Head out into the great outdoors on these long, but surprisingly easy walks…

You don’t have to scale the Three Peaks to go on a nice long walk. There are plenty of long, winding routes much closer to home and they’ll ease you into rambling with their mix of flat, easy ground and stunning views. These three are perfect for beginners, with only a few small climbs and obstacles along the way – so why not give them a go?

The Sicklinghall Circular

The Sicklinghall Circular is a 9-mile circular route around some of the most beautiful parts of North Leeds. You’ll start just outside the picturesque village of Sicklinghall, at the village pond, before wandering along the disused railway line towards Stockeld Park. From here, you’ll move onto The Harland Way as you head towards Wetherby. Stroll along the waterfront paths beside the River Wharfe, before cutting through the golf course by Linton and walking on to Lime Kiln Wood, past Sicklinghall House and back to the start.

The walk starts at Sicklinghall Pond, Geecroft Lane, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS22 4BQ. Check out the route.

Otley to Bramhope via Eccup

Don’t drive? This route is perfect if you’re bussing it. Start from Otley Bus Staton on the 10-mile route to Bramhope, stopping at Eccup Reservoir along the way. It’ll take you between 4 and 5 hours, depending on how many stops you make. You’ll walk along the old dismantled railway, past Caley Hall Farm to the famous Caley Crags. Why not take the time to look around? Then it’s onto the well-worn paths of The Dales Way as you head towards Eccup Reservoir before following the route round to Bramhope via Golden Acre Park.

The walk starts at Otley Bus Station, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3NX. Check out the route.

The Dales Way Link – Leeds to Ilkley

The Dales Way Link was created to help ardent walkers reach the start of The Dales Way on a straightforward linear walk, but it’s also perfect for beginners. The walk is a mammoth 20 miles and it’ll take 8 to 10 hours to complete, so you’ll want to save it for a long day. It starts at Woodhouse Moor and it’s fairly easy terrain all the way to Ilkley, but you will have to take on some hills. They come with perks though, because you’ll pass scenic spots like Adel Woods, Caley Deer Park, Otley Chevin and the Cow and Calf rocks as you go.

The walk starts at Woodhouse Moor, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 3AP. Check out the route.

Cover image © Copyright Leeds-List 2021 by Max Wailes.