This is the place to be for walks in Wakefield and the surrounding areas. We’ve got a wide range of casual rambles for you, all under 6 miles, across the whole of the City of Wakefield Borough.
Fancy a little jaunt out in Castleford? Or Normanton? Ossett? Pontefract? Below are a number of walks round the woods, fields, waterways and towns in the area surrounding Wakefield. There’s something to suit everyone.
Heritage Walks
Sandal Castle – A 2 mile, 3 mile or 3.75 mile walk from Pugneys Country Park to Sandal Castle
Pontefract Castle - A 1.2 mile walk for house from Pontefract bus station to the castle
Hidden Myths Trail – A look around the mysteries and myths of Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Woodland Walks
Holywell Wood – A 3 mile walk from the centre of Airedale to Holywell Wood
Waterton Woodland Walk – A 3 mile walk from the Waterton Countryside Discovery Centre to Haw Park Wood
Chapelthorpe - A 5.5 mile walk from Newmillerdam in the woods and countryside bordering Chapelthorpe
Parkland Walks
Fitzwilliam Country Park - Explore the flowers and trees and admire the birds on this 5 mile route
Frickley Country Park Dunsil Trail – 2.7 miles around the perimeter of the park
Frickley Country Park Newhill Trail – A 2 mile historical walk round the park including the footprints of old colliery buildings
Frickley Country Park Shafton Trail – A shorter 1.4 mile circular route around the park, taking in the shale disc
Countryside Walks
North Elmsall Hall Farm – A 1.9 mile circular route from Upton, including some marshy land
Upton Circular – A 2.5 mile circular route via North Elmsall Parish Church
Ackworth & Hessle – A 2.5 circular route from Ackworth, incorporating Hessle Beck
Ackworth & Hessle extended – A 4.5 mile walk also taking in Low and High Ackworth
Heath Common to Kirkthorpe – A 2.5 mile circular walk through fields and common
Heath Common to Goosehill – An extended 4 mile walk taking in Goosehill Common
Heath Common to Warmfield – An even further extended 5.5 mile walk including Warmfield Common
Chapelthorpe - A 5.5 mile walk from Newmillerdam in the woods and countryside bordering Chapelthorpe
Waterton Trail - A 5 mile circular countryside walk from the Waterton Countryside Discovery Centre
Gawthorpe Circular Walk – A 2.2 mile trail setting off from the maypole into surrounding countryside
Featherstone – A 2.8 mile circular walk from Purston Park to Castle Syke Hill, past the plague stone and back
Crofton Circular - A 1.6 mile circular walk from Crofton towards Foulby Farm and past the Willows
Crofton to Anglers Park – A 2 mile walk from the edge of the village to Anglers Park and back, taking in a couple of pubs
Bretton Hall and Country Park – A 4 mile walk through country fields and park land including the lovely Bretton Hall
Waterside Walks
Ferrybridge – A 1.6 mile easy circular walk to the weir at King’s Mills and back between the River Aire and the Canal
Wakefield Water Circular – 1.5 miles around the centre of Wakefield, taking in the River Calder and the Canal
Ashfields and Half Moon – 1.9 miles through countryside and along a winding section of the River Calder, then past Half Moon Lake
Southern Washlands – 1.2 miles round the Southern Washlands, along a stretch of canal, AND the River Calder
Ramsdens Bridge to Harrisons Bridge – 1.7 mile circular walk along the Aire and Calder Navigation and through Ferryboat Fields
Stanley Ferry Flash – A 1 mile walk around this marsh, swampy piece of land. Expect to see butterflies and dragonflies
Stanley Ferry - Explore the River Calder and the Aire and Calder Navigation Canal on this 6 mile walk
Stanley Mill House – A 2.9 mile walk for health between the Mill House ad the Southern Washlands Reserve
Walton Heronry – A 3.5 mile walk round a country park and the lakes of Walton Heronry
Anglers Country Park – Enjoy the wildlife in this 2 mile walk around Archers Country Park in Wintersett
Newmillerdam – A 4.5 mile walk and a chance to feed the ducks in a pleasant oasis, close to Wakefield.
Newmillerdam – A slightly shorter 3 mile route around the dam
Fairburn Ings and Ledsham – A 5 mile walk round a bird reserve of national importance, seen as Yorkshire’s ‘Lake District’.
Lin Dike Trail -A peaceful 1.5 mile linear walk along the River Aire linking Lin Dike with Fairburn Ings
Fairburn Ings Riverbank Trail – A 2 mile trail through woodland and round the main lake
Urban Walks
Wrenthorpe – A 1.7 mile walk for health around the area of Wrenthorpe in Wakefield
Walton Urban – A 2 mile walk round Walton (Wakefield), taking in the Park and going along a length of the river
Walton Colliery – A 2 mile circular walk for health which goes through Walton Colliery Nature Park
Walton Circular – A 1.5 mile circular around Walton via The Balk, which includes many stiles and a railway bridge.
Pinderfields Hospital to Newton Hill – A 1.5 mile walk for health from Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield
New Southgate Surgery to Newton Hill – A 2 mile walk for health from New Southgate Surgery in Wakefield
Upton Circular – Circular walk on the site of Upton Colliery, around 1.4 miles
Ossett Circular – A 1.6 mile circular walk to Spring Mill from the town centre
Ossett Pildacre Hill - Another circular walk of Ossett town centre, 1.8 mile towards Pildacre Hill
Healey Old Mills – A 2.6 mile circular walk of Ossett from the town centre towards Healey Old Mills
Ferrybridge to Brotherton Church – A moderately difficult 2.6 circular mile walk from Ferrybridge
Featherstone Circular – A 2 mile walk round Featherstone town centre taking in the Old Factory site
Purston Park – A 1.5 mile walk through Featherstone, including a route through Purston Park
Eastmoor Circular- A 2 mile circular walk from the town centre to Broadreach Lock
Crofton Circular – A circular walk (2.3 miles) from Crofton across fields and paths to Windmill Hill and Foulby
Airedale Circular – A 2.6 mile walk from the Square including Well Wood and the Greeen
Health Walks (30 mins ish per walk)
- Wakefield - St Johns to the Hospital
- Wakefield – Love Lane
- Wakefield – Climbing to the Hospital
- Wakefield – The Green and the Unseen
- Wakefield – Chantry House / Chapel Circular
- Wakefield – Balne Lane to St Johns
- Pontefract – King Charles II House to the Cemetery
- Pontefract – Hospital to Friarwood Valley Gardens
- Ossett – Green Park
- Ossett – Church Street Park
- Normanton – Haw Hill Park
- Normanton – Church Street Park
- Hemsworth – Urban Triangle
- Hemsworth – Little Hemsworth Loop
- Featherstone – Town Centre Circular
- Featherstone – Old Town Hall
- Castleford – Crofton Civic Centre to Smawthorne Marshes
- Castleford – Civic Centre to Hartleys Field
- Castleford – Civic Centre to Queen’s Park
- Airedale – Health Centre to Gallows Hill
Thank you to the following websites and organisations who published these walks: