FOUR Silsden walks devised by a local rambler are proving popular with residents.

Cowling resident Allan Friswell was commissioned by Silsden Town Council to create the Silsden Strolls.

Leaflets describing the walks are being snapped up by people wishing to explore the town and its surroundings.

Following the success of the first four strolls, Mr Friswell is now devising two more walks using local rights of way.

The strolls are between three and four miles long, and each leaflet has detailed walk directions and a large-scale map.

Two of the strolls start from Silsden town centre, one exploring the meadows to the south between the canal and River Aire and the other going to the east close to the hamlets of Swartha and Brunthwaite.

The third stroll visits the upland meadows to the north, close to High Bradley Moor and Woofa Bank, and the fourth explores the hillsides that encircle Silsden Reservoir.

Bradford Council officer, Liz Horn, said town residents had eagerly snapped up the attractive leaflets describing the walks.

She added: “The strolls encourage people to get out walking, as well as keeping the local rights of way well used.”

Mr Friswell last year came up with the idea of compiling leaflets to showcase short circular walks using the many miles of public footpaths in Silsden.

He became interested in the town after surveying its footpaths for the West Riding Ramblers.

He approached Silsden Town Council, which agreed to provide £500 towards the cost of printing the walks.

At the time Silsden town mayor, Cllr Chris Atkinson, said he hoped the leaflets would attract people to the town.

Mr Friswell said Silsden offered a better prospect for walks than his home village due to its varied network of paths.

He added: “Because of the geography and topography of Silsden, set on the hills, you get wonderful views.

“Silsden has a lots of nice hidden footpaths, so there’s no problem putting walks together.”

Mr Friswell had hoped that is part of the project, he could improve signs and waymarkers directing walkers around the footpaths.

But earlier this year the town council refused to provide an extra £200 for waymarkers.

Mr Friswell said this meant there was no possibility of Silsden being accepted by the Walkers Are Welcome scheme, which would have increased Silsden’s “commercial footprint”.

E-mail Mr Friswell on allanfriswell@silstrolls.org.uk for further information about the walks and to get copies of the leaflets.