Leg 3 - Bardsey - Barwick in Elmet -3rd February

If I was to describe this part of the walk in one word, it would be muddy. The snow melt from the previous weekend obviously hadn't sunk into the water table yet and everywhere we walked, the going was wet and muddy:

Fortunately, the weather had improved (but only slightly!) since last weekend so we managed to stay dry from the waist up for the duration. We picked up our route from the Bingley Arms, having resisted the urge to stick around there for lunch and made our way to the first of two beautiful churches on the walk. I don't know if it takes me back to my upbringing in a small village with a Norman church, but I'm an absolute sucker for quiet villages and strong stone churches. The church in Bardsey is well-maintained and peaceful:

The walk leaves the churchyard (I think we may have offended the vicar by leaving the church grounds as he welcomed his congregation to the church!) and makes it's way past a series of stone houses and out in the countryside. By countryside, I mean ploughed field after ploughed field for next mile or so. It's also the first time that the walk has become anything other than flat and I started to feel the strain of adding an extra 20lb to my backpack! 

Once we cleared the farmland, the route becomes a little more interesting, going through some woodland that with the proximity of a small stream and the recent snowfall had become a swampy marshland. With my new waterproof boots, it was quite fun to walk through, though the low hanging branches meant a certain amount of agility was involved to keep Jake safe! After coming out from the swamp, we arrived at the main road that marked the (official) end of the second leg of the walk. 

We continued straight on the next part of the walk and very quickly I realised I was going to have to publish an apology about last week's blog in which I bemoaned the dearth of LCW signs. This part of the walk was covered in them at every suitable point and there were large stretches where we didn't need our trusty directions as the signage was so good (so good, it made me angry!):

After passing Oaklands Manor, we followed some very well defined paths (either well trodden or animal tracks) through some cultivated farmland, including a massive field full of chickens before arriving in Thorner. The park in the centre of the village seemed like a good place to stop for a cup of coffee and give Jake a chance to eat and stare at everything. 

The only difficulty of coming across residential areas on the walk is that you lose the quiet of the fields and the wind and have to contend with solid footing and clear signposting...maybe not a bad thing. After a short while (and my favourite signpost so far...for those who can't read it says "Footpath via Watery Lane" next to a stream)

 We left Thorner and made our way through further fields (including the biggest pile of manure that I've ever seen!) and some of the worst affected fields that we've walked through so far. You've got to feel sorry for the poor farmer who has to salvage something from fields that look like this:

This path continues for around a mile or so before entering a large patch of woodland that runs alongside the A64. I'm always excited by new woods as I find being amongs the trees soothing. I think it's the fact that they block everything else out and make you feel small, a rare feeling for me at 6'4"! However, we discovered a slightly unsavoury aspect to these woods, with air rifle or shotgun marks on the signs and furniture abandoned in the woods:

This was the first time that we'd seen any negative human impact on the walk and it spoiled what should have been a pleasant part of the walk. Saddened, we quickened our pace and reached the A64, just near where the Red Bus Cafe is. Normally when I walk I'm not excited to see roads, but in this case I was impressed by this sight as it gave me a clear indication of just how far we'd come. My wife volunteers occasionally at the Dog's Trust so I've driven that stretch of the York Road many times. It takes around 20 minutes from our house, so the fact that we'd walked there was a good indication of the scale of the walk. 

We quickly left the traffic behind and after following a quietly meandering brook for half a mile or so, we crossed a footbridge and came onto the scariest farm so far. The warning sign on the footbridge told of a four foot wide path (no more, no less) that you must stick to if you didn't want to be prosecuted for trespassing. On entering the field, there were further signs to this effect, but the mud had washed the path away and the LCW instructions were less than clear on which way to go. After a short deliberation, we set off up hill, ducking behind the hedgerow to avoid being seen just in case:

Fortunately we had chosen the right path and after a few slips in the mud, we reached the far side of the hill and descended in Barwick-in-Elmet. The instructions told us to follow the road into the town to the Maypole, and whilst both of us had heard of the Barwick Maypole, the understated LCW guide hadn't prepared us for this:

I'm not sure that the photo does the height of the thing justice as (I'm reliably informed!) it stands at 86 feet from top to bottom. It's an awe inspiring sight in the middle of a pretty village and I'd be intrigued to come back for the triennial May festivities in 2014. 

We had arrived early for once and whilst waiting for the women folk to arrive with transportation, we took in the stocky Norman church and the views over the fields from the church yard: 

We ended part 3, and the end of the first leaflet, with a pub lunch in the Gascoigne Arms. Matt and I discussed trying to walk the whole way in a weekend next year for charity, so watch this space for further updates! 

Total distance = 5.5 miles

Total time = 2 hours 45 mins

Cumulative distance = 14 miles

Cumulative time = 6 hours 45 mins