Follow The Foss - 9 - Past Huntington Church to Ring Road

The river continues in meandering curves with wooded banks and Huntington Road never too far away although you can't hear the traffic and the atmosphere is tranquil.

 

Anoter stile but only two way markers on the rail.

 

This small bridge links Huntington Church with the village. Turn to the left at the bridge to head towards the church. The footpath on the left hand bank is gained through the car park at the side of the church and is clearly marked.

 

 

 

 

In the midst of all this green this group of Asters is growing wild at the edge of woodland near the ring road. Several butterflies and bees were feeding on nectar on the flowers.

Finally the ring road comes into sight and this is where I finished for the time being. In the next few weeks I'll travel further up the River Foss towards Haxby and Strensall.

All the photographs taken on this walk can be seen in my Follow The Foss album on Facebook.

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Follow The Foss - 7 - Fossway to Yearsley Grove

Just before the river crosses under Huntington Road is a typical spiky deterrent atop a service bridge.

 

Up the steps and cross the road to pick up the path again on the other side of the bridge. Entrance to the path is set back a bit from the bridge towards Haley's Terrace and a little overgrown with Russian vine.

Approaching Yearsley Baths swimming pool  are the remains of a former lock, upstream is a small weir that runs off on the right hand side.

From this point upstream the bank is cut into two very distinct levels to take overspill when water levels get high. The path runs alongside the swimming baths and the car park for Nestle employees. Despite this being a busy area you can sometimes catch a flash of blue as a Kingfisher dives into the water. Otters and voles are can also be seen along this stretch as well.

Heavily wooded areas intersperse with more open areas that allow a view of the rear gardens of houses that run down to the rivers edge along Huntington Road. Some are even lucky enough to have a small boat moored at the end of their gardens.

 

Some magnificent willows now hang gracefully over the edge of the banks in places.

I was surprised to find this rather fine specimen of an Astilbe growing on the banks but found several more as I walked further. I wondered if it was a garden escape or whether it grows naturally in the wild.

For those that cannot afford a rowing boat there is always the option of a fibreglass canoe like the splash of red that can be seen through the trees. on the right.

For those of you that worked up a bit of a thirst, the bridge offers  a good exit point to go and find the Yearsley Grove pub. Cross the bridge and turn to the right along Huntington Road. You will find the pub about a hundred yards (metres) on the left.

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Follow The Foss - 6 - Huntington Road

Meandering along the Foss as it wriggles along behind Huntington Road the character of the river banks becomes a little less urban and takes on a hint of the rural feeling greener with more overhanging trees. This starts with the little park area just past the bridge at Heworth Green.

 

From this point the river ducks behind the buildings on Huntington Road and moves through a series of gentle curves.

 

 

 

Having walked through a tranquil tree lined area at the back of the buildings you emerge back onto the busy Huntington Road not far from the former City Hospital now used as accomodation for students from St. John's. There is a roadside path and a fence alongside the river which is firmly held in place with concrete sides.

In the distance is a railway bridge which is now part of a cycleway and footpath. In a former incarnation this was the Derwent Valley Light Railway. In the following pictures you will see the "sculptures" atop the bridge emerging. There are many of these such "sculptures" along the cycleway. Most have been vandalised or grafittied

 

 

Again the walk takes a slightly more rural feel as the path runs behind the houses of Huntington Road. Willows seem to be more prominent along this stretch. On the right hand bank there is the King George's Park and childrens play area behind Dodsworth Avenue. Although having a slightly more rural feel you can tell that you are still in the city as there are abandoned beds and shopping trolleys in evidence.

 

In addition to the beds and shopping trolleys are also a liberal sprinkling of drink cans and bottles.

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Canada Geese - Junction Monkgate and Huntington Road

These geese are some of the inhabitants of the small park mentioned in yesterday's blog. Canada geese have become so prolific in the UK that there is an open hunting season on them all year round. This pair came dashing up to me whilst I was taking photographs, no doubt expecting that I had brought them some stale bread to feed them. Sorry guys, no food, just a camera!

River Foss at Junction Huntington Road and Monkgate

This small area of parkland next to the River Foss is by the roundabout junction where Huntington Road meets with Monkgate and Heworth Green. There are several geese that gather in this area indicating that the water quality of the river has improved dramatically since the 1960s. Traffic chaos sometimes happens here when the geese decide to go for a walk across the road and move slowly.