Jo’s Monday walk : Leeds Waterfront

The Trans Pennine Trail

The Trans Pennine Trail at Leeds

When National Express changed my itinerary, giving me a 3 hour stopover in Leeds on my way home from Nottingham, they did me a big favour.  They gave me just enough time to explore Leeds Waterfront.  I’d done a tiny bit of research so I knew there was plenty to see.  I hope you like looking at canal boats and reflections?  There are rather a lot of them here.

I grabbed a sandwich as I whistled through the bus station, turned right at the doors, crossed over the road, and there I was, practically on the canal bank.  The weather forecast had predicted rain and the coach had passed through some heavy showers, but my luck was in.  Starved, because I hadn’t eaten breakfast, I found myself a seat by Clarence Dock and plonked myself down for 10 minutes, to munch and look at these beauties.

I'm never alone with a canal boat or two

I’m never alone with a canal boat or two

My picnic view
Looking across to the Royal Armouries
I always like a ‘pop’ of colour
A sign or two
And a few reflections

I don’t know whether you’re familiar with the Royal Armouries museum?  It’s the kind of place where you can lose a day quite easily.  Have a browse at the website.  You might want to make time to come back.  No spare time for me that day.  I had much exploring to do.

A raft of offices, restaurants and apartments surround the dock.  I had tried to memorise a route along the towpath but I did what I always do, which is to follow my nose.  This usually results in a few false starts and some day I will have to invest in technology so I can summon up the genie in the iPhone.  If you look at the Leeds Waterfront map it shows you quite clearly which paths are ‘navigable’.  Meantime I blunder on!

Time to leave Clarence Dock

Time to leave Clarence Dock

And another ‘pop’ of colour
And head past the lock to Knight’s Way Bridge
Isn’t that a lovely name for a bridge?
Pausing to watch the dredger negotiate the lock
And looking upstream to Crown Point Bridge
Looking back at the Royal Armouries museum

Looking back towards Royal Armouries and the lock

I stayed on the left bank of the River Aire, stopping for a look at Crown Point Bridge.  Opened in 1842, this was a toll bridge until 1868.  The towpath takes you past Brewery Wharf to Centenary Bridge, built in 1992 to celebrate 100 years of Leeds acquiring city status.  The views across to The Calls make this one of the most attractive stretches of the waterfront.

Bridge detail

Bridge detail

Underneath Crown Point Bridge

Crown Point Bridge x 2

Approaching Centenary Bridge
Sculpture detail in Brewery Wharf
The Calls with St. Peter’s Church in the background
Centenary Bridge

At this point the towpath ceases for a short distance and you have to thread your way through Bridge End Apartments, where I found a delightful surprise.  The wooden bridge was under repair but, lying in the water beneath, bright jewels clustered on the lily pads.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

More by luck than skill, I found myself at Leeds Bridge.  Dating back to the 14th century, this bridge, originally made from stone, was for 500 years the main crossing point on the river.  The medieval bridge was demolished in 1871, when it could no longer cope with the volume of traffic, and the existing cast iron bridge was constructed by 1873.  A distinctive looking bridge, it was the setting for the world’s first moving pictures.  In 1888, Louis Le Prince filmed horse-drawn traffic on the bridge, showing it in his nearby workplace, which became the world’s first cinema.

Intricate ironwork
Leeds Bridge
The crest. Did somebody mention owls?

Crossing over Leeds Bridge, the path then hugs the backs of stylish hotels around to Victoria Bridge.  The site of a ferry crossing and then a wooden footbridge washed away by floods, the Victoria Bridge was carved from local stone and completed in 1839, soon after the coronation of Queen Victoria.  Just beyond this point the River Aire meets the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Granary Wharf, loftily overlooked by the railway.

Victoria Bridge

Victoria Bridge

New footbridge into Granary Wharf
Sam’s boat!
Dazzling reflections on life
The boat cafe

The canal continues out of the city and into the countryside, but I had run out of time to follow it any further.  There are 127 miles of the Leeds and Liverpool canal- enough walking even for me! I would have liked to explore Holbeck Urban Village with its iconic Italianate towers, but it was time to turn back.  I looped round into Water Lane and headed back up Neville Street, curious to see the light installation under the railway bridge.

Passing south of Trinity Church and the impressive looking shopping plaza, I chanced upon the Corn Exchange.  Anyone remember Donovan? Apparently he strummed along here before he was famous.  A striking mural caught my eye, then I was back at Kirkgate and the Leeds City Market. It’s a regular stop off for me if I’m passing through the city.  Both the food stalls and the architecture are unbeatable.  A friendly local informed me that I should come along on Halloween, when they open the top gallery for a ‘Spooky walk’.  Sounds like fun?

The canal path, leading out of town
The canal network, West Leeds
Sound and Light in Neville Street
The main entrance to the markets
Did you ever see a better mural?

I hope I haven’t worn you out too much this week, but it’s been interesting, hasn’t it?  To join in my Monday walks click on the logo below and it will give you the details.  I’ve got the kettle on for what comes next- a visit to some wonderful friends.  Please do join me.

walking logo

Cardinal has a very individual style.  Let’s accompany him to Jerusalem  :

Jerusalem 9930

Violet Sky joins us again this week for a walk in the park  :

A walk in the park

Amy’s photography is an absolute joy  :

Where have all the flowers gone?

I really must visit Liverpool soon.  Drake’s colours sing!  :

Seeking out the colours

Meet Shan and her lovely family and go apple picking  :

Coffee and Conversation

And a huge welcome to Tish Farrell!  Her evocative writing style and photos makes me want to head for Wales right now  :

Now that Summer’s done, we take the Dol Idris path

Come and get a bit damp on the prom with me and Jude!  :

Reculver Towers and Roman Fort

And speaking of proms, how does New Zealand grab you?  Jill is very persuasive  :

Wellington on a good day

And just ‘up the road’, Rosemay takes us for a jaunt on the Perth coast  :

A walk with Winston

Staying ‘down under’, Pauline invites us for a beach walk.  It reminds me of Christine.  Where does the time go?

Beach walk

And lastly. our lovely Yvette is taking us to a ‘beautiful river’  :

Beautiful waterfront- Buffalo NY

Many thanks to you all for your company and warm support.  Happy walking!

150 comments

  1. These city canal frontages are really great. It’s so nice to have canals as part of the landscape once more. A very interesting exploration, Jo, and thank you very much for ‘signposting’ my walk. Much appreciated.

    Like

    Reply

  2. Agree with the others….the reflections are beautiful.
    We see what we want to see and sometimes it takes another to point out the beauty where we might not see it. lol
    Thank you for pointing us to so many beautiful things.

    Like

    Reply

    1. I was very impressed, Lynne. I always pass through Leeds when I visit Lisa (not often enough) and my son works there. I was going to buy him a pub lunch but he only had half hour so I went exploring instead. 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  7. You’ve been very restless while I was away, and so were your followers 😀 Thank you for showing me Crown Point Bridge x 2 – fabulous shot. I think I will join you next Monday if you fancy Bologna at night 😀 (it will take me some time to catch up here – thank you for patience and understanding) xx

    Like

    Reply

    1. Bologna at night sounds divine to me, Paula, and will be worth waiting for so don’t hurry. I expect I’ll find some mischief to get up to in the meantime. 🙂 Thanks, darlin’.

      Like

      Reply

  8. You know that when I was a teenager, Donovan was my hero. It’s nice to know where he used to strum before he made it big! I keep looking to see your special ripple effects on those reflection pictures, but it doesn’t look like you did them this time. You’re so good to squeeze in such a nice walk on a relatively brief layover. Thanks for taking me along to the Leeds waterfront, Jo!! Hugs xxx

    Like

    Reply

    1. I might have known you were a Donovan lass, Cathy! 🙂 🙂 The city’s changed a good bit since those days. I’d never seen the Waterfront and thought it was great. I could have gone wild with my reflection effects couldn’t I? You’d all have been boss-eyed! Hugs, darlin’ 🙂

      Like

      Reply

      1. Are you a Donovan lass yourself, Jo? I don’t think of myself as one nowadays, but I adored him back in the day. Yes, I really was waiting to see your reflections, but you’re right, they might have made me boss-eyed (whatever that is! ~ think I better head to my American English – British English dictionary). 🙂

        Like

    2. I did rather like him, Cathy, back in the day 🙂 You’ll be happy to know I’ve rippled one for you on today’s post. A few people don’t like the effects so I have to be sparing with them.

      Like

      Reply

      1. Oh great, Jo, I’ll have to check out your ripple post! I loved Donovan’s music then, but my enthusiasm faded as I got older. I’m not sure why. Maybe it seemed to spacey for me after awhile. 🙂

        Like

    1. It was the first time I’d been to the Waterfront too, Dina, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Maybe another time I’ll become a stowaway 🙂 Thanks a lot!
      Happy times to you and the ‘family’ too!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. le tue immagini riflesse sono sempre straordinarie! le adoro! l’intero post ha la classe eccelsa che sempre mi dimostri da quando ho avuto il piacere d’incontrarti
    thank you so much Giovanna 🙂 see you soon

    Like

    Reply

  11. Absolutely stunning reflections Jo, I never really did much exploring in UK when I lived there back in 1940’s and 50’s, so it is good to visit all these interesting places with you.

    Like

    Reply

      1. When I went back to visit Hull, my birth place, after 22 years in NZ I hardly recognized it. All the dock areas had been changed to a marina and the warehouses were trendy inner city apartments…

        Like

  14. What a wonderful walk Jo – I grew up in Leeds and didn’t know all this! I went in for the day on my last visit home in April and it’s certainly changed a lot over recent years. The Trinity Centre was incredible and I liked the way they had preserved Trinity Church round it. My dad is always saying I should visit the Royal Armouries whenever I’m visiting but so far I haven’t made it – must go next time I’m over! Thanks very much for including “A Walk With Winston” in your weekly walking roundup I’m so glad I could join you this week, have a great week Rosemary (Le Chic En Rose) 🙂

    Like

    Reply

    1. Local history is never easy to remember, Rosemay. I have to go to our Maritime Museum or Google it when I want to know things 🙂 Yes, I think they’ve done a good job with Trinity Church too, and the Royal Armouries is well worth a visit. Then you can do the canalside walk 🙂 🙂 Though most of it is river, which I found quite confusing. Many thanks for joining me.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. It’s a pleasure Jo I’ve enjoyed joining in with your walk this week 🙂 I’ve got some more posts in mind so will probably join every few weeks or so it’s a great idea! Thanks for highlighting my post this week much appreciated have a great week 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

    1. You’re very welcome, Cardinal, and many thanks for joining me again. I had a little internet trouble this morning so couldn’t respond. Then came my Monday walk 🙂 But I’m back now and all seems well.

      Like

      Reply

    1. Yes, you really could, Drake! 🙂 Many thanks for your support. I’m having a few internet probs this morning but hope to visit after I’ve been walking. (and trying to stay dry today 🙂 )

      Like

      Reply
  17. Pingback: Berlin Cathedral | Cardinal Guzman

  19. Hi Jo, the reflections in your photos are stunning. I’ve never been to Leeds, did get out of London to Birmingham and then to Norwich when I last visited the UK – several years ago now. . I must say those canal boats look very tempting.

    Like

    Reply
  20. Pingback: Emptiness with content | Le Drake Noir

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.