Walks in the Leeds and Harrogate Area

There is fantastic and varied walking to be found so close to my home in Harrogate. Within a 15-mile radius I can walk in places like Ilkley Moor, Otley Chevin, Harewood, Harrogate and Knaresborough, Wharfedale, Airedale, Lower and Upper Washburn, Nidderdale, and Baildon Moor.

Almscliff Crag and the countryside between Leeds and Harrogate

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal passes by less than a mile from my previous home in Horsforth and there are lots of woodland and park walks in the pretty countryside fringing North Leeds. There are lots of interesting long-distance walks like the Harrogate Ringway and Knaresborough Round. I am simply blessed with great walking potential so close to home and these pages will reflect those areas as all the walks included on this page will be no more than 20 miles from my front door. The walks include hill walking on some interesting fells, rivers and valleys, tracks around towns and villages, places of historical interest, and industrial heritage. Enjoy reading about them and if you live near me then get out there and do some.

Interactive map of the walks →

Leeds and Harrogate Walking Routes Index

Walk Route	Miles	Description
Harrogate Pinewoods Easy	1.5	A walk in west Harrogate suitable for all the family, this is an interesting woodland experience.
Rothwell Country Park Sculpture Trail Easy	1.5	A short walk with some amazing sculptures to find while enjoying a walk in the lovely surroundings of Rothwell Country Park.
Trollers Gill and Skyreholme Beck Moderate	1.5	Skyreholme Beck rarely appears in Trollers Gill. It did on the occasion I did this walk.
Addingham High Moor, Windgate Nick, Black Hill and the Doubler Stones Moderate	2.0	A short walk with some amazing vistas to Addingham High Moor and on to the fascinating Doubler Stones.
Roundhay Park Easy	2.5	The for-all-the-family walk in north Leeds. Roundhay Park is a wonderful place to explore.
Otley Chevin Easy	2.7	The fabulous Chevin provides great views to the north of Leeds to Norwood Edge and Almscliff Crag.
Abbey Road, Wood Sculptures and Knaresborough Castle Easy	3.0	A chapel in rock, wood sculptures, an abbey, a hermit's cave, super woodland, Blind Jack, and the castle.
Swinsty Reservoir Easy	3.1	I love this particular reservoir walk in autumn. However it has variety and is a great walk all year round.
Harrogate Woodland and Parks Easy	3.6	A wonderful walk in the woods and parks of Harrogate including fabulous Valley Gardens.
Fewston Reservoir Easy	3.7	In my opinion this is the best reservoir perimeter walk in all of the Leeds and Harrogate area.
Bolton Abbey Estate Country Park Easy	3.8	An ideal family walk with an option to travel the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway.
Ilkley, Middleton Woods, River Wharfe and Mill Ghyll Moderate	3.9	A lovely rural and urban walk, best saved for springtime when the bluebell woodlands come into colour.
River Burn, Leighton Reservoir, Druid's Temple and Sole Beck Moderate	4.4	A quiet countryside walk in the beauty of Lower Wensleydale with an intriguing folly being the central objective.
Timble, River Washburn and Swinsty Reservoir Moderate	4.7	This walk from Timble to Swinsty Reservoir is a perfect way to spend a half day outdoors.
Cavendish Pavilion, River Wharfe, Strid Wood and the Strid Moderate	4.7	The River Wharfe in flood on its way through the Strid is a powerful sight. I experienced it on this walk.
Harewood House Estate Easy	4.8	A pleasant walk around the well-managed Harewood House Estate between Leeds and Harrogate.
Follifoot, Spofforth and the Gritstone Outcrops Moderate	5.0	This walk near Harrogate includes some lesser known gritstone outcrops which spark the imagination.
South Stainley, Burton Leonard and the Lime Quarries Wildlife Reserve Easy	5.1	A walk from South Stainley to Burton Leonard which includes a visit to a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust site.
Eccup Reservoir Easy	5.2	Enjoy a gentle ramble around Eccup Reservoir in north Leeds. It is a very popular walk.
Thruscross Reservoir, River Washburn and the Comb Hills Moderate	5.2	A walk around Thruscross Reservoir at the head of the Washburn Valley.
Golden Acre Park, Swan Lane, East Breary, Bramhope and Fish Pond Plantation Easy	5.5	A gorgeous walk suitable for all the family and mature walkers alike. Highly recommended.
Appletreewick, River Wharfe, Howgill, Skyreholme and Troller's Gill Moderate	5.8	A walk of ups and downs in Wharfedale which includes riverside, upland, and a limestone gorge.
Healey, River Burn, Sole Beck Gill and Druid's Temple Moderate	6.0	A lovely walk to a popular stone circle folly in beautiful North Yorkshire countryside.
Leathley, Stainburn, Braythorn and Lindley Moderate	6.1	A lovely walk in nice countryside just outside Northern Leeds. This is one of my favourite local walks.
Langbar Moor, Middleton Moor, Round Hill and Beamsley Beacon Hard	6.1	A walk across Langbar Moor and Middleton Moor with a return via Round Hill and Beamsley Beacon.
Ilkley Moor and Burley Moor Moderate	6.3	A heather moor walk to the Twelve Apostles Stone Circle and to the famous Cow and Calf rocks.
Grewelthorpe, Horsepasture Hill, Nutwith Common, River Nidd and Limehouse Hill Moderate	6.7	A spectacular section of the River Ure is followed on this great route near Masham.
Horsforth and Rodley Easy	6.7	A super walk in suburban Leeds, one of diversity with woodland, river, canal, and countryside to enjoy.
Rocking Moor, Bramley Head and Thruscross Reservoir Moderate	7.0	This walk which starts beside a reservoir has riverside, moorland, and a few slices of history to seek out.
Cowling, Earl Crag, Wainman's Pinnacle and Lund's Tower Moderate	7.0	A walk to the south Craven landmarks of Wainman's Pinnacle and Lund's Tower from Cowling.
Beamsley, The Beacon, Howber Hill, Hazlewood and Storiths Moderate	7.0	I think the views from Beamsley Beacon are amongst the best in mid Wharfedale.
Crackpots Mosaic Trail Moderate	7.0	A walk to find 22 mosaic tiles in the countryside east of Kirby Malzeard Moor and Dallowgill Moor.
Great Timble, Ellarcarr Pike, Lippersley Pike, Gawk Hill Gate and Timble Ings Moderate	7.0	A high-level walk on the moorlands west of Harrogate on the Wharfedale and Washburn Valley watershed.
Kirkby Malzeard Moor, Grewelthorpe Moor and Carlesmoor Hard	7.1	A walk with stunning views to experience. This is a quiet moor so you may have it all to yourself.
Fewston Reservoir, Blubberhouses Moor, Kex Gill Moor and Washburn Valley Hard	7.2	Keep your navigation right on this walk. Blubberhouses Moor reveals many surprises.
Thorner and Hetchell Wood Easy	7.7	A lovely walk in rural surroundings to a remarkable nature reserve just a few miles from Leeds.
Brimham Moor, Riva Hill, Hartwith, Summerbridge, Smelthouses and Brimham Rocks Moderate	7.8	A lovely circular walk in central Nidderdale which is steeped in the history of the area.
Washburn Valley, Norwood Edge and Lindley Wood Reservoir Moderate	8.0	A nice undulating walk on the outskirts of north Leeds in the Lower Washburn Valley.
Middlesmoor, Nidderdale Way, Scar House Reservoir and How Stean Gorge Hard	8.0	I did this walk in a white winter blanket to two of Nidderdale's most popular walking locations.
Spofforth, Kirkby Overblow and Sicklinghall Moderate	8.1	Walk the wonderful countryside around Spofforth, Kirkby Overblow, and Sicklinghall.
Ripley, Hampsthwaite, Birstwith, Burnt Yates and Bedlam Moderate	8.5	A walk which visits a series of villages to the north of Harrogate. Includes a lovely section of river walking.
Braythorn, Lindley Moor, Little Alms Cliff and Almscliff Crag Moderate	8.5	A country and moor walk linking secluded Little Almscliff Crag with its famous big brother.
Sicklinghall, Stockeld Park, Wetherby and Linton Moderate	8.6	This walk includes Stockeld Park, the Harland Way, Wetherby Ings, Linton, and Lime Kiln Wood.
Beckwithshaw, Haverah Park and Beaver Dyke Reservoirs Moderate	8.6	A gorgeous rural walk of rolling meadows, country lanes, and reservoirs to the west of Harrogate.
Brimham Rocks, Pateley Bridge, Glasshouses and Smelthouses Moderate	8.6	A walk from Brimham Rocks to Pateley Bridge and the River Nidd, exploring Nidderdale countryside and villages.
Lofthouse, Bouthwaite, Fountains Earth Moor and Thrope Edge Hard	8.8	Best when the heather is at its most spectacular this is a wonderful moorland and valley circular.
Pateley Bridge, Coldstones, Greenhow Hill and Ashfold Side Hard	9.0	A walk which features wonderful meadow and moorland and visits sites of the industrial past.
Lofthouse, Upper Nidderdale, Woogill Moor, Dale Edge and Lofthouse Moor Hard	9.3	A walk from Lofthouse in Upper Nidderdale along the River Nidd and then on to the high moor.
Markington, Studley Royal Park, Fountains Abbey and Fountains Park Moderate	10.0	A walk in lush countryside near Ripon with a visit to the remarkable abbey and Studley Deer Park.
Bramham, Scarcroft Hill, Thorner and Bramham Park Moderate	10.1	Starting in Bramham, a circular route themed on Bramham Park which includes a visit to the village of Thorner.
Dallow Moor, Dallowgill Moor and Skelding Moor Hard	10.2	One of North Yorkshire's wonderful moorland walks close to Ripon and Pateley Bridge.
Lofthouse, Dale Edge, Scar House Reservoir and How Stean Beck Hard	10.5	A walk in Upper Nidderdale, featuring moorland edges and Scar House Reservoir and with a walk along How Stean Beck.
Harewood Park, Leeds Country Way, East Keswick and River Wharfe Moderate	11.0	Parkland, heritage village, landscaped estate grounds, open countryside, tree-lined lanes, and a riverside walk.
Storiths, Posforth Gill, Simon's Seat, Lord's Seat, Hammerthorn Hill and Hazlewood Moor Hard	11.1	A walk centered on the wonderful upland country of Barden Fell and Hazlewood Moor.
Ilkley Moor, Swastika Stone, Doubler Stones and Rombalds Moor Hard	11.3	A tour of the moor from Panorama Wood to the Swastika Stone and Doubler Stones.
Harrogate, Almscliffe Crag, North Rigton and Pannal Moderate	11.4	A walk centered on the wonderful countryside south and west of Harrogate with a highlight being Almscliffe Crag.
Silsden Moor, Low Bradley, Skipton Moor and Draughton Moor Hard	11.5	A very underrated and under-walked moor walk which is simply brilliant. It provides awesome views.
How Stean Gorge, Riggs Moor, Sandy Gate, Meugher and Stean Moor Hard	12.0	This challenging walk from Lofthouse is to the high moors on the south side of Nidderdale's watershed.
Askwith, Ellarcarr Pike, Round Hill, Middleton Moor and Denton Moor Hard	12.0	Great views available on a walk from Wharfedale to open moorland which includes visiting two isolated hills. One for blowing the cobwebs away.
High Crag, Yorke Folly, Bewerley, Pateley Bridge and Brimham Rocks Hard	12.0	I did this walk in awful weather which made my walk in Brimham Rocks an eerie sight.
Valley of Desolation, Barden Fell, Simon's Seat, Troller's Gill, River Wharfe and the Strid Hard	13.2	A very popular walk with fantastic walking up to Simon's Seat and then down to the enchanting gill.
Riggs Moor, Great Whernside, Angram Reservoir and Scar House Reservoir Hard	14.4	A demanding walk from Middlesmoor across Riggs Moor to Great Whernside. Return via the source of the Nidd.
Harrogate Ringway Hard	20.0	The circuit of Harrogate has plenty of special moments including crags, becks, woods, and countryside.
Knaresborough Round Hard	20.5	The 20-mile circuit of Knaresborough has many special moments too. It is a diverse days walking.

Walks in the Leeds and Harrogate Area

Leeds and Harrogate Walking Routes Index

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