Here’s our pick of places around North Leeds and Wetherby where you can enjoy a good family walk and some tasty refreshments from a pub or cafe!
Meanwood Park is a true gem of North Leeds, with some beautiful walks! Our favourite is the loop of Meanwood Park and the Hollies, just short of 4km. It’s on decent paths but is not buggy friendly. A description of the route is on this Meanwood Valley Walk download (Route 4) Head to the Three Cottages Cafe situated at the carpark on Green Road for tasty treats and one of those oh-so-good hot chocolates!
There are LOTS of walks to enjoy at Roundhay Park, so make sure you do more than a loop of the cricket pitch! Read this blog for lots of suggestions of Mumbler favourites, we love the Secret Gorge Walk, that takes you away from the crowds of the park into the beautiful woodland. You have a choice of refreshments here; The Lakeside cafe at the lower carpark, where there’s also play area for younger children, or The Mansion (where there are also public toilets).
Grab yourself a hot drink from the cafe at Temple Newsam and wander around the fabulous estate. If you are looking for something other than a stroll to the duckpond, head across to this blog on the South Leeds Mumbler site for walk suggestions. We often do the 3km pram-friendly circular (which at the moment is so muddy I’m not sure it is ‘pram’friendly!’. The Hot Chocolate at the Temple Newsam cafe is one of my FAVOURITES!
Wood Hall The grounds & gardens of Wood Hall Hotel & Spa in Wetherby are open for walks and quiet time outside. Ask at reception for a map of suggested walks, there are three suggested and we took the yellow route which was about three miles, and beautiful but very muddy at the moment! Pop into the spa for takeaway options, and there are some fantastic dining options at the hotel too.
A favourite for many, Golden Acre offers everything from a walk around the lake to a longer stroll around the park to Paul’s Pond at the other side of Otley Road. If you have little explorers let them have a run around the Woodland Garden. Have a look at the map here. The cafe is near the underpass from the Otley Road carpark.
LothertonProbably the best Special Hot Chocolate I’ve enjoyed so far! A visit here means good adventure playgrounds for the children, a lovely short buggy friendly walk around the grounds, a muddier walk option of the Lotherton Boundary walk (not pushchair friendly) and of course a great little cafe. You’ll often find an ice cream van parked up too. Everyone is happy!
The Harland Way is three miles in each direction, so this one might be better on bike than walking! Reward yourself at The Castle Inn or alternatively enjoy something from Wetherby Town Centre on your return.
Enjoy walking round the gardens of Crag House Farm and a short conservation walk, or take the path towards Cookridge Cricket pitch and back.
Take a walk along the River Wharfe at Boston Spa, you should be able to manage with a pushchair other than a small section of wide steps at the children centre’s end of the riverside. Walk back through the town. This 5km walk takes in two playgrounds and you can enjoy the various options on Boston Spa High Street. See the os route here. Thank you to local mum Catherine Hill for this suggestion!
Bolton Abbey
A family favourite for us! The three main car parks all have cafe options with a takeaway and the walks around the estate are lovely (but do check which routes are buggy friendly).
Other lovely options;
