Grab a scarf, button up your coat and wander around the autumnal beauty of Leeds.
From hot drinks that warm your soul to falling conkers on countryside jaunts – autumn is upon us. This is your chance to explore the stunning walks that Leeds has to offer. Will you choose a family-friendly ramble across golden parkland or a scramble for panoramic views of stretching valleys? The choice is yours, but why stop at one when you can try them all?
Swinsty Reservoir
At just three-miles long, Swinsty Reservoir is perfect for families looking for easygoing autumn walks near Leeds. You can soak in the unrestricted views of the reservoir and enjoy glorious reflections of trees cloaked in deep reds, burnt oranges and sublime yellows, as you follow an effortless anti-clockwise route around the lake.
When you reach the northernly highest point of the reservoir, take a short climb to enjoy tranquil views of both Swinsty and Fewston Reservoirs from the embankment.
Start point: Swinsty and Fewston Reservoir Car Park – find it on Google maps.
Distance: 3 miles.
Difficulty: Easy.
Route: Check out the route.
Meanwood Valley Trail
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Wrap up warm and enjoy a woodland ramble through the city on the Meanwood Valley Trail. It stretches over seven miles from Woodhouse Moor to Golden Acre Park but can be split into sections if you’re looking for a shorter walk.
Note the cultural and natural history the trail has to offer, from Hustler’s Row to Scotland Mill and all the way up to the Seven Arches. If you’re a fan of J.R.R.Tolkien, look out for The Hollies – a Victorian Woodland Garden rumoured to be a unique source of inspiration for the writer.
Start point: The statue of Henry Rowland Marsden – find it on Google maps.
Distance: 7 miles.
Difficulty: Easy.
Route: Check out the route.
Temple Newsam
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Autumn walks in Leeds don’t get much better than Temple Newsam. This circular route starts at the Tudor-Jacobean manor, before heading around the park for an easy ramble that looks out over the 1,500-acre estate.
From here, you’ll venture into the woods, passing through The Shrogs, Laurel Hill and Dawson’s as you wander towards Elm and Oak Wood. You can then curve around the Menagerie Ponds, each lake offering something unique, from a cover of foliage to spectacular forest sights.
Start point: Temple Newsam House – find it on Google maps.
Distance: 2.7 miles.
Difficulty: Easy.
Route: Check out the route.
Eccup Reservoir
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If you fancy a five-mile stroll full of incredible landscapes and scenery, a visit to Eccup Reservoir is a must. This easy circular walk will take you through a sublime tree-lined avenue and follows the path along the Goodrick Plantation.
You can enjoy the peaceful woodlands and, if you’re an avid bird-watcher, spot magnificent wildlife passing through for the season. Take a moment to delight in stunning views over the reservoir before you rejoin the flat path and head back towards your starting point.
Start point: Alwoodley Lane – find it on Google maps.
Distance: 5.3 miles.
Difficulty: Easy.
Route: Check out the route.
Guiseley Gap Circular
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Whether you’re a seasoned rambler or simply up for a challenge, the Guiseley Gap Circular will not disappoint. It’s a nine-mile behemoth that starts from the Surprise View at Otley Chevin. On the route, you’ll see the remnants of Mire Beck, an ancient track crossing used to carry supplies of flour and coal.
Pass through Parkinson’s Park and soak in the panoramic scenery of Wharfedale and Airedale, before heading back towards the start – but not before climbing from Wills Gill along the beck to Calfhole Wood.
Start point: Surprise View Car Park – find it on Google maps.
Distance: 8.8. miles.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Route: Check out the route.
Roundhay Park
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As one of the biggest city parks in Europe, Roundhay Park boasts an abundance of sights and delights. The Secret Gorge walk is one of the more challenging walks on offer, but it’s one of the best places to see the changing colours of the season.
This route will take you past the ruins of Castle Folly before following Great Heads Beck upstream through the natural beauty of the gorge. From here, you’ll circle past the historic Gorge Bridge and wander back towards the castle along the perimeter of the golf course.
Start point: Princes’ Avenue – find it on Google maps.
Distance: 3 miles.
Difficulty: Easy.
Route: Check the route.
Calverley
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You can explore the beauty of Calverley on this three-and-a-half-mile circular walk as you follow tracks that appeared on old tithe maps of Rawdon and Horsforth. The first main sight is the remains of a weir and the old Calverley Mill, originally built in 1710.
But the highlight is a trail of Cragg Wood – an ancient woodland paradise with a charming maze of wall-lined ginnels. This autumnal walk offers scenic rivers and a woodland paradise before it concludes where it began, by the canalside at Horsforth.
Start point: Thornhill Drive – find it on Google maps.
Distance: 3.5 miles.
Difficulty: Easy.
Route: Check out the route.
