1. Meanwood Valley Trail
Mumbler Area: North Leeds
Distance: Anything from a 1 mile circuit to 7 miles
Type of terrain: Varies. Choose from pushchair friendly short route to footpaths that will be muddy and narrow. All fairly flat.
Good for: Exploring woods and playing poo sticks. Dog friendly.
Meanwood Valley Trail is a 7 mile long trail that connects Woodhouse Moor to Golden Acre Park. But you can pick it up at any point, and do as much or as little as you want. It’s split into 3 parts (roughly 2-3 miles each), with the Meanwood Park section being the most pushchair friendly. It also has a play area. For more information have a look at the trail leaflet here.
2. Eccup Reservoir
Mumbler Area: North Leeds
Distance: If you do the circular route it is 5 miles but you can go for as little or as long as you want.
Type of terrain: Varies. road, hard path and some off road terrain. All fairly flat, can be an incline at the end if you come back onto Alwoodley Lane
Good for: Red kite spotting, stunning views over the reservoir, waterside walk. Dog-friendly.
On the outskirts of Leeds near Alwoodley, the route on this site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) runs alongside part of Eccup Reservoir and across the dam. You’ll have the opportunity to see varied wildlife including wintering wildfowl and from an observation area on the dam the spectacular red kite. Download the Yorkshire Water Kids Activity Pack here to do on the walk. Full maps and more information can be found here.
3. Chevin Forest Park
Mumbler Area: Wharfedale
Distance: Anything from 1.5 miles to 10 miles
Type of terrain: Steep and hilly in parts which may be challenging for toddlers. Not really suitable for pushchairs.
Good for: Exploring woods, building dens, playing eye-spy with the amazing views of Wharfedale. Dog friendly
The Chevin is criss-crossed with multiple paths so you can plan your own walk from car parks or bus stops. There are also some themed trails that have accompanying leaflets or guides that you can follow as a family. The Heritage Trail is a 2km circular route starting from Lower Shawfield car park and going along Chippendale Ride. It is a fairly good surface suitable for mobility scooters and only has two steeply sloping sections. You will find 8 fun timber sculptures created by a local artist that represents a different time period in The Chevin’s history. Children can have fun spotting them and even taking rubbings of them if you bring along some crayons. For more information on the trails click here.
4. RSPB St Aidans and Fairburn Ings
Mumbler Area: East Leeds
Distance: Various
Type of terrain: Mostly flat, although slopes down from the St Aidans visitor centre. Rubble tracks. Pushchair & bike friendly
Good for: Watching wildlife, peddling on new bikes. Dog friendly
These two fantastic nature reserves are situated East of Leeds. St Aidans is the biggest, but both have visitor centres with refreshments, baby change and toilets available. There are a number of routes available, although St Aidans is probably more suitable if your children have bikes to try out! You can also hire nature packs for children to go wildlife spotting! Parking is free for RSPB members or approximately £4 all day.
5. Rodley to Apperley Bridge on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal
Mumbler Area: North Leeds
Distance: 5.5 miles
Type of terrain: Flat tow path with a couple of steep Locks. Reasonably pushchair friendly, although bumpy in places.
Good for: Watching wildlife along the canal. Spotting barges and learning how the Locks work
This stretch of the canal is always enjoyable as it’s easy terrain and the path passes through some lovely tree-lined countryside and by a couple of Locks. It is great for bikes too, although not safe for young children unsupervised as there are no barriers between the path and canal. Park up by Rodley Bridge and walk as much or as little of the canal as you like.
6. Yeadon Tarn
Mumbler Area: Wharfedale
Distance: 1 mile
Type of terrain: Flat, pushchair and bike friendly
Good for: Feeding the ducks and spotting planes at the airport
This is a great stroll at any time of the year, thanks to the paved footpath that leads all the way round the perimeter of the lake. It is a short walk, making it extremely suitable for pushchairs and little legs. There are often ducklings and wild birds to be seen on the Tarn too. It’s location next to the airport runway, also makes it a fun (if a little odd) place to watch planes taking off and landing. There is also an excellent play area. For more information on how to get to the Tarn and where to park, click here.
7. Kirkstall Abbey Park
Mumbler Area: North Leeds
Distance: 1 mile
Type of terrain: Flat, pushchair friendly in many parts
Good for: Exploring ruins, playing Knights & Dragons, finding out about history
The park at Kirkstall Abbey is approximately 24 hectares in area and contains some exciting elements to explore, including the Abbey ruins and the riverside. It is part of the West Leeds Country Park and most footpaths are suitable for the majority of manual and electric wheelchairs. There are two routes around the Abbey grounds. The blue route is the longer walk and takes about 45 minutes. The yellow route is a pleasant walk around the Abbey and should take about 15 minutes. There is also a play area on the opposite side of the road, adjacent to the Abbey House Museum. Download the route map here.
8. Temple Newsam
Mumbler Area: South Leeds
Distance: 6 miles
Type of terrain: A few sloped areas. Footpaths can be soft and muddy underfoot
Good for: Exploring woodland, playing eye-spy with amazing views.
The Temple Newsam bridlepath is a six-mile circular route around Temple Newsam Estate with views of the House, gardens, farm parkland and woodland to take in. There are also 3 lakes to take in. With so much to see, this is a very entertaining walk for all the family. Read more on Temple Newsam Walks here.
9. Golden Acre Park/ Adel Dam/ Paul’s Pond
Mumbler Area: North Leeds
Distance: Anything from 1.5 miles to 4 miles
Type of terrain: Mixed. The majority of the parkland walks have paths suitable for pushchairs and mobility scooters, however, there is the opportunity to extend your walk by taking some of the smaller footpaths criss-crossing the park.
Good for: Feeding the ducks, exploring the woodland, spotting animals and birds. Dog friendly
Once a privately run amusement park, complete with a miniature mono-rail, boating lake and dance hall, Golden Acre Park is now a popular park, featuring formal gardens and a large lake. The circular walk around the lake itself is great for families, being completely flat and fully accessible by pushchair. It includes the opportunity to feed the ducks and explore the woodland. For a route map click here.
In addition, Golden Acre is also connected to two additional areas which are often quieter and less well know. Adel Dam Nature Reserve lies adjacent to the park and is now fully accessible by pushchair (although the path is still rough in places). There are hides along the route, which may reward you with sitings of woodpeckers and birds of prey but a lot of patience will be needed. Find more information here.
Finally, Breary Marsh, also adjacent to the Park contains another small loop that will take walkers through woodland and up to ‘Paul’s Pond’. Footpaths have recently been widened and resurfaced here, so it is now possible to get a pushchair around the route. You can find more information here.
10. Fewston Reservoir
Mumbler Area: Wharfedale & Craven
Distance: 4 miles
Type of terrain: Fewston: Mostly wide and well surfaced, however, there are some short sections of path with fairly steep gradients and larger stones (over 30mm). there are no steps, stiles or gates on this route.
Good for: Spectacular views, feeding the ducks & dog-friendly.
Just north of Otley, two gorgeous reservoirs of Swinsty and Fewston are hugely accessible, and you can walk them separately or combine them for something longer. Paths are mostly gritted, particularly around Fewston but the route around Swinsty can get muddy. Be prepared to see lots of prams and dogs; you’ll be in good company! Yorkshire Water provides routes for both the Swinsty route (3 miles) and for Fewston (4 miles).
11. Roundhay Park
Mumbler Area: North Leeds
Distance: From 0.5 miles to 3 miles, depending on route.
Type of terrain: Mixed depending on what route you take. The lake loop is rough in places but all accessible with a pushchair.
Good for: Feeding the ducks, exploring the woodland, football on the park and the adventure play area. Dog friendly
Roundhay Park covers over 700 acres of parkland and has no less than 5 official walking routes, with something for everyone. You can do the Secret Gorge Walk to find the fairy-tale castle ruin or head around the Lake View loop and the dam. With plenty of space to ride bikes and play with new toys, it’s the perfect (but popular) place for a winter walk. For a map of all routes click here. Download the Love Exploring App to find Dinosaurs or Winter Fairies!
12. Bolton Abbey
Mumbler Area: Wharfedale
Distance: Green route
Type of terrain: Suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Dogs are welcome on a lead. The route follows the Green trail from the Cavendish shop to the Strid and back. Sturdy boots are advisable.
Good for: Exploring the woodland, family activities on the route. Dog-friendly. Longer routes, such as the walk up to Simon’s Seat are also a great choice for families wanting more challenge!
Please check all walk details before setting off, details correct at time of publishing.
FOR MORE INSPIRATION OF FAMILY WALKS IN AND AROUND LEEDS PLEASE CLICK HERE.
