Other Greenways
The Aire Valley Towpath route encompasses both vibrant urban areas and beautiful countryside, taking you on a peaceful journey through Leeds and out past Kirkstall Abbey, Bramley Fall, Rodley, Calverley Woods, Apperley Bridge, Buck Wood at Thackley, Shipley, Hirst Wood, Dowley Gap and the Three and Five Rise Locks at Bingley.
Distance: 17 miles
Type: Canal towpath. Surface is mostly good with some tarmac
Web: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/route/aire-valley-towpath
Distance: 17 miles
Type: Canal towpath. Surface is mostly good with some tarmac
Web: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/route/aire-valley-towpath
The unique Room on the Broom Adventure Trail at Anglers Country Park is here to stay, with activities that provide a fun outdoor experience for all the family!
Activity packs can be purchased from the Visitor Centre.
From the centre you'll follow the trail, find sculptures, look for animal footprints, trace rubbings and have fun doing activities along the way. The trail is a circular route around the lake and is accessible by foot, cycle, buggy or wheelchair.
Distance: 2 miles
Type: Lakeside trail
Web: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/sport-and-leisure/parks-and-countryside/room-on-the-broom#rotb
Activity packs can be purchased from the Visitor Centre.
From the centre you'll follow the trail, find sculptures, look for animal footprints, trace rubbings and have fun doing activities along the way. The trail is a circular route around the lake and is accessible by foot, cycle, buggy or wheelchair.
Distance: 2 miles
Type: Lakeside trail
Web: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/sport-and-leisure/parks-and-countryside/room-on-the-broom#rotb
This is a signed, mainly traffic-free route between Huddersfield and Dewsbury town centres. It is ideal for family leisure cycling or to facilitate a cycle journey to work. Much of this route is surprisingly rural passing through a pleasant wooded and agricultural landscape.
Most of the path is built on the former rail corridor of the Midland Railway, with the section from Dewsbury Moor to the town centre on a riverside path. It comprises the Birkby Bradley Greenway National Cycle Network Route 69 and Calder Valley Greenway National Cycle Network Route 66. Some sections of the Calder Valley Greenway are available to horseriders.
Distance: 11 miles
Type: Mainly traffic free
Web: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/route/calder-valley-greenway-huddersfield-dewsbury
Most of the path is built on the former rail corridor of the Midland Railway, with the section from Dewsbury Moor to the town centre on a riverside path. It comprises the Birkby Bradley Greenway National Cycle Network Route 69 and Calder Valley Greenway National Cycle Network Route 66. Some sections of the Calder Valley Greenway are available to horseriders.
Distance: 11 miles
Type: Mainly traffic free
Web: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/route/calder-valley-greenway-huddersfield-dewsbury
This scale model of the Solar System is spread out along 6.4 miles, which is a ratio of 575,872,239 to 1, which makes the speed of light just 1.16 mph: so just for a while you're awesomely fast! Along the route you can find scale models of all the planets in our solar system (and Pluto) as well as models of the Cassini and Voyager spacecraft.
Once a railway line, the track is now part nature reserve with great variations of trees and natural wildlife to be encountered. Between Jupiter and Mars you can visit the Brunswick Organic Nursery staffed by folks with learning difficulties who sell refreshments to cyclists. You can see the Cassini probe from the station by Naburn Swing Bridge, but you'll have to go out beyond the grass maze at Neptune to find the Voyager 1, the first man made object to leave the solar system!
Distance: 7 miles
Type: Mainly traffic free
Web: https://www.york.ac.uk/solar/
Once a railway line, the track is now part nature reserve with great variations of trees and natural wildlife to be encountered. Between Jupiter and Mars you can visit the Brunswick Organic Nursery staffed by folks with learning difficulties who sell refreshments to cyclists. You can see the Cassini probe from the station by Naburn Swing Bridge, but you'll have to go out beyond the grass maze at Neptune to find the Voyager 1, the first man made object to leave the solar system!
Distance: 7 miles
Type: Mainly traffic free
Web: https://www.york.ac.uk/solar/
This delightful traffic-free route travels from the small town of Garforth just outside Leeds through lovely countryside, passing a nature reserve and an RSPB site, along a river and canal ending at Woodlesford station.
If you want to extend the route, you could continue onto the fantastic Rothwell Country Park
Distance: 4 miles
Type: Traffic free, a mixture of gravel track and tarmaced path
Web: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/route/garforth-woodlesford-linesway
If you want to extend the route, you could continue onto the fantastic Rothwell Country Park
Distance: 4 miles
Type: Traffic free, a mixture of gravel track and tarmaced path
Web: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/route/garforth-woodlesford-linesway
The former railway line is also known as the Nidderdale Greenway. As well as developing the traffic-free path, this route development included bringing back into use the Grade 2 listed, seven-arch Nidd Gorge Viaduct and providing new safe crossings of the A61 near Ripley. The Greenway also links into the existing cycle network which takes you to Knaresborough, Starbeck and Harrogate.
For the people of Knaresborough, Starbeck and Harrogate the route provides a wonderful gateway to various fantastic National Trust sites to the North. Brimham Rocks, the spectacular Fountains Abbey and Studley Park are all within 15 mile cycle ride.
Distance: 4 miles
Type: Traffic free path
Web: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/route/nidderdale-greenway-harrogate-ripley-cycle-route
For the people of Knaresborough, Starbeck and Harrogate the route provides a wonderful gateway to various fantastic National Trust sites to the North. Brimham Rocks, the spectacular Fountains Abbey and Studley Park are all within 15 mile cycle ride.
Distance: 4 miles
Type: Traffic free path
Web: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/route/nidderdale-greenway-harrogate-ripley-cycle-route
The route is a wonderful green corridor running through densely populated urban areas with long distance moor-land views, it passes a wildlife reserve and a rolling golf course.
The path is also home to a collection of artworks including Sally Matthew’s flock of Swaledale Sheep, constructed from recycled industrial scrap, and ‘Rotate’ by Trudi Entwistle - 40 giant steel hoops set in a circle.
The route is traffic-free with a gentle climb from Dewsbury to Oakenshaw. From Oakenshaw, you can continue into Bradford using signposted cycle lanes and paths.
Distance: 7 miles
Type: Traffic free
Web: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/route/spen-valley-greenway
The path is also home to a collection of artworks including Sally Matthew’s flock of Swaledale Sheep, constructed from recycled industrial scrap, and ‘Rotate’ by Trudi Entwistle - 40 giant steel hoops set in a circle.
The route is traffic-free with a gentle climb from Dewsbury to Oakenshaw. From Oakenshaw, you can continue into Bradford using signposted cycle lanes and paths.
Distance: 7 miles
Type: Traffic free
Web: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/route/spen-valley-greenway
Just a stone’s throw from the centre of Leeds, St Aidan’s is a stunning park to explore. Whether you’re on foot, on your bike or have your camera at the ready, take advantage of the amazing views and wonderful wildlife including bitterns, avocets, black terns, skylarks and meadow pipits.
Distance: Up to 8 miles
Type: Traffic free circular paths
Web: https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/st-aidans/
Distance: Up to 8 miles
Type: Traffic free circular paths
Web: https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/st-aidans/
In 1992 the disused railway between Spofforth and the outskirts of Wetherby was converted by Harrogate Borough Council into a path for walking and cycling, and in 1993 it was extended into the former railway 'triangle' in Wetherby by Wetherby and District Lions Club (the route being named after the late Peter Harland, Lion President). In 2003 Leeds City Council built the route eastwards from Wetherby to Walton Gates and it was continued by Sustrans and Leeds City Council to the Thorp Arch Estate and Retail Park in 2007.
The route starts at Spofforth Castle in Spofforth, which is the picturesque ruin of a once fortified 14th century manor house belonging to the powerful Percy family. Entry to the castle is free and well worth a visit. The route continues along a traffic free route through Spofforth and takes you onto the historic market town of Wetherby, which sits on the banks of the River Wharfe. Equidistant from London and Edinburgh, it became an important staging post for mail coaches in the 18th century. Make sure you explore the Town Hall, the Parish Church, the river bridge and The Shambles. The route takes you out of the town and past Wetherby Racecourse. The Romans raced Arab horses at Netherby a few miles upstream from Wetherby. In 1891 the first race meeting was held at Wetherby Racecourse. From here the route continues onto Thorp Arch.
Distance: 3 miles
Type: Mostly traffic free
Web: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/route/wetherby-railway-path
The route starts at Spofforth Castle in Spofforth, which is the picturesque ruin of a once fortified 14th century manor house belonging to the powerful Percy family. Entry to the castle is free and well worth a visit. The route continues along a traffic free route through Spofforth and takes you onto the historic market town of Wetherby, which sits on the banks of the River Wharfe. Equidistant from London and Edinburgh, it became an important staging post for mail coaches in the 18th century. Make sure you explore the Town Hall, the Parish Church, the river bridge and The Shambles. The route takes you out of the town and past Wetherby Racecourse. The Romans raced Arab horses at Netherby a few miles upstream from Wetherby. In 1891 the first race meeting was held at Wetherby Racecourse. From here the route continues onto Thorp Arch.
Distance: 3 miles
Type: Mostly traffic free
Web: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/route/wetherby-railway-path
