Leeds Country Way
A very popular long-distance walk of 62 miles making a complete circuit around the city of Leeds, visiting neighboring towns, villages, parks, and nature reserves. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: SE 267 417
Distance: 62 miles (100 km)
Time: 24–30 hours
Duration: 3–6 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
288 Bradford, Huddersfield and East Calderdale
289 Leeds, Harrogate, Wetherby and Pontefract
297 Lower Wharfedale and Washburn Valley
Summary
The Leeds Country Way is a circular long-distance footpath of 62 miles encircling the city of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. It is never more than 7 miles from Leeds City Square. Despite being so close to the city, the walk is predominantly rural with much to enjoy, including extensive views across the West and North Yorkshire countryside in the outlying areas of the Leeds metropolitan district. It follows public rights of way, including footpaths, bridleways, and minor lanes, with just a few short sections along roads. Significant places visited en route, moving clockwise from Golden Acre Park, include the grounds of Harewood House, Bardsey, Thorner, Barwick-in-Elmet, Garforth, Swillington Park, the River Calder, north Wakefield, West Ardsley, Gildersome, Cockers Dale, Pudsey, Airedale, Greengates, and Horsforth.
History: A route was first devised by Fred Andrews of the Ramblers’ Association and then developed by West Yorkshire County Council in the early 1980s. After that council was abolished in 1986, the path came under the care of the Countryside section of Leeds City Council. The Leeds Country Way was realigned in 2006 using a route devised by Bob Brewster to bring it entirely within the boundary of the Leeds metropolitan district (previously crossing the boundary into Wakefield). The path was officially relaunched on September 26, 2006, with a revised set of map leaflets and improved waymarking.
Note: The files available for download are for the updated 2006 revised routes.