Before you think I have gone mad and suggested a week in Cornwall, let me point out that this walk is around Bingley and is less than one hour’s drive from East Lancashire.

St Ives is the research station of the Sports Turf Institute and since the 1920s has been advising on how to keep sports grounds in good order. Among the successes have been Wimbledon, Wembley, Rangers FC, Huddersfield FC, Sheffield United and golf courses at Carnoustie and Wentworth.

This stroll follows the banks of the River Aire and is the perfect spring walk.

From the station turn left and then right to the centre of the town. Look out for the river walk sign to reach the River Aire.

Turn left and cross over the busy but attractive bridge. Look over the bridge to see the weir which once provided water for the mills.

In the quiet stretch above the weir there were once fleets of rowing boats which were in demand during the Victorian and Edwardian periods.

Opposite the Brown Cow follow an obvious path and ascend a flight of stone steps. Approach a wide track turn right and continue along the steep incline.

This leads to the rock formation known as the Druid’s Altar.

This was used as a setting for the novel Sybil, written by Disraeli and published in 1835.

He used this place whilst describing an illicit meeting of Chartists.

At the Druid’s Altar turn left and pass through Heather Park passing Lady Blantyre’s Rock on the left.

This as a memorial to the Dowager Lady Blantyre, mother-in-law of the Squire of St Ives and who died in 1875.

This is the delightfully tranquil place and so is the area around the Coppice Pond which is reached after turning left.

The route now enters St Ives Park and the history of this estate dates back to the 12th century when it was owned by the Cistercian monks until 1540.

One further mention of the Turf hereabouts concerns 2010 and when the football World Cup in South Africa were set up by the Sports Research Institute.

Continue straight ahead and keep to this route and descend steeply to a road.

Here there is a plaque on the stump of the Ferrands Oak which was felled to provide timber for the new trancept of York Minster.

This was to replace the damage caused by the fire in 1984.

Follow the road and keep to the right.

Cross the road and descend to Beckfoot Lane where first there are houses and then go into a small woodland.

Cross a hump-backed bridge abd take a path to the left. Cross over the river Aire and ascend into Myrtle Park. This leads to the market place and then back to the station and the starting point.

How to get there: From East Lancashire follow the A629 from Skipton and then onto the A650 to Bingley to reach the railway station.The walk starts and ends here.