Thorner South Circular

This is a circular tour based on the attractive village of Thorner. It lies to the north of Leeds and can be reached by the 7 bus that goes between Leeds and Harrogate; there is ample on-road parking in this attractive village.
The bus stops in the centre of the village are outside and opposite The Fox Inn on Main Street, where there are several attractive houses. The tour starts by walking up Preston Ginnel and the turns on Butts Garth where there is the remains of the old market cross.
Butts Garth leads to Little Moor Lane and so on to a bridge over a dismantled railway line which is followed going southwards: this is Thorner definitive footpath #14. Where there is a signpost showing the footpath goes to the right over another railway bridge, go straight on and round the outskirts of the field.
When the footpath reaches the A64, the road is crossed and the footpath on the other side of the road followed towards Whinmoor Nook Farm. The footpath passes Woodhouse Farm and goes across a field, where there is a footpath sign some way into the field showing the route goes to the left. I went on to the field edge and followed the field boundary back before crossing over a footbridge.
This definitive footpath Barwick 36 reaches the A64 and it is only a short walk along it before a footpath on the opposite side of the road can be seen. This goes through Saw Wood where there are several very muddy places, though none too long or that difficult.
On this footpath there is a sign suggesting it goes between hedges, but it is easier and more pleasant to walk on the outside of the hedge; it eventually reaches Stead Lane and so on back to the Main Street.
The going is mostly easy and there is some variety between woods and open fields. I think there are five stiles along the route.