Walking Routes

The estate’s own nature habitat. The circular route listed here takes around 30 minutes.

Please respect the conservation efforts, and clean up after your dog. There are waste bins at each entrance to the beck.

This walk does require a short walk on the road itself, and can be quite muddy after heavy rain!

From the park and ride stop, head south then walk left along the path by the waste management site.

Head along Pontefract Road towards Newsam Green farm. There is no proper path here, you will need to briefly walk along the road through the narrow traffic lights section. Just after the traffic lights there is a road on your left to Newsam Green farm, and the entrance into the old landfill site straight after it. Just after these there is a green strip path at the side of the road.

From Skelton Lake Services head past the lake towards the canal. From there you can follow the canal to your right all the way into Leeds City Centre!

You’ll pass under the M1, and a long stretch up towards the Skelton Grange power station.

At the power station you’ll head up some steps to the road. Just turn left and back down the steps at the other side and you’ll head under the bridge to the other side of the canal.

From Skelton Lake Services, walk alongside the lake to the canal. You can then either head left, cross over the lock gate, and then turn right until you get to the hill up towards Rothwell Country Park. Or you can head right, over the bridge, then head round to the left until you reach the same hill up to the park.

There are several routes you could take through Rothwell Country Park. The map shows a circular route around the main section.

From Skelton Lake services, walk alongside the lake to the canal. From there head left down to Woodlesford and the lock gates.

There is a small gated reserve on the opposite side of the canal on your way back with wooden sculptures (Gruffalo, Olaf, etc.). The Canal & River Trust have a Children’s worksheet with things to do here.

If you want a longer walk, it’s a further 2km walk to reach St. Aiden’s RSPB Reserve.

The house and tea rooms are a roughly 15 minute walk from Pontefract Lane. It’s a steep hill, maybe slightly faster on the way back down full of coffee and cake.