April 22 Leeds to Bridgnorth
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The sun has returned so I set off round the Leeds and Bradford ring roads in good spirits. Even the late rush hour traffic wasn't too bad. There was lots of it but it moved at a fair speed and I managed not to get lost.
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My first stop, after about half an hour, was at Brighouse, best known for its brass band. It has a large canal basin on the Calder & Hebble Navigation so I wandered around it, taking photos of boats, bridges, buildings and reflections. The sun was shining brightly and all was well with the world.
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The market was only just starting to open so I didn't linger. There are a few fine buildings in the town, including the Methodist chapel where Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army was minister from 1857 to 1858.
I got lost as I drove out of the town, got lost again in Huddersfield, where the road I wanted was blocked by a serious crash, and again in the lanes approaching Holme Firth.When I did arrive there, I walked along the river, explored some of the narrow alleyways, photographed a couple being photographed outside "Sid's Café" and had a very mediocre coffee in another café. |
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 Sid's Cafe, Holme Firth |
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The road rises very rapidly out of the town onto the moors and finally peaks at the Holme Moss transmitter, a height of 524 metres. Not spectacular by New Zealand standards by quite high for the UK.
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I passed a number of (mad?) cyclists who were obviously taking part in a hill climb. Whenever I stopped to take more photos, they surged past again. Down the other side, the road drops down to the Woodhead reservoir, crosses the main road to Manchester, and then climbs onto another area of moorland before descending into Glossop.
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The market wasn't open at all but the main street was quite busy. There was a good assortment of shops, including a couple of butchers, a greengrocer and even a chocolatier. The square (or green) was pretty and the shop preparing for St George's Day was bright in the extreme.
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I determined to lunch in the Norfolk Arms on the main street but, after waiting well over 5 minutes to be served, I was informed that the ploughman's was off. Feeling suitably aggrieved, I marched off past the station with its wonderful lion, and into the George Hotel - previously the Station Hotel, where I had a good lamb and mint pie.
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Once out of Glossop, he road runs over the moors again until it reaches the spa town of Buxton. I found a car park beneath the railway viaduct, and walked up the main street.
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This was pedestrianised, with lots of people, a good greengrocer and a very smart tea room, redolent of a different era. The old crescent looked a trifle down at heel, empty and obviously awaiting re-development. The Grove Hotel opposite, has a magnificent glazed portico but was swathed in scaffolding and being re-roofed.
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I sped on my way, passing through several interesting looking places but not having time to stop and explore. Eccleshall looked particularly interesting but I will have to visit next time I am passing. I reached Bridgnorth and we immediately walked down the hill to the SVR station to look at the trains and to have some beer at the pub. Left: The moors south of Buxton |
This has been converted from the old waiting rooms and is full of both beer and railway memorabilia. We then walked back up the hill again to the Castle Gates & had a large dinner and another beer.
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Left: Dinner at the Castle Gates |