Calls Landing, Leeds

Entering Leeds it struck us how many old industrial brick buildings had been modernised and brought back into use as offices and accommodation. It was great to see.

The CRT worked us through Leeds lock and told us visitor moorings at the first dock were full. Boaters told us the elsan point was closed as it kept getting vandalised. Luckily our compost toilet means we can last longer without needing facilities.

On our way towards Granary Wharf we spotted mooring rings and steps on a riverside walkway and decided to stop here. We needed to use our small trolley wheels as extra wide fenders to keep us away from a sunken ledge protruding from the concrete wall. Otherwise we were very close to the city centre and it wasn't a place where people hung around to disturb the dogs.

Over the two days we visited Kirkgate Market, the stunning Corn Exchange and County Arcade (see pics).

We over indulged, eating out at the oppulent Mumtaz Indian Restaurant, the ethical Eat Your Greens café and Falaffel Guys street food caravan as well as evening drinks at the old Adelphi pub.

Leeds didn't seem to have as many urban gardens as Sheffield, but street art enlivened its buildings. There was always something to see.

We took the dogs with us to explore but there was so much to stimulate their brains that they tired quickly and needed to be left in the boat to rest. Abby the Tabby couldn't come with us but amused herself by stopping passers by for strokes. People loved her and we frequently heard people on the walkway chatting to her. She's come a long way from being a semi feral farm cat who ran at the sight of strangers! We even heard one person saying to their friend 'there's supposed to be a cat along here... oh look there it is!'Read more