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 Sicklinghall Circular walk starts at Sicklinghall Pond, Geecroft Lane, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS22 4BQ, or OS Reference SE 36000 48090.

Otley to Bramhope via Eccup

Don’t drive? This route is perfect if you’re bussing it. You’ll start at Otley Bus Staton and set off on the 10-mile route to Bramhope, stopping at Eccup Reservoir along the way. It’ll take you somewhere between 4 and 5 hours, depending on how many stops you make as you go. 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 Otley to Bramhope walk starts at Otley bus station, LS21 3NX, or OS reference SE 20279 45490.

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 the perfect choice for beginners. The walk itself is a mammoth 20 miles and it’ll take 8-10 hours to complete, so you’ll want to save it for a long summer’s day. The route starts at Woodhouse Moor and it’s 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 walk through the Leeds countryside.

The Dales Way Link walk starts at Woodhouse Moor, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 3AP, or OS Reference SE 29004 35040.

Cover image copyright Sam Saunders licensed for commercial use under Creative Commons.