Last Sunday I got to have extra fun walking thanks to the City of Bradford Metropoliton District Council – specifically, the Countryside division thereof – which organises guided walks around Bradford’s greener bits.

Described as the “Thornton Viaduct” walk, I was a bit disappointed that we weren’t going via the viaduct – it was closed for repairs – but it was a wonderful trip nonetheless.  Lovely sunshine, and the second half of the six-and-a-bit mile walk was via an alpaca and ostrich farm.  Geotagged images are available on Panoramio.

Walk details follow:

Today I broke with my recent habit of spending the weekend slobbing around, and actually did something: a day trip to Shipley Glen.

What a nice day it was too – a ride on the oldest extant tramway in the UK, a walk culminating in a Geocache find, a visit to a small wildlife centre, and finally a wonderful meal in the Old Glen House.

The pub is worth an especial mention: although it was fairly expensive at £17 a head, we had a more than passable bottle of bubbly to wash down our mains.  I had a lovely Ploughman’s Platter with some wonderful cheeses, and Ceri enjoyed her Bangers & Mash immensely.  What was perhaps the most impressive was the free bread as an appetiser – tandoori bread.  I kid you not – freshly baked wholemeal bread (still warm, although that may have been a microwave-aided temperature) flavoured with tandoori spices and served with a small side salad and mango chutney.

Heaven.

Add to the wonderful food and more than drinkable plonk free WiFi – ESSID ‘glen’, no password, no captive portal nonsense – and attentive staff, and it’s a place I wouldn’t hesitate to eat again.  Highly recommended.