Final training walk – Castleford to Leeds

On yet another bright and sunny morning we were up at the rise of the sun and preparing to march for the day….. Well for twelve miles anyway.

The starting point was at the old roman settlement of Lagentium (Castleford to us now). Situated on the main Roman road running between Lindum (Lincoln) and Eburacum (York). The plan was to walk to Leeds following the route of the River Aire and Calder navigation.

We arrived in a deserted Castleford at 9.20, thanks to Barbara for sacrificing her Sunday morning lie in to give us a lift. Quickly strapping out packs on to our backs we were off for 9.30. We meandered across to the river and stopped to admire the bridge, well known as it was part of a recent Channel 4 programme hosted by Kevin McCloud of Grand Designs.
Fairly Impressive, although I didn’t see the bench that slowly rose from the floor. It wasn’t until I was towering over Simon that I realised I had walked on to the bench. Duh!
Simon was in his element, Hailing from Allerton Bywater he was close to home, He rejoiced in telling us about the bridge, hastily pointed out the wrecked boot that had gone over the weir, then led us away towards the right path.

After a quick, “I’m sure you can go this way. Though I would normally go that way. Ah, lets go that way!” Simon got us to the path we would not divert off until we reached Leeds.
So we were on our path, the sun was beating down on our back, the breeze was blowing in to our faces, it was a great day for a stroll. Everything was good and we set a good pace.
It wasn’t long until we came across a tyre dumped in the middle of the field. Simon decided it would be fun to roll it along with us for a while. That was until it fell over the first time and we couldn’t be bothered to stand it back up. We had moved it the great distance of 10 meters.

Onwards we marched on making great time the first mile disappeared and we had only been walking 20 minutes. A quick “Come on lads this is a great pace” from me seemed to encourage Simon and Alan to surge on.
Then we came to a field, not just any field but one with horses in. The very same horses that had chased me across the field a few years previously. I nervously climbed over the style and walked boldly onwards. Keeping one eye on the horses while chatting away to Simon. To my distress one of the horses looked up as we got closer and began to walk towards us only stopping after a few yards to graze on a large clump of grass. Phew!!
We raced past them and turned around to watch Alan walk passed, we had crossed the style and was highly amused to see the horses creeping slowly behind him. Thankfully we all got through unscathed.

So onwards again. Down a wild path with nettles and grass that towered above Alan’s head. Through a small patch of woodland that made a great tunnel around the path and into clouds of menacing midges. We were still making great time we reached the old open cast mine, which has now been turned it to a nature reserve. It was easy walking now down the Transpenine trail and we quickly reached the mariner at Lemonroyd. Not wanting to stop we headed onwards.
10 minutes later we decided to stop and have a break. For once Alan had sandwiches and not just twix’s. We sat there for a while and I looked at the time realising we had covered 5 miles in just over a hour and half.

After a break we set off again, refreshed and eager to get to Leeds we passed Woodlesford Lock and pressed on. That’s when Alan stopped for yet another photo opportunity. There swimming around were a couple of swans with several signets. So we watched as Alan took a few snaps.
“Right we need to catch those two just going around that corner.” I said. A quarter of a mile ahead a couple were just rounding a bend in the canal. Rising to the challenge we speeded along. Slowly catching them.

In no time at all we had reached the A1 – M1 link and were powering onwards, stopping only to take a photo of a part of the path where Alan thought he may catch a ghost on film.

We reached Thwaite Mills and was surprised to see the time. 12.50 and we were only a mile out side of Leeds. This was the fastest we had walked in our training. So when we came across a stone circle, which looked like a poor attempt at a miniature Stonehenge we stopped for a picture opportunity.
Simon bottled being the sacrificial figure on the alter so I braved the climb up and posed for Alan to take a quick snap.

From there on in we trudged along at speed until we came to a part of the path that disappeared into the undergrowth. Alan donned his Fedora hat to venture in, swinging a branch in front of him to cut the vegetation down. Simon and I followed glancing over our shoulders at the gate to a car park and the footpaths that would take us in to the city centre. After battling with the nettles and long grass for 15 meters Alan decided to jump through the fence into the car park, comically catching his hat from behind him as it caught on the fence and fell to the floor. We turned around and took the easy route.

20 minutes later we strolled across Millenium square to a join the WAGS, who had been sat waiting for us in the pub.