GOING ASTRAY

We're now on the road, near the village of Weeton, with a preserved Birmingham Daimler on the Trans-Pennine Run.

There's Weeton village and its church.

Near Rigton, we find this Blue Bus Daimler, again on the Trans-Pennine Run.

There was a signal box at Rigton, controlling a level crossing.

Our next stop is Beckwithshaw, where there's a nice church and a pub, the Smiths Arms.

Still on the Trans-Pennine Run, a Bedford OB passes through Pannal.

Back in 1984, Pannal station building had been converted into a pub, with some old Pullman cars. The pub is now a supermarket.

Spofforth comes next on our journey. Here's the village from the River Crimple. All Saints church is visible.

There's the remains of a castle in Spofforth.

Close by is the Castle Inn. Here's an old photo, but it's still going strong. Details here.

The North Eastern Railway once served Spofforth station. It closed in 1964.

So, we now move on to Harrogate and the big green area called The Stray. It has long been the rallying point of the Trans-Pennine Run and here are a few of the exhibits.

It's not just buses.

At one end of The Stray is a pub, the Empress. 

We'll examine more of Harrogate in the next post. See where we've been here.

PLENTY OF PUBS IN OTLEY!

We've now left Ilkley behind, with or without us 'ats.  The next stop is just along the valley at Burley in Wharfedale and its railway station in pre-grouping days. A Midand Railway service arrives.

Here's the station photographed in 1961 (Ben Brooksbank).

Bradford Corporation's trolleybuses once reached Burley in Wharfedale.

The White Horse was a fine Tetley house back in 1988. It's still in business and has a good report here.

Not far away, Menston station, on the line towards Bradford.

High above the town of Otley is The Chevin, where the Royalty pub can be found.

The railway (Midland and North Eastern Joint) station in Otley has long gone.

Otley Cattle Market as early as 1884.

The Market Place and clock tower.

Otley parish church, seen in 1976.

Leeds trolleybuses once ran into Otley, as seen in this view of Boroughgate.

By the early 1960s, the good people of Otley had got a bus station.

Otley bus station was the hub of the Samuel Ledgard network.

Ledgard's also had a depot in Otley.

The West Yorkshire Road Car Company took over Ledgard's and continued until they became part of Firstbus. Here's a Leyland National in Metro green.

Firstbus owned MCW Metrobus 7566 in Otley, 1997.

Aztecbird used this unusual Neoplan saloon on the Airport service.

Harrogate based Connexxions still run into Otley.

I promised you plenty of pubs. Here's the first, the Black Bull, the oldest of them all.

Next up, the Bowing Green, once a brew pub, now a Wetherspoons.

Now, the Fleece, once owned by Wharfebank Brewery.

Here's the Horse & Farrier, a pretty decent boozer.

Another good one, the Junction Inn.

The Manor House was a rare (for the area) Thwaite's pub, but it is now "long-term closed".

A new pub, once an eaterie, is the Old Cock, a great free house opposite the bus station.

Two pubs for the price of one (on film). The Whitakers Arms and the Red Lion.

The Woolpack has now closed to become a music and arts studio.

So, we now leave Otley behind and head for Pool in Wharfedale. Here, just over the river and the border, in North Yorkshire, is the Hunters Inn.

And that's where I'll leave you for the moment. The next post will see us heading vaguely northwards. Follow the route here.