“A database of walks around Bradford”
The City of Bradford is a metropolitan area of West Yorkshire which not only includes the recently titled UNESCO City of Film Bradford, but Keighley, Shipley, Bingley, Ilkley (moor bar t’at), Haworth (home to the Bronte sisters) and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire, not to mention the surrounding villages. Ilkley and Baildon are both ‘Walkers are Welcome’ towns. As such, there are hundreds of great walks around Bradford, the towns and countryside, through the woods and over the moors. I’ve picked the ‘casual’ rambles of up to 6 miles (10km). Enjoy!
Film Walks
The Railway Children - A 6 mile walk around Haworth, where ‘The Railway Children’ was filmed (with a shorter 2.5 mile option)
Bradford, City of Film - A walk around the many places which were used for filming TV shows and films, in UNESCO City of Film, Bradford
The Bradford area was home to the filming of The Railway Children.
Literary Walks
The Brontë Connection - A 4.5 mile circular walk around Haworth with the added attraction of linking three important sites associated with Emily Brontë’s novel, “Wuthering Heights”
Brontë Waterfall to Wuthering Heights - A 1.25 mile walk from the Brontë Waterfall to Top Withens, supposedly the inspiration for the house ‘Wuthering Heights’
Haworth to Wycoller Hall - A 6 mile walk to the hall which is thought to have been the inspiration for Ferndean Manor in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre
The Puddle Stones – A 1.5 mile inspiring walk, on high moorland, to the Puddle Stones which are engraved with a poem by Simon Armitage
The Mist Stone – An atmospheric 0.6 mile walk past old quarry workings to mysterious cairns, one of which is engraved with a poem by Simon Armitage
The Dew Stones - A 1.5 mile circular upland walk across meadows and through coniferous forest with fabulous views to engraved stones
The Beck Stone – 3 different routes (max 1.6 miles) take you to and from the Beck Stone, on lower Ilkley Moor, engraved with a poem by Simon Armitage
The incredible Brontë Waterfall in the Winter
Heritage Walks
Baildon Turnpike Walk - A 3 mile, two leg walk between the two milestones in Baildon, taking in the village’s heritage
Saltaire Heritage Walk - A circular walk by the canal and through the park in this UNESCO World Heritage Site with a couple of options between 1 and 2.5 miles
Discover Saltaire - A walk round the town centre in Saltaire, exploring the heritage of the town
Oxenhope Sacred Trail - A tour of the main places of worship in Oxenhope
Hidden Bradford: Manningham - A walk offering new perspectives on one of Bradford’s oldest and most historically important areas, lasting a couple of hours
Baildon Village Walk - 1.7 mile walk around the village of Baildon, accompanied by a very detailed guide
Threshfield and Low Baildon - Explore the village and houses of Threshfield and Low Baildon on this 3.5 mile walk
Bradford’s Sculpture Trail - Explore the modern and older sculptures around Bradford’s City Centre
Bradford Heritage Trail - Find the best examples of architecture and buildings of interest in Bradford City Centre
Shipley Heritage Walk – A walk around the historical points of interest in Shipley
Haworth Heritage Tour - A self guided tour of Haworth including the places of worship
Eccleshill History Trail - A 2 hour walk around the historical points of interest in Eccleshill in Bradford
Women’s History in Bradford - A short walk of under 2 miles around the points of interest relating to the role of women in Bradford’s history
Bradford Faith Trail - A mile long walk along Leeds road in Bradford City Centre exploring the places of worship of different faiths
Saltaire – UNESCO World Heritage Site
Urban Walks
White Abbey Walk - A 10 minute walk for health in Bradford City Centre
St Blaise Square Walk - A walk for health in Bradford City Centre, taking around 15 minutes
Needle - A 20 minute walk for health in Bradford City Centre
Design Exchange - A short 10 minute walk for health in Bradford City Centre, round Little German
St George’s – Another 10 minute Bradford City Centre walk for health
West End – A 20 minute health walk around the west side of Bradford City Centre
Paper Hall – A short 10 minute health walk around the Cathedral area of Bradford City Centre
Merchants Quarters – A health for walk lasting around 10 minutes in the East side of Bradford
Colour Museum - A 20 minute walk for health around Bradford City Centre including the Colour Museum and City Hall
Priestly – A 15 minute walk for health including the Wool Exchange in Bradford City Centre
Charlie Thompson Walk - A one mile walk around Baildon village
Kirklands Walk - A walk of around 2 miles, taking in the history and local sights of Charlestown (Baildon)
Haworth Steam Railway - A 0.5 mile walk on cobble stones from the tourist information centre to the Steam Railway Station
Ferniehurst and Baildon Green - A 3 mile circular walk exploring these villages in detail
Bradford Town Hall
Countryside Walks
Baildon Coach Road to Shipley Glen - A 4.5 mile round walk (with options for reducing to 2 or 3 miles) with some in depth instructions
Silsden to Ilkley - A Walkers are Welcome 5.5 mile walk cross country between Silsden and Ilkley, taking in some historic buildings in Ilkley
Station Walk: Embsay to Bolton Abbey - A 5 mile linear walk between Embsay and Bolton Abbey train stations – why not take the steam train back?
Ben Rhydding Circular Walk - A 4 mile walk from Burley-in-Wharfedale to the village of Ben Rhydding in the shadow of Burley and Ilkley moors.
Sladen Valley - A challenging 4 mile walk on little used paths above Lower Laithe Reservoir in Haworth
South West Thornton - A circular walk of 4.75 miles skirting on the Bronte Way and the edge of Thornton on the West of Bradford
Oakworth to Keighley - A 4 mile walk, with a good mix of fields and woods, taking in a number of excellent picnic spots
North Thornton - A 5 mile circular walk with an international feel, at the North of Thornton (Bradford)
North and West of Oakworth - Enjoy views of the Upper Worth Valley and the tiny hamlet of Newsholme on this 4.5 mile circular walk
Norr Hill - A 6 mile walk which is surprisingly green with some sometimes steep climbs up to the top of Norr Hill on the edge of Saltaire
Mount Calverley - A 3 mile circular walk taking in woods, river walks and countryside lanes near Ilkley
The view on a countryside walk between Embsay and Bolton Abbey steam train stations
Morton East and West - An ideal family walk on the northern flanks of the Aire valley between Riddlesden and Crossflatts offering good
views with a 4 mile or shorter 2.75 mile option.
Lady Blantyres Rock & Ferrand’s Monument - A 5 mile round walk taking in two local landmarks on the edge of Keighley
Haw Pike - A 5 mile circular walk starting in Addingham and covering fields and the River Wharfe
Four Pubs and a Sewage Works - A 4 mile circular walk including a suspension bridge and Victorian sewage works
Fields and Farms North of Eldwick - A 3.5 mile circular route with no steep hills and mainly on farmland footpaths
East Morton, Sunnydale and the Glen - A 3.5 mile hilly walk, through a mix of woodland and farmland starting at the centre of East Morton
Burley Woodhead - (map) - A 4 mile circular walk around the village of Burley in Wharfedale with detailed instructions and a map
Brontë Waterfall - A 2.75 mile walk across countryside from Haworth to the Brontë Waterfall
Burley to Stead Hall Farm (map) - A varied 2.75 mile circular walk rising 100m and passing through Stead Hall Farm, with excellent views of the Wharfe Valley, of Langbar, Denton, Askwith and Burley Moors, and of the Chevin
Burley – Menston – Hag Farm (map) - A 5 mile circular route via Menston and Hag Farm and returning to Burley in Wharfedale. Good moorland views.
Burley – Menston – Moor (map) - This is a most attractive circular walk of some six miles – providing spectacular views
Black Pots and Rivock Plantation - A 3.75 mile family friendly walk on the edge of Silsden, with plenty to discover including some rock carvings, local legends and ghostly goings on!
Bingley College Centenary Walk - A 6 mile circular walk in some stunning countryside outside Bingley, ending at the locks
Wilsden and Cullingworth Circular - An easy 3.15 mile walk suitable for all the family across a mix of farmland, quiet country lanes and other surfaced paths, taking in the Great Northern Trail, across Hewenden Viaduct.
Around Silsden Reservoir - A 5.5 mile circular walk in the countryside to the north of Silsden, above the reservoir
Queensbury Triangle - A 3.5 mile circular walk on hilly rough terrain taking in a number of former industrial and historic sights.
Leeming Reservoir - An ideal family walk of 1.75 miles in beautiful countryside on the fringe of the south Pennine Uplands, with extensive views of Leeming Reservoir and the surrounding area.
Denholme and Doe Park - A circular 3 mile surprisingly pleasant countryside route around Denholme and skirting the Doe Park reservoir
Views across the Aire Valley
Woodland Walks
The Druids Altar View Walk - A 2.3 mile walk through woodland and parks in the St Ives Estate, near Bingley
The Old Reservoir Walk - A 1.4 mile walk through woods and past a disused reservoir at the St Ives Estate, with a diversion to find chainsaw carvings
A Water Garden Stroll - 1.6 miles through the St Ives Estate past a water garden and through woods
Royds Hall and Judy Woods - A 3 mile square walk with three wooded sides, taking in Royds Hall
Pudsey Beck and Cockerdale - A surprisingly green 3.5 mile woodland walk on green belt land between Bradford and Leeds
Goitstock Woods and Waterfall - A 2.25 circular walk through Goitstock Woods, Harden Beck and past Goitstock waterfall
Woodland on the St Ives Estate
Waterside Walks
Tong Park Dam – A 5 mile family friendly walk following the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and circling back through fields.
Towpath Walk: Saltaire - A circular 2.25 walk along the towpath of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal from Saltaire
Baildon Riverside Walk - A 1.7 mile walk in the village of Baildon, accompanied by an in depth description
Riverside Gardens - A 1.75 mile, easily accessible family friendly walk along the banks of the River Wharfe in Ilkley
Apperley Bridge River & Canal Walk - A 4.5 mile walk starting along the River Aire and returning on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Micklethwaite and the 3 and 5 rise locks - A 3.5 mile circular urban walk on the fringe of the countryside with lots of interest.
Chellow Heights - a 2.5 mile family friendly walk which follows the two reservoirs and woodland at Chellow Dene
Bingley Circular - A 4.35 mile circular route along the river Aire and Leeds & Liverpool Canal, ending at Bingley’s historic locks
A walk from the Towpath (Riddlesden) - A 3.5 mile circular walk first exploring the Leeds & Liverpool Canal towpath and then the fields and countryside surrounding Riddlesden
Bingley Five Rise Locks
Moorland Walks
Windgate Nick - A 5 mile circular walk onto Addingham High Moor, why not try and find ‘the hound’ of Windgate Nick?
West of Ilkley - A 4.5 mile circular walk skirting along the edge of Ilkley Moor (bar t’at)
Penistone Hill - Explore Bronte Country in this 1.5 mile walk through the Penistone Hill country park on the outskirts of Haworth
Penistone Crag / Stanbury Moor - A 3 mile walk around the Upper Worth Valley near Stanbury Village
Lost Hamlets of Baildon Moor - A 5 mile walk (which can be split into 2 separates) which explores the history and archaeology around Baildon Moor and the hamlets that used to thrive on its outskirts
Ilkley Moor & Twelve Apostles - Standing stones and other intriguing historic features which make up Ilkley Moor (4.5 miles)
High above Addingham - A 4.75 mile walk between the sites of two crashed WWII fighter planes, taking in the Swastika Stone.
Haworth Moor – This 4.8 mile invigorating walk sweeps through the wild moorland and heather which was an inspiration for the Bronte sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne
Brass Castle and West Morton - A demanding uphill start to this 5 mile circular route across moorland near Keighley and finishing along the canal
Around Reva Hill - A 5 mile circular walk taking in local landmarks including Reva Reservoir and Odda Hill, with a strenuous 1 mile uphill climb, based to the west of Menston
Around Keighley Moor - A hard six mile circular route around the moor for when you’re feeling a bit less casual!
The Hound of Windgate Nick
Thanks to the following who published the walks around Bradford and the surrounding area:
- Bradford MBC
- Walk in Yorkshire
- Baildon Parish Council
- Saltaire Village
- NHS Bradford and Airedale
- Ilkley Walkers are Welcome
- Yorkshire Water
- The AA.com
- Shipley CE Primary School
- Burley-in-Wharfedale parish council
- Haworth Village website
- Treasures Revealed
- Canal and River Trust
- Bingley College