Some of the Best Walks in Yorkshire

Meanwood Valley Trail

Distance: 7 miles Difficulty: easy

We start our collection in our home town of Leeds, with the Meanwood Valley Trail. The Meanwood Valley nature reserve runs between Meanwood, which is north of the city centre, continuing to Adel and Alwoodly. On this 7 mile walk you will experience cultural and historical highlights of the valley, whilst experiencing the essence of rural countryside in the heart of the city.

The best place to start the walk is at the H.R. Marsden statue who was the Mayor of Leeds from 1873 to 1875, close to the junction of Woodhouse Lane and Raglan Road. The walk then finishes at Golden Acre Park, which is a popular country park with delightful gardens, a lake, ponds, woodland, a café and the Breary Marsh Nature Reserve.

Although the trail is mainly a walking route, certain sections can be used by horse riders and cyclists.

Ilkley Moor and the Twelve Apostles

Distance: 4.5 miles Difficulty: moderate

To fully appreciate the steer beauty of this walk you should visit in late summer/early autumn as this coincides with the abundance of heather that will be on display via the Rocky Valley. The best place to start is from West View Park, where you will then turn towards White Wells. The path then continues to the Ilkley Crag with a fairly easy gradient to the twelve stones on top of the moor. You will then continue along the path to the infamous Cow and Calf outcrops.

The walk also includes areas of geological and archaeological interest, so make sure you do your research before you visit.

Malham Tarn upland farm walk

Distance: 7 miles Difficulty: moderate

This walk takes you through one of Yorkshires most popular beauty spots, with ancient limestone pastures, upland hill farms and the charming Malham Tarn. Starting in the Malham Tarn car park this waymarked walk takes around 3 hours to complete.

Make sure you call into the bird hide which you will discover as you walk past the Tarn House. This is a brilliant place to look for a wide variety of birds that reside by Malham Tarn. The Tarn is also home to a unique species of plants and a range of animals.

Aysgarth Falls

Distance: 2.2 miles Difficulty: easy

Aysgarth Falls is a great walk for the family to enjoy all year around. This picturesque walk takes you through enchanting woodland and pasture fields, before arriving at the Low Force, Middle Force and finally the star of the show the High Force, which is made of three distinctive flights of cascading water. We recommend visiting the falls after a heavy rain period to see the spectacle at full flow.

If you have time it’s worth visiting the village of Carperby, a fine example of a typical dales linear village, with its seven-stepped village cross. Carperby was also the honeymoon location of choice by James Herriot, the author who brought international fame to the Yorkshire Dales. On the sunny south-facing slope of Wensleydale, not only does this charming village offer fine views but also a fine pub to match.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Distance: numerous routes Difficulty: easy

The Yorkshire Sculpture Park is an international centre for modern and contemporary art, not only that it’s one of the most charming and fascinating walks in the region. This historic estate is perfect for a family walk, with its open-air displays, four galleries and events/activities all year round, you are sure to find something for everyone.

Around the estate you will find lakes, woodland and the YSP Wild Explorers Trail which is perfect for older children. The trail is 4 kilometres long which covers the grounds main features while educating them along the way in a fun and thought provoking environment. The park is open 10:00am to 18:00pm and is free, but you have to pay for parking. There’s also a café, shop and indoor exhibitions if the weather takes a turn for the worse.

So there you have it some of our favourite Yorkshire walks, what’s your favourite walk in Yorkshire?

Grassington Lead Mining Trail

Distance: 2.9 miles Difficulty: easy

As a Yorkshire manufacturer we are proud to have played a role in the rich industrial history our county has to offer. This is one of the reasons why the Grassington Lead Mining Trail is one of our favourite walks in the region.

This is a short and pleasant walk making it appropriate for all abilities; simply follow the informational signs provided by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, which will guide you on this fascinating story. Step back in time to the most prosperous lead mining period between 1821 and 1861, at a time when over 20,000 tons of lead was extracted, although you might get distracted by the stunning views.