SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

I've been surprised at how far we can see from vantage points in Leeds, admittedly SE down along an outflow river valley to flatlands.I think it was Book who confirmed a distant, reverse view of Leeds tall buildings looking back upstream.I don't know the answer to this.How far north/NE/NW etc we can see with naked eye, binocs and to photograph. Often 'high points' have their view obscured by trees/buildings and some tower block vantage points need permissive access.    

Not very far as far as I can tell Jogon. The further North you get the hillier it is.This is my North East/North West view.To get your bearings it's facing Leeds/Bradford airport and the Menston area.You can see this photo full size herehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/795460 ... stream/The allotments you can see are on Harrogate Road near the Queens Arms. You can see Cookridge communication tower, which according to this photo here is one of the highest points in Leedshttp://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/567498I've always wondered which block of flats it is you can see poking out of the top of the trees on the left, and which group of tall trees you can see on the far horizon.You would be very hard pushed to beat this view in that direction I would think, I'm on one of the tallest buildings in the highest part of hilly North Leeds.The view looking North is very poor compared to the South though which is all downhill.I just have to show of my new pigeon defences I built on my balcony, I'm really pleased with the results. I've been waging a war with those things for the last 6 years, I finally snapped and bought some netting and timber to stop them once and for all.Pigeons can become your Nemisis after a while, would you believe they're are forums where people help each other get rid of and deter those filthy flying rats, people start to dream about them and how to defeat them, people lying in wait behind cat flaps with jet powered hose in hand to blast them lol. I'm lost now I'm pigeon free, I'm so used to going out there and chasing them with my buckets of water and sweeping brush...Get out of it...grrr...wallop!                 

From the Chevin you can see Menwith Hill on a clear day, and you would be slightly higher on Haw Top in Yeadon - there's a good northern view from the top of Baildon Moor but that's in Bradford of course, so Haw Top would be the next highest point if it wasn't a reservoir.

I wonder how far North one can see form Billing Hill in Rawdon? There ought to be some kind of view from up there?

I think I'm correct in saying you can see York Minster (on a clear day) from a point in Shadwell. If not Shadwell it is one of the northern Leeds suburbs. Sorry if I'm being vague.

Phill - those flats, could they be the ones on the Ring Road at West Park? Or those just off Spen Lane?I'm thinking they must be out that sort of way and although that side of Leeds is a bit off my patch I'm struggling to think of any others...

raveydavey wrote: Phill - those flats, could they be the ones on the Ring Road at West Park? Or those just off Spen Lane?I'm thinking they must be out that sort of way and although that side of Leeds is a bit off my patch I'm struggling to think of any others... Yes I thought that same area myself, didn't they film some Beiderbecke Affair scenes in the flats round there? Edit...Yes they did, Clayton Grange!http://tinyurl.com/cjwv2pw    

Johnny39 wrote: I think I'm correct in saying you can see York Minster (on a clear day) from a point in Shadwell. If not Shadwell it is one of the northern Leeds suburbs. Sorry if I'm being vague. The view from Otley Chevin can be spectacular on a clear day, and you can see the White Horse at Sutton Bank from there which looks to be around 30 odd miles to the north-east as the crow flies.As always with these things you need a clear day - the haze today has been terrible for instance. Often a crisp, clear winters day provides the best view.Of course, JMW Turner saw the Alps from there, but they are obviously to the South so not relevant to this discussion...

I'm just wondering how many other towns and cities have a view where you can actually photograph two town halls in the same photograph?You can see both Leeds and Morley town hall on this photo.The full size photo can be seen herehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/795596 ... otostream/    

raveydavey wrote: Johnny39 wrote: I think I'm correct in saying you can see York Minster (on a clear day) from a point in Shadwell. If not Shadwell it is one of the northern Leeds suburbs. Sorry if I'm being vague. The view from Otley Chevin can be spectacular on a clear day, and you can see the White Horse at Sutton Bank from there which looks to be around 30 odd miles to the north-east as the crow flies.As always with these things you need a clear day - the haze today has been terrible for instance. Often a crisp, clear winters day provides the best view.Of course, JMW Turner saw the Alps from there, but they are obviously to the South so not relevant to this discussion... You can of course see the moon Ravey from Otley Chevin on certain nights. Sorry for my poor attempt at being humourous . Just boredom.