Walking route could help to boost heritage site

REGARDING the need for Saltaire to make more of its special status as a World Heritage Site (Yorkshire Post, April 15), it is worth pointing out that the village is a good centre for walks in the area.

There are facilities for walkers in the way of a choice of cafés and its public transport links are good. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal provides added interest to walks.

Readers may be interested to know that members of the Burley Bridge Association (BBA) have devised the Yorkshire Heritage Way (YHW), a long-distance walk which links Yorkshire’s two World Heritage Sites, Saltaire and Fountains Abbey.

From Saltaire in West Yorkshire the route goes north, crossing through attractive open countryside to reach Fountains Abbey, then continuing to Ripon in North Yorkshire. The distance is about 37 miles and can be started at Shipley, a mile before Saltaire.

There are several points of interest along the way and the BBA are hoping to publish a guide to the route.

The YHW crosses the River Wharfe at Burley-in-Wharfedale where the BBA is campaigning for a bridge crossing of the river. At present the public right of way is by a line of broken stones which are generally under water and effectively unusable. Until a bridge is built, other measures are needed to get round this problem for walkers on the YHW.

The BBA have had expressions of interest with the YHW at Saltaire and perhaps this can help the village, in its own way.