Discover great walks in Leeds

Leeds might be one of the biggest cities in the UK, but it’s a fantastic place to live if you’re a fan of walking. Leeds is based in North Yorkshire after all, which is famous for its beautiful countryside, like the Yorkshire Dales and the Moors. That means there are plenty of routes to walk to take in some fresh air, see the sights and get in those steps.

In this article, we’ll run through some of our favourite walks in Leeds so you can keep active during your time in this historic city.

Places that you can walk in Leeds

With so much to explore, Leeds is undoubtedly one of the best cities in the UK if you love to walk. So, strap up those boots and join us as we go through some of the best walks in Leeds.

Hawkswood Wood Circular

Distance: Around 3 miles

This is a brilliant round trip in North Leeds, not far from Horsforth. As you might expect, most of the walk takes place around picturesque woodland, and at times along the banks of the River Aire. There are also a couple of points where you join the Leeds Liverpool Canal towpath, which is always bustling with life.

Rawdon Billing

Distance: Around 2 miles

Rawdon Billing is in north-west Leeds and offers incredible views of Aire Valley. It’s a simple round trip that starts in the village, which also passes Leeds-Bradford Airport, making it the perfect walk if you’re a fan of watching the planes come in to land. There are some hills, but it’s not too challenging, and is a great choice if you want to take in some lovely sights but not walk too far.

Roundhay Park

Distance: Between 1 and 3 miles

Roundhay Park is an absolutely huge 700-acre park, home to lakes, woods, gardens and even a small wildlife park. The great thing is, with so much to see, there are almost endless possibilities for the routes you can take, meaning you’ll want to visit again and again. And because it’s right outside the city centre, it’s super easy to get to.

Wyke Beck Way

Distance: Around 7 miles 

The trail follows the Wyke Beck stream between Roundhay Park and Temple Newsam to the east of the city centre. It’s fairly easygoing, but because it’s one way you’ll either need to turn around and do the route again or take a bus or taxi back to where you started. But it’s a great way to see a mixture of urban and rural, and it’s a popular route for walkers and cyclists.

Leeds-Liverpool Canal

Distance: Between 3 and 10 miles

As you might expect from the name, the Leeds-Liverpool Canal connects the two great cities. If you’re really brave, you could walk the entire distance, but there are areas around Leeds that offer different routes so you can walk as far as you like. If you head west from Leeds city centre you’ll pass Kirkstall, Rodley and Apperley Bridge, with plenty to see along the way, such as locks, bridges and mills. It’s a brilliant way to see some of the city’s industrial past, and thanks to it being nice and flat it’s accessible to everyone. If you have kids with you, you could take some peas or seeds with you and feed the ducks and swans.

Middleton Park

Distance: Between 1 and 3 miles

To the south of the city centre is Middleton Park, an enormous 630 acres of woodland, fields and gardens. It used to be home to a golf club, but you can now take a stroll down the fairway without having to listen out for people shouting, ‘FORE!’ During your visit, if you fancy a sit-down, you could take a trip on the Middleton Railway, or pop into the visitor centre for a well-earned cuppa.

Pudsey Link Bridleway

Distance: Around 6 miles

This one-way route stretches between Tong and Apperley Bridge. You’ll pass through villages, woods, fields and farms, and even pass the historic Fulneck Moravian Settlement, with its unique 18th-century architecture. It’s a fairly gentle walk, but because it’s one way it can make it doubly difficult when it comes to getting home.

Meanwood Valley Trail

Distance: Around 7 miles

The trail connects Woodhouse Moor and Golden Acre Park, which is close to the city but gives you a sense that you’re in the middle of nowhere. You’ll see plenty of woodland, fields and streams, and because of its proximity to Meanwood Park and Adel Woods, it’s a great trail to spot wildlife.

Eccup Reservoir

Distance: Around 5 miles

In North Leeds, Eccup Reservoir offers you the chance to do a nice circular walk through trees and fields with the water by your side. The reservoir is an unusual shape and is home to plenty of birds, making it a really interesting walk. There’s also a good chance you’ll spot some deer, which hang around in the grounds of the nearby Harewood House.

Otley Chevin Forest Park

Distance: Between 2 and 10 miles

Not far from Leeds-Bradford Airport is Otley Chevin Forest Park, which has trails of various lengths, so you can spend an hour here or a whole afternoon exploring the woods and fields. A lot of the terrain is uneven, so it’s better if you’re looking for a slightly more challenging hike rather than a gentle stroll. But if you persevere it provides great views of the town of Otley and the surrounding countryside, including the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.

The Leeds Country Way

Distance: Around 62 miles

Okay, so this one isn’t for the faint of heart – but it can be broken down into far more manageable chunks. It’s a complete route that circles the entire city, where you’ll pass villages, towns, woods, fields, rivers, lakes and more. It’s a fantastic way to see everything that surrounds Leeds, along with a few pubs on the route so you can stop off for a rest and a cheeky drink.

Rent in Leeds with UNCLE

With so many trails, tracks, bridleways and public footpaths to explore, Leeds is a brilliant city for walkers. If you’d like to call Leeds your home, there’s never been a better way to do it – learn more about our Leeds apartments and discover how to call this beautiful city home.