TO OTLEY CHEVIN ON THE WELCOME WAY AND BACK VIA MENSTON.
We are offering this longer, leg-stretcher, challenging walk of 12 miles as our Second Saturday guided walk for April. Meet Mervyn Flecknoe and Matt Firth at the Potted Meat Stick (BD17 6ND) in the centre of Baildon for 10.00am departure. We shall follow the route of The Welcome Way, through Esholt Woods and Guiseley heading for Otley Chevin. Because some of the Welcome Way paths from Guiseley to Otley Chevin have become almost impassable with mud and water as a result of the persistent rain that we have been experiencing this Spring, your Leaders have identified an alternative way up to the Chevin on lanes and trackes. At Otley Chevin we can enjoy excellent long-distance views (weather permitting) and discover something of the history of the Chevin. Our route then takes us along the ridge and into woods,  before we join the Ebor Way which takes us via quiet roads and paths down to Menston. After skirting the edge of Menston, we will take rising tracks and paths, over the Aire / Wharfe watershed and then through Hawksworth, the Gill Beck valley (across the stepping stones) and back to the centre of Baildon. Bring water and packed lunch, and be prepared for whatever the weather will bring. We shall aim to be back in Baildon before 5.00pm.
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Saturday 27 April. 4 miles. NORTHCLIFFE PARK ACHAEOLOGY WALK. BOOKING REQUIRED: booking opens 1 April by emailing info@baildonwalkersarewelcome.org
Meet Chris Flecknoe and Colin Jarvis at the lodge gate to Roberts Park (near the play area) for departure at 9.45. We will walk along the riverside before crossing the river and canal to continue through Hirst Wood.  We then take steadily ascending footpaths, tracks and roads to reach the top of Moorhead Lane and the entrance to the Park. Here we shall meet up with our archaeological guides, Jim and Maggie, and make a stop for what you may wish to consider as late “elevenses” or early lunch.  We are delighted that Jim Baird and Maggie Fleming, local amateur  industrial archaeology  enthusiasts, will join our walk to help us explore the archaeology of Northcliffe Park and Woods.
Please bring whatever food and drink you need with you – and a sit-mat or plastic bag to sit on may come in useful. We also recommend bring a walking pole if you use one, and something warmer to put on when we sit down or are listening to our specialist guides. Our pace of walking will be slower within the Park as our guides introduce us to the underlying geology and impact of the ice age, which led to this being an area from which coal (and stone) was extracted from the 17th to 19th century – and maybe earlier.  We will be shown how the coal pits domantated the landscape, and then hear how the area was turned into a public park.  There is one steep descent and ascent within the Northcliffe Dike valley, on rough steps, after which we will follow the gently descending main track through the valley. The walk will end at the bottom of the Park, emerging on to Bradford Road, from where participants may choose to catch a bus back to Baildon (we will have the timetable with us) or walk into Shipley (probably around 2.00pm).

Booking is required for this walk as numbers are restricted to 12 so that everyone can hear what our specialist guides are saying.