Knottingley to Church Fenton 04/05/15

13.6 miles, via Ferrybridge, Byram, Burton Salmon, Hillam, Monk Fryston, South Milford,
 Sherburn-in-Elmet & Little Fenton.

Drinks with work on Friday night, followed by two well deserved lie-ins, and the long May Day weekend still allows me the opportunity for a day's walking, and as the best walking month of the year is upon us, it's time to close the triangle on the lands walked to the north and east of Leeds. So a start is made from Knottingley at 9.35am, noting with that The Railway hotel has closed down since I was last here, and cross the A645 to make my way down Ferrybridge Road, still uncertain where these towns are really one or not, descending past the council and industrial estates, to meet the River Aire crossing via the 1804 bridge, and passing under the A162 bridge on both banks. The field walk over to Byram crosses the ings that were the site of the Battle of Ferrybridge, a skirmish that occurred in the hours preceding the Battle of Towton, where Lancastrian forces were unsuccessful in preventing the Yorkists from forcing their way north, a small fragment of interest that would not be otherwise noted, as looking back at the looming power station occupies most of your attention. Passing onto Sutton Lane has you concluding that the posh parts of Knottingley and Ferrybridge are actually in Byram and Brotherton, despite being in a different county, and the only available route north is to follow the side of the A162, as the extensive Byram Park offers no rights of way. Eventually turn into Burton Salmon, a picturesque village that passes all too quickly before the flatlands are entered, pacing my way along Burton Common Lane, providing a vista that is as good an horizontal horizon can provide. Slip north via Bywater Wood, and over to Hillam Lane, to enter another village that really trumpets its gorgeousness, and a pause for elevenses in the square is the least Hillam deserves. Press on along Lumby Hill and Water Lane, as the village merges seamlessly into Monk Fryston, which isn't quite as lovely, but across the A63 it does have Monk Fryston Hall, and it's worth taking a short trip up the driveway for a closer look before getting back on track.

East along Fryston Common Lane, and then north around the perimeter of the hall estate via the equestrian fields to get sight of the scenery on my trip to the coast, all lit up in warmer weather today, with Gascoigne Wood pit at the heart of it, but once I hit Ingthorne Lane, I discover a plotting error, as the road provides no access across the railway, and I have to go to meet Lumby Lane further south by the viable railway crossing, thus having walked four sides of a pentagon around Monk Fryston Hall. North again, heading along the verge to meet the A162 bypassing South Milford, with me continuing along the old Doncaster & Tadcaster turnpike, through the village already commented upon, crossing my origal path at the Swan Inn, and pushing north under the railway to Selby and finding that I am back in the mildly hilly country again. This landscape rise offers enough elevation for views, and brings me into Sherburn-in-Elmet, and it's odd that I haven't mentioned the Kingdom of Elmet during any of my wanderings in this quarter, it definitely has the look of having once been a town of coaching inns, even though this wasn't the Great North road, and it now has a healthy suburban sprawl, which stretches along Moor Lane, all the way to the completely useless railway station. Pause for a late lunch and freight train action before joining the verge of Fenton Lane, which would be my direct route to the finish if I were in a hurry, but we have time to contemplate the huge Gypsum works by the roadside, and to hit the field walk over to the hamlet of Little Fenton, which I'd hoped might prove more interesting that a disparate collection of farmsteads. Field walking resumes, with my path back to Ash Lane being dictated by the location of the drains, Carr Dike being followed for most of the way, before hitting the roadside into Church Fenton, with the parish church of St Mary's giving it its name. Not really enough time to pause for a drink in the White Horse, so move on to the station that is still too big for the village despite its recent commuter growth, and a 2.55pm finish is way too early for my train at 3.34pm, but it does prove you do sometimes need a 6 hour window to do a 5 hour walk, plus that's all my West Yorks walks so far this year enclosed in one neat package!

5,000 Miles Cumulative Total: 1608.7 miles
2015 Cumulative Total: 206.5 miles
Up Country Total: 1482.3 miles
Solo Total: 1369.7 miles

Ferrybridge. One of the few towns that still seems dominated by the presence of heavy industry. 

Ferry Bridge Battlefield, you will have to take my word for that.

Off Road dirt track by the A162, Byram.

Burton Salmon, blink and you might miss it!

Bywater Wood & Burton Common Lane

Hillam, a deeply loveable place.

Monk Fryston Hall, not actually as old as it appears!

Ingthorne Lane, on the road to nowhere.

Milford Hall, promising restaurant opportunity, anyone?

Betwixt South Milford and Sherburn in Elmet, and I think
I have come around to love yellow fields of rape seed.

Sherburn-in-Elmet, all coaching inns and no public toilets.

Gypsum works, Fenton Lane.

Little Fenton, there really isn't that much more to it.

St Mary's, Church Fenton, hence the name.

Gratuitous Train Spotting at Church Fenton Station.

Next Up: One last blank to fill in, in this year's quarter of the West Riding.