:Leeds Country Way

A route was first devised by Fred Andrews of the Ramblers Association, and then developed by West Yorkshire County Council in the early 1980s.{{cite news |editor-last1=Charlton |editor-first1=Peter |title=Obituaries - Fred Andrews |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=14 January 2012 |page=12|issn=0963-1496}} This council was abolished in 1986, and the path is now 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 it crossed the boundary into Wakefield district), and the path was officially relaunched on 26 September 2006 with a revised set of map leaflets and improved waymarking.

{{cite book

| last = Leeds City Council

| title = Leeds Country Way (4 leaflets in folder)

| publisher = Leeds City Council: Learning and Leisure, Parks and Countryside

| year = 2006

}}

{{cite web

| title = BBC Leeds report of path relaunch 2006

| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2006/09/26/leeds_country_way_feature.shtml

| access-date = 20 September 2007

| archive-date = 1 October 2008

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081001054827/http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2006/09/26/leeds_country_way_feature.shtml

| url-status = live

}}

(With link to audio file)

The Leeds Country Way was mentioned in the House of Commons when Colin Burgon gave his maiden speech as the newly-elected MP for Elmet: he said "Some hon. Members use their maiden speeches to boost the tourism prospects of their constituencies. I advise a walk along the Leeds Country Way, which criss-crosses my constituency; people would soon realise how pleasant Elmet is."{{cite web |title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 22 Jul 1997 (pt 17) |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo970722/debtext/70722-17.htm#70722-17_spnew5 |website=publications.parliament.uk |access-date=20 January 2025}}

{{As of|2025}} the fastest known time for completion of the Leeds Country Way is 10 h 41m 18s, by runner Chin Yong on 7 May 2021, running unsupported but having cached bottles of water and energy food along the route.{{cite web |title=Chin Yong - Leeds Country Way (United Kingdom) - 2021-05-07 {{!}} Fastest Known Time |url=https://fastestknowntime.com/fkt/chin-yong-leeds-country-way-united-kingdom-2021-05-07 |website=fastestknowntime.com |access-date=20 January 2025 |language=en |date=7 May 2021}}

The path extends to {{convert|62|mi}} in an orbital route around Leeds, never more than {{convert|7|mi}} from the city centre. It is waymarked in both directions and can be started at any point, but the city council's documentation describes it in a clockwise direction, starting the A660 road at Golden Acre Park ({{gbmapping|SE267417}}), and the description below follows that pattern, dividing the route into four parts of about {{cvt|15|miles}}, each subdivided into three sections ending at points with road access.{{cite web |title=The Leeds Country Way |url=https://www.leeds.gov.uk/Pages/The-Leeds-Country-Way.aspx |website=www.leeds.gov.uk |publisher=Leeds City Council |access-date=19 January 2025 |language=en}}

Image:Golden-acre-park.jpg

Section 1: the path crosses Golden Acre Park and passes the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Adel Dam Nature Reserve, following the route of the Meanwood Valley Trail. It coincides briefly with the Leeds link to the Dales Way north of Eccup Reservoir, before crossing the Ebor Way and entering the Harewood House estate. Here there is a glimpse of what looks like a small village, not marked on any map, but which is actually the set for the TV series Emmerdale.{{cite web|url=http://www.harewood-estate.co.uk/default.asp?idno=82|title=Location filming|author=Harewood Estate|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-date=3 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103070159/http://www.harewood-estate.co.uk/default.asp?idno=82|url-status=live}} Walkers may also see red kites which have been successfully reintroduced in this area.{{cite web|title=Red Kites|url=http://www.harewood.org/grounds/grounds-bird-garden/red-kites|work=Harewood House|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-date=19 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819081545/http://www.harewood.org/grounds/grounds-bird-garden/red-kites|url-status=live}}

Section 2: after crossing the A61 road, the path passes north of Wike and reaches the village of Bardsey with its Anglo-Saxon church tower and the Bingley Arms public house, which claims to be the oldest in England.{{cite web|title=History of the Bingley Arms|url=http://www.bingleyarms.co.uk/history.php|work=Bingley Arms|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-date=9 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809124013/http://bingleyarms.co.uk/history.php|url-status=live}} The path turns south, crossing the A58, to Scarcroft.

Section 3: the path continues through Thorner, crossing the A64 road before entering Barwick-in-Elmet ({{gbmappingsmall|SE398376}}) with England's tallest maypole,{{cite web|url=http://www.halikeld.f9.co.uk/traditions/barwick/barwick1.htm|title=Barwick Maypole|author=Northern Traditions|access-date=23 October 2007|archive-date=12 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912233852/http://www.halikeld.f9.co.uk/traditions/barwick/barwick1.htm|url-status=live}} a Norman motte and an Iron Age fort.{{cite PastScape|mnumber=52862|mname=Barwick in Elmet hill fort and motte and bailey castle|access-date=9 August 2011}}

Image:River Aire Swillington.jpg

Section 1: from Barwick the path passes the southern corner of Scholes, then crosses the M1 motorway and enters Garforth.

Section 2: it leaves Garforth along the disused Garforth-Kippax railway line (part of the North Eastern Railway and earlier the Leeds, Castleford and Pontefract Junction Railway{{cite web|title=Castleford to Garforth|url=http://www.lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co.uk/Castleford%20Garforth.htm|work=Lost Railways West Yorkshire|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718200847/http://www.lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co.uk/Castleford%20Garforth.htm|url-status=live}}), then approaches Swillington and passes Little Preston Old Hall. It skirts St Aidan's Country Park, and crosses the River Aire at Swillington Bridge. The path follows the river downstream, past the marina at Fleet Bridge.

Section 3: the path continues along the river, here forming the Aire and Calder Navigation, to Mickletown, and then turns south to Methley.{{cite news |title=South Leeds: Mine landscape restored |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWGLNB&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&page=2&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22leeds%20Country%20Way%22&docref=news/15811A3D43A234D0 |access-date=29 June 2024 |work=infoweb.newsbank.com |date=24 September 2015|url-access=subscription}} It swings eastward, crosses the A642 road and continues to Carlton ({{gbmappingsmall|SE337272}}), in the West Yorkshire Rhubarb Triangle.{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Home |url=https://www.therhubarbtrianglefarmshop.co.uk/ |website=Rhubarb Triangle Farm Shop |access-date=22 January 2025 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Yorkshire rhubarb gets EU status |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/8536833.stm |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=BBC News |date=25 February 2010}}

Image:Woodkirk Church.jpg

Section 1: from Carlton the path crosses fields before briefly joining the A61 road and recrossing the M1 motorway south of Robin Hood. It turns south across the M62 motorway, follows the valley of Dolphin Beck, and reaches East Ardsley on the A650 road.{{cite news |title=Weekend Walk: Ardsley Reservoir & Leeds Country Way |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWGLNB&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&page=2&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22leeds%20Country%20Way%22&docref=news/15A434BE25A223D8 |access-date=29 June 2024 |work=infoweb.newsbank.com |date=9 January 2016|url-access=subscription}}

Section 2: from here the path skirts south of West Ardsley, and reaches Woodkirk with its historic church, on the A653 road. It passes the ruins of Howley Hall (built 1590 for Sir John Savile){{cite web

| url=http://www.howleyhall.co.uk/

| title=Howley Hall Golf Club

| access-date=19 September 2007

| archive-date=21 September 2007

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070921111451/http://www.howleyhall.co.uk/

| url-status=live

}}

(See "History" page) before dropping down to reach Scotchman Lane.

Section 3: a track through Birkby Brow Wood, just inside the Leeds-Kirklees boundary, leads to the A643 road, which is followed to recross the M62. The path's longest section of road walking follows the A650 through Gildersome, then a series of field paths leads to Cockersdale ({{gbmappingsmall|SE233297}}), on the A58 road near Tong.

Image:LCW Horsforth.jpg

Section 1: the path follows the valley of Cockersdale, and then goes along Tong Beck, below Fulneck Moravian Settlement, skirting the south of Pudsey. At this point Tong Beck forms the Leeds-Bradford boundary. The path crosses the Leeds to Bradford railway and meets the busy A647 road at Thornbury.

Section 2: passing playing fields and old quarries, the path crosses the Woodhall Hills and follows Fagley Beck to cross the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire at Apperley Bridge, then follows the river past Woodhouse Grove School before climbing up to meet the A65 road south of Rawdon.

Section 3: from here the path skirts Horsforth, follows for a time the southern boundary of Leeds Bradford International Airport, and goes round the northern edge of Cookridge, before crossing Breary Marsh, a local nature reserve,{{cite web|title=Breary Marsh Local Nature Reserve|url=http://www.leeds.gov.uk/Environment_and_planning/Parks_and_open_spaces/Nature_reserves/page.aspx|access-date=22 October 2007|author=Leeds City Council|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209004114/http://www.leeds.gov.uk/Environment_and_planning/Parks_and_open_spaces/Nature_reserves/page.aspx|archive-date=9 February 2007|df=dmy-all}} to return to Golden Acre Park ({{gbmappingsmall|SE267417}}).

As the route is circular it can be started at any point, but the description in the official leaflets starts and finishes at Golden Acre Park, going clockwise. These divide it into four parts each split into three sections, but walkers can choose to divide it in various ways as there are many bus routes and several railway stations ({{rws|Woodlesford}}, {{rws|Garforth}}, {{rws|New Pudsey}} and {{rws|Horsforth}}) on or near the path. West Yorkshire Metro provides information about bus routes serving the path and train services in the area.{{cite web |title = West Yorkshire Metro |url = http://www.wymetro.com/HowToGetTo/LCW.htm |access-date = 20 September 2007 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130209183510/http://www.wymetro.com/HowToGetTo/LCW.htm |archive-date = 9 February 2013 |df = dmy-all }}{{cite web|author=West Yorkshire Metro |title = MetroTrain timetables and routes|url=http://www.wymetro.com/TrainTravel/MetroTrainTimetablesAndRoutes/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20071011194248/http://www.wymetro.com/TrainTravel/MetroTrainTimetablesAndRoutes/|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2007|access-date=15 October 2007}}

Ordnance Survey maps mark and name the route of the path. The sheets covering the route are:

• Landranger 1:50,000 sheet 104 (Leeds: covers almost the whole route) and 105 (York: needed for a short distance near Garforth)
• Explorer 1:25,000 sheets 289 (Leeds: Golden Acre Park clockwise to Scotchman Lane) and 288 (Bradford: Scotchman Lane clockwise to Golden Acre Park).

The route is waymarked with an owl symbol, outlined in yellow, and the letters "LCW" in yellow, on a green background. Owls are included in the coat of arms of Leeds, and are found in many pieces of public art in the city centre.{{cite web |last1=Falgate |first1=Kiera |title=The Leeds Owl and the City Arms |url=https://secretlibraryleeds.net/2017/04/26/the-leeds-owl-and-the-city-arms/ |website=The Secret Library |publisher=Leeds Libraries |access-date=19 January 2025 |language=en |date=26 April 2017}}{{cite web |title=Owl Map |url=http://www.leedsowltrail.com/owl-map/ |publisher=Leeds Owl Trail |access-date=19 January 2025}}

The original route of the path is used for an annual trail running relay race organised by Kippax Harriers.{{cite web | title=Kippax Harriers website | url=http://www.kippaxharriers.org.uk/ | access-date=20 September 2007 | archive-date=28 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928230137/http://www.kippaxharriers.org.uk/ | url-status=live }} Teams of twelve, with two runners taking each of six sections, complete the route in about seven hours.{{cite news |title=Airedale in third after late revival |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWGLNB&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22leeds%20Country%20Way%20relay%22&docref=news/13999498B8AB33C0 |access-date=30 June 2024 |work=infoweb.newsbank.com |date=6 September 2007 |quote=Organised by Kippax Harriers, it is raced by club teams over six legs ranging from 9.7 to 11.8 miles. Athletes run in pairs with timings based on the last of each pair passing the change-over point. After a narrow victory last year over Airedale Athletics, Leeds City AC were tipped to be going for the record in the Open category which they set themselves in 1995 in 6hr 26min 38sec.|url-access=subscription}}

{{reflist|2}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.leeds.gov.uk/leisure/Pages/The-Leeds-Country-Way.aspx Leeds City Council] information about path
• Leeds City Council PDF files of guides to the route, published 2006 and archived on 30 August 2012:

:*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120830154429/http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/lcwleaf1web.pdf Part 1: Golden Acre Park to Barwick-in-Elmet]

:*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120830154501/http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/lcwleaf2web.pdf Part 2: Barwick-in-Elmet to Carlton]

:*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120830154536/http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/lcwleaf3web.pdf Part 3: Carlton to Cockersdale]

:*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120830154618/http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/lcwleaf4web(1).pdf Part 4: Cockersdale to Golden Acre Park]

:Each downloadable map/guide covers approx 15 miles and is split into 3 sections of approx 5 miles each. Each map/guide prints out to two A4 sheets of paper.

• [https://kippaxharriers.org.uk/overview-2// Kippax Harriers website] with very detailed description of original route
• [http://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_id=264 Long Distance Walkers Association record for the path]

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{{good article}}

Category:Long-distance footpaths in England

Category:Tourist attractions in Leeds

Category:Footpaths in West Yorkshire