Railway Children

 

Richard Bell's Wild West Yorkshire nature diary, Monday, 10th September, 2007

KeighleyLeedsA FRIEND GAVE me a lift this morning and, although the way 'over the top' to Keighley boasts views as far as Pen-y-Ghent and Arthur's Seat above Bolton Abbey, I think that my favourite way of getting around West Yorkshire has to be the way I came back this afternoon, by train.

Keighley Station reminds me of the film The Railway Children, although it has been used for lots of period dramas since that film was made on the Keighley and Worth Valley line. I like the glimpses of canal and narrow green pastures on the approach to Leeds; in an hour or two of towpath walking from the city centre you could find yourself in real countryside . . . surrounded by real cows!

As the train reaches the western edge of the city there's a view of Kirkstall Abbey across the River Aire. I must go and draw there soon.