Garshe two

Verified Slow Way

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This was probably my favourite part of the walk - as it was a real mixture of terrain and it was at times beautiful. But ow. I’ve never walked across tracker tyre tracks before (it was part of the public footpath) and I probably won’t again as it was so hard on my feet. It was at times a bit confusing, using both the map and following the signs and we did need to double-back on ourselves. It felt reasonably safe, in a group, but as the evening began to draw in it started to feel a bit scary as there’s not alot of lighting in some areas. It terms of accessibility, some of the route wouldn’t be possible with anyone using a wheelchair or for small children in pushchairs.

Once the route has left the town area of Garforth, most of this walk is on soft ground, using earth/grass footpaths, going through fields and some wooded areas. The final leg along Laith Staid Lane after the very big farm is hardcore with gravel areas and tarmacked parts. There can be traffic on this lane occasionally even though it seems like a no-vehicle track.
There were problems with the route coming into Micklefield as a new housing estate is being built and re-routes the old footpath southwards to join the main road through the village south of the big bend, near Sheep Dyke, one then has to walk back north to meet the continuing path at Hartley Wood Cottages access.
After leaving Mickelfield on the footpath/cycle way crossing the A1(M), a track leads to dog kennels, and a grass footpath continues beyond the kennels towards the woodland. There were access issues here and we had to divert around a field and across a freshly turned field where we had to ridge hop due to very deep furrows - slow progress and not at all accessible at this time of year - I imagine when the field is in crop, there would be tractor tramlines to follow, making it a bit easier but not for any form of wheels.
Walking the edge of the woodland was pleasant with some wildlife spottings.

Reviewed in mid-March 2024

Easy walk to exit Garforth. Paths are well signposted around the airfield but it was less exciting/entertaining than I thought it will be.
Walking through the fields after Mickelfield was fun but it became quickly confusing as we were meant to continue straight but were faced with a crossroads (see Lotherton/Huddleston picture) because the path going straight has a private property barrier. We took the Huddleston path through a field that was laboured so it is more challenging to walk through. Signage is a bit confusing after that.

Well signposted. Lots of fields which were quite muddy and signposting became tricky.

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