Walks in Farnley
From easy city strolls to challenging trails, discover the best of Farnley on foot.
Walk: Pudsey Circular
A pleasant walk around the countryside of Pudsey. The Route Start / Finish Point: On-road parking along Smalewell Road, Pudsey, LS28 8HU - Close to the Fox & Grapes pub. Distance: 5 Miles GPX Route Map walkshirepudseyDownload Walk Description From where you’ve parked on Smalewell Road, walk down towards the Fox and Grapes pub. Just before you get to it, turn left down the Public Bridleway and follow it as it snakes around to the left. Keep on the clearer track to the left and follow it through the wood. When you reach a track running left to right, turn right, and then left into the field, just before Tyersal Beck. Follow this clear track across the field, and through the trees, until eventually you are walking along the beck. Soon, you reach another track coming from the left, on the corner of Fulneck Golf Course. Carry on straight across into the trees and moving to the left away from the beck. Follow the edge of the trees, along the clear path on the ground until you reach a line of trees directly in front of you. Find the clearing in the trees, and enter to walk past a mill on the left and then out into open fields. Here, you follow the line of Pudsey Beck on the right for a while, following the path as it veers to the left around one cluster of trees, and then a little while later around another. Follow the path as it comes out onto Roker Lane beside an electricity substation. Turn right here, cross over the road and turn left through the gap in the wall just past the bus stop. Veer to the right and follow the boundary along the line of the trees and following Pudsey Beck on your right. Eventually, the track turns left, but you carry on into the next field to the next boundary. Turn left here just after the line of trees, and you can follow a clear path along the boundaries of several fields to reach Roker Lane again. Turn right, and follow Roker Lane until the sharp right bend when it becomes Southroyd Park. Turn left and walk down the road Fulneck until you reach a junction on the right. Here, carry on past the bins and down the gravel track straight ahead, not the road to the left for the Trekking Centre. At the gates at the end of the road, take the public footpath through the stile on the right and then turn right to follow the clear path across the field to the line of trees. Follow the line of trees to reach the road Greentop. Cross over and carry on through the snicket to Smalewell Road. Turn left and follow the road until you reach where you parked.
Walk: The Chevin
Take a walk around The Chevin Country Park and the ridge on the south side of Wharfedale, overlooking the market town of Otley. The Route Start Point: Lower Shawfield Car Park - Otley Chevin Forest Park, Otley LS21 3DD Finish Point: Lower Shawfield Car Park - Otley Chevin Forest Park, Otley LS21 3DD Distance: 5 Miles GPX Route Map walkshirethechevinDownload Walk Description Begin your walk at Lower Shawfield Car Park, leaving its entrance behind you. Amble down the track at the car park's rear and take the right fork, joining the scenic Dales Way. Stick to this well-trodden path, taking another right at the split around the bend, where the track gradually veers left. After a slight turn to the right, you'll meet a junction - keep straight, disregarding any offshoot paths until the track ends. Next, swing a left, heading in a north-easterly direction, and gently veer left again at the upcoming fork. Bypass another intersecting track, and press forward. Turning left at the track's end will have you treading upon the charming Caley Crags, a picturesque portion of the Ebor Way. Stick to this track through the refreshing forest, making a right at a crossroads, and walk alongside the tranquil Holbeck until reaching another path. At this point, veer left, winding your way towards East Chevin Road. Here, turn left and stick to the left side of what can be a bustling road until a public footpath sign beckons on the right, just before a sturdy stone wall. Safely cross and embrace this path, turning right when you hit the next track. Follow it upward to a splendid viewpoint to your right, just past the Surprise View Car Park to the left. The Chevin, which you'll be navigating through, is a verdant ridge offering magnificent views and lush pathways, presenting an ambient backdrop for leisurely strolls or an invigorating walk, whilst being serenaded by the melodic twittering of local birdlife. It's not merely a walk but an immersive experience amidst nature’s calm. Having absorbed the delightful view, backtrack along the same path, making your way back towards East Chevin Road. Turn right and cross back over, walking into Lower Shawfield Car Park, marking the end of your serene adventure through the splendid Chevin.
Walk: Armley to Kirkstall Bridge
A walk in Leeds out and back walk from Armley to Kirkstall bridge along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Towpath. The Route what3words reference: ///pardon.path.waddled Start Point: Viaduct Road, Armley Finish Point: Kirkstall Bridge, Kirkstall Distance: 3.3 Miles GPX Route Map armleytokirkstallDownload Walk Description This walk is an out and back walk from Viaduct Road in Armley up to Kirkstall Bridge following the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The first half of the walk is on smooth concrete and the second half gives you the option of a rough towpath or the cycle route travelling along side. As you get onto the canal, turn right away from Leeds city centre and keep the canal to your left. The path is wide and smooth with some short sections of cobbles under the bridges. You will pass by the historic Armley Mills as the towpath winds through the Aire Valley. A short distance into the walk you will approach the hills that traverse the entrances to Aire Valley Marina which allows boats to get on the canal. Just after Aire Valley Marina you will come to a bridge. If you take the right-hand path, just before the bridge, you can follow the direction of the canal into Kirkstall on a wide flat path that forms part of the cycle path. Alternatively, you can use the cobblestone path up and over the bridge to explore Armley Park and the wooded canal path. Once you have passed the Marina, you will reach a bridge where the cycle path re-joins the towpath. There are a number of cobbles on the path under the bridge. When you reach Kirkstall Bridge Car Park where you can either leave the canal, continue to explore the towpath as it travels past Bramley Fall Woods or retrace your steps. At Kirkstall Bridge you are just a few minutes’ walk from the Kirkstall Bridge Inn, a perfect place to stop for refreshment and enjoy the waterside garden!
Walk: Pioneering women and haunted pubs in hidden Newlay
A short circuit near Kirstall Forge and Kirkstall Abbey. The Route Start Point: Kirkstall Forge Finish Point: Kirkstall Forge Distance: 1.86 miles GPX Route Map dnaire-pioneering-women-in-hidden-newlayDownload Walk Description what3words for start point: ///pulled.really.sock Start at Kirkstall Forge train station (LS5 3NF). The site was once Kirkstall Forge. Metal has been smelted on this site since 1200 by the monks from Kirkstall Abbey. One owner, Betty Beecroft, transformed a largely derelict forge in 1778 in just four years into a thriving business that laid the foundation for production at the site until 2002. Exit through the rear of the station along the path that leads into woodland. Turn left at the T junction and head towards the canal. At the canal turn right and follow the signpost marked Horsforth. The Abbey Inn is said to be haunted. Like many pubs in the area, it was used as a mortuary from the 1600's until the 1950's. From the Abbey Inn walk down the road over the railway bridge and down towards Newlay Bridge. Walk across the bridge and when you come to Rein Road turn right and walk ahead until you see the river on your right. Follow the track along the riverbank. When the track comes out on Leeds and Bradford Road turn right and head down the hill back to Kirkstall Forge.
Water and Industry in Kirkstall Valley Walk
This walk takes you between two fish passes. Before summer 2020 fish hoping to reach the gravel beds in shallower parts of the upland river to lay their eggs were stopped by the weirs at Kirkstall Abbey and Armley Mills. The Route Start Point: Kirkstall Abbey Finish Point: Kirkstall Abbey Distance: 2.1 miles GPX Route Map dnaire-water-and-industry-in-kirkstall-valleyDownload Walk Description what3words for start point: ///advice.silver.beans This walk takes you between two fish passes. Before summer 2020 fish hoping to reach the gravel beds in shallower parts of the upland river to lay their eggs were stopped by the weirs at Kirkstall Abbey and Armley Mills. Many fish need to move within the river to feed, breed and shelter. One of the fish that will have travelled the furthest is the Atlantic salmon. Salmon will have travelled from the Atlantic Ocean around Greenland to lay their eggs in the shallow upland streams they are born in. These fish pass help connect 60km of river habitat. Their construction will allow salmon to return after an absence of over 150 years. Food & Facilities The Kirkstall Bridge Inn serves food & there is a café at Kirkstall Abbey.
Walk: A lunchtime stroll in Leeds City Centre
An extremely short walk in Leeds City Centre, perfect for a lunch break. The Route Start Point: Leeds Bridge Finish Point: Leeds Bridge Distance: 1.24 miles GPX Route Map dnaire-lunchtime-stroll-inleeds-city-centreDownload Walk Description what3words for start point: ///chest.doing.forced The walk that graces the city of Leeds is not merely a stroll through its streets; it's a journey through time, technology, and transformation. It starts at a place that carries the weight of history and the lightness of innovation—Leeds Bridge. Leeds Bridge, a structure so integral to the city's identity that it commands the singular name "Leeds Bridge" amidst numerous others, stands as a testament to the legacy of human ingenuity that spans back to the middle ages. The present bridge, cast in the robust iron of the early 1870s, serves as a silent observer to the march of time, witnessing the city's pulse through centuries. As you stand on this historical bridge, you connect not only to the banks of the river but to a moment of groundbreaking achievement. Imagine the year 1888, with Louis Le Prince, the Father of Cinematography, capturing the world’s first moving pictures right from this vantage point. The very first frames, immortalizing the hustle and bustle of Victorian Leeds, were filmed here, marking the spot as a cradle of the motion picture industry. From the bridge, your journey takes you along Dock Street, a roadway that has evolved with the city itself. In the 1800s, during the peak of the Industrial Revolution, this street was a bustling artery of commerce. Boats docked along its edge, loading and unloading goods into the hungry warehouses, fueling Leeds' rise as a nexus of industrial power. Today, as you amble down Dock Street, it whispers tales of its industrious past amidst its modern calm. The old warehouses, once teeming with the clamor of workers and goods, have undergone a chrysalis transformation. Now, these restored buildings serve a new age, housing apartments and businesses, a vibrant example of urban regeneration and the delicate balance of preserving the past while embracing the future. Your footsteps will next lead you to Centenary Bridge, a relatively young addition to the cityscape, yet one with its own historical significance. Unveiled in 1993, the bridge commemorates a centennial of progress since Leeds was elevated to city status. This modern structure does more than span the physical Aire; it bridges the gap between eras, a symbol of a city that honors its history while steadily stepping forward. Crossing the Centenary Bridge, you experience the improved pedestrian link across the Aire, a thoughtful element in city planning that prioritizes the human scale amidst urban sprawl. The waters beneath the bridge, once vital trade routes, now reflect the changing sky and the city lights, echoing Leeds' enduring connection to its waterways. This walk through Leeds, while physically spanning a modest distance, is expansive in its historical and cultural reach. Each bridge crossed is not just a passage over water, but a step across epochs. Each street followed tells a story of change, resilience, and the ever-evolving story of a city that has seamlessly woven its industrial tapestry into the fabric of modern urban life.
Walk: Armley Mills and Park
A circular walk around Armley in Leeds taking you along the towpath and through the park. The Route what3words for start point: ///teeth.deny.activism Start / Finish Point: Armley Mills Industrial Museum Car Park, 15 Evanston Ave, Burley, Leeds LS4 2DG Distance: 2 Miles GPX Route Map armleyparktowpathDownload Walk Description Starting this walk on Canal Road, walk away from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal up the hill and turn right at Armley Park Road. As you enter the 14-hectare park you will walk through the tree lined paths and past the band stand. Drop down the hill on Redcote Lane and follow the path until you reach the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Cross the canal using Redcote Bridge and continue on the towpath where you will see the Aire Valley Marina. After passing the museum you will see some steps where you can leave the towpath to return to Canal Road.
Aire Valley Towpath Walk
Follow the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the River Aire from Leeds to Bingley on this waterside cycle or walk. The Route Start Point: Leeds Finish Point: Bingley Distance: 16 miles GPX Route Map aire-valley-towpath-route-1Download Walk Description what3words for start point: ///swung.landed.notion Follow the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the River Aire from Leeds to Bingley on this waterside cycle or walk. The route runs for about 16 miles following National Cycle route 66 past Kirkstall Abbey, Bramley Fall, Rodley, Calverley Woods, Apperley Bridge, Thackley, Shipley, Hirst Wood and Dowley Gap with both countryside and urban sections to enjoy.
Lindley Wood Reservoir Circular Walk
Lindley Wood Reservoir is the oldest of the reservoirs in the Washburn Valley. Built between 1869 and 1876. Further up the valley are three others named Thruscross, Fewston and Swinsty. Lindley Wood reservoir is situated further down the valley and a quiet, lesser known yet beautiful area to explore. There is no direct path covering the whole circumference of the water's edge but this 6 mile circular walk takes in not just the reservoir but the surrounding area too providing expansive views of the lower Washburn Valley as well as the reservoir from above. This walk has so much all in one walk. Open countryside, a reservoir, forest paths, woodland paths and riverside paths and a bit of history. Perfect! Parking There is a small parking space for around 4 cars at the Dob Park Rd junction with Weston Moor Road. The Otley to Blubberhouses Road. (SE 195 492). If heading out of Otley, go up the hill on the Blubberhouses Road, past the turn off for Clifton. The road will bend right sharply then afterwards as it bends left sharply the junction is on your right. It is a dead end road and the spaces are immediately on the right as you enter the road. Route walkshire__lindley_wood_reservoirDownload GPX file OS Map with GPX Route Marked: Lindley Wood Reservoir A lovely walk for a pleasant afternoon, around the countryside surrounding the Lindley Wood Reservoir - built in 1869. From the parking spot, turn right, then immediately left down the public footpath. Follow this clear track through the wood to the edge of Lindley Wood Reservoir. After a small clearing, the track enters the wood again, so follow it through, crossing a bridge over Church Gill, eventually coming out onto the B6451 to the left of Lindley Lodge. Turn left, crossing over the viaduct - with stunning views over the reservoir on the left and Norwood Bottom on the right. Take care as there is no pavement here and vehicles can be travelling fast. The road turns right, then left, and then there’s a public footpath along a track to Crag Farm on the right. Follow this long, straight track, but just before it turns right to the farm, take the footpath on the left to walk alongside a boundary. As you enter the next field, head for the far left corner, cutting across the field, then follow the boundary on your right all the way around to eventually meet the B6451 again. Climb the wall stile and carefully cross over the road, taking the footpath on the right, set into a farm access track. Follow the hedgerow on the right across two fields until you reach a quiet road through a gate. Turn left, and follow this road all the way until it turns left over Lindley Bridge to where you parked. Andrew White Start Location: Small parking area off Cinder Lane, near Lindley Bridge, Otley LS21 2LA Walk finish location: As start Walk down Dob Park Road for 100m and take the right turn where the signpost says The 6 Dales Trail. Follow the track and keep to the right hand track when there is a divergence. This will give you outstanding views down toward the reservoir as well as a unique view of Almscliffe Crag in the near distance. The track then leads you down into Crag Farm. Pass through and past the farm and as soon as the track bears left you take the gate the first gate on the right. Pass through this field keeping the wall to your right and in the next field, turn left, and you will see a high ladder stile to go over. As you walk through these fields you get a real good views down to the reservoir below but also over the whole lower Washburn Valley. Forest covered hills and green fields in every direction. Head down the slope. Keep to the right hand side of the field as it bends round to the right. At the end of the field in the corner you will see a stile with home made handrails that leads onto the road. Go straight across the road taking care and onto the footpath directly across. Walk through the next two fields and through the gate onto the lane where you will turn left and walk down it until you cross the bridge. Immediately after crossing the bridge you will see and take a path that heads left off the lane and into the woods. Signposted Norwood Bottom. This is the reservoir path proper and you follow it all the way along. Lindley Wood itself is enchanting at any time of year. A very quiet footpath that provides a great forest walk combined with views across the reservoir. Follow this track all the way to the end where you will meet the road again and turn left across the bridge. Immediately after the bridge turn right over a stile and onto a path by the River Washburn. You will eventually come to a bridge that takes you across onto the right hand side of the river and carry on. Keeping the river to your left. You will eventually come to a ford with a pretty setting by the river and an old moss covered 17 century packhorse bridge. A perfect place for a picnic by the water. Cross that bridge and follow the track that goes uphill and turns into a tarmac lane. This leads you all the way up and back to your starting point. This will be the steepest part of the trail so take your time and enjoy turning around and looking back across the valley. Nearby Places to Stay and Eat The nearest town is Otley in West Yorkshire (3 miles away) which in itself is a lovely place to take in if visiting the area. There are many shops, cafes and restaurants to choose from as well as a great bustling market on certain days. There are a few bed and breakfasts to choose from too. Attractions near Lindley Wood The other way north for around 5 miles is Mackenzies Smokehouse Farm Shop at Blubberhouses. A huge place selling not just farm and food products but many housewares and unique items. The cafe is fantastic and can highly recommend their roast Sunday dinner.