One of the things we have loved doing this last year has been going on family bike rides. Our little boy has now got the confidence and stamina (fuelled by haribo!) to go on a decent bike ride! We’ve put together some of our favourite child-friendly cycling routes around Wakefield and also some places a bit further afield!
Route Details
Route Description
Leave Thornes Park car park by the Duck Pond and cross over Thornes Road at the pelican crossing.
Head up Thornes Moor Road and right at the end enter the bridle path that takes you to the rear of the housing estate and onto the edge of Wakefield Golf Course.
Keep following this path until you leave the gold course and head down a little steep hill.
Bare left under the railway line, if you go under the M1 with the graffiti painting you’ve gone too far!
Follow the footpath that will take you along the edge of one of the lagoons and then along the River Calder.
You will branch off on the left to follow the canal, head up a little hill and it looks like you’re going into Monkton Industrial Estate but there’s an entrance back onto the canal on the footpath through the hedge.
Go under Denby Dale Road with the Refuse Recycling Centre to the other side of the canal.
When you reach the lock gates before the canal joins the River Calder again, head up left onto Holme Lane which is behind Happy Days Soft Play, Nurseryland and Wakefield Indoor Football Centre
Turn left onto Holmfield Lane and then cross Denby Dale Road (be careful it’s a busy road), under the railway bridge and back into Thornes Park.
Turn left past the tennis courts and back to the car park.
Map – click here
Route Details
Route Description
Do one of the cycle trails in Nostell – click here for info
From Nostell car park head along the internal road parallel to Doncaster Road and out through the arch, opposite Garmill Lane
Go down Garmill Lane on the path and take your first right onto Swine Lane (there is a path on this road too)
Take a right into the entrance to Ibstock Brick Works and at the end of the lane you’ll get onto a bridle path
You’ll be following some blue marker arrows but at the first path cross roads turn left and keep going along this path which will take you under the railway
At the Y junction, continue straight on, parallel to the railway. Just keep going, don’t go up the concrete road to the right.
You’ll soon see a field on your left that you need to cross which can sometimes be muddy. At the bottom of the field is Santingley Lane.
Cross Santingley Lane and straight opposite is a path that takes you to the north-eastern edge of Anglers lake.
Cycle round the lake keeping an eye out for the Room on the Broom Trail
Return back to Nostell using the same route
Map – click here
Route Details
Route Description
At Pugneys head anti-clockwise around the lake, past the start of Pugneys Light Railway. Half way along the railway you’ll see a crossing of the railway and a gate onto Asdale Road.
Turn left onto Asdale Road (there’s a wide footpath) towards Sandal. You’ll see a turning on your right which takes you to Durkar, keep on the footpath!
Keep following this road, past the fish and chip shop and just before it takes a sharp left hand bend there is a footpath to the right that takes you to Cedar Court Roundabout.
Go under the M1 on the roundabout and there is another footpath that takes you behind the back of Cedar Court Hotel onto Denby Dale Road West.
Continue along this road, you’ll need to cross Denby Dale Road in Calder Grove, around the fish and chip shop is a good place, and turn right down Broad Cut Road and towards the Navigation Pub
You’ll go over the canal, see the pub on your left and then keep going along the road and you’ll have to get off your bikes to go up and over the Rover Calder foot bridge (there’s the track to put your bike wheels to push it up the steps)
Turn left after the bridge, you’ll want to turn onto Millfield Road. Keep going up this road and over the railway bridge.
If you want to continue into Horbury Town Centre , continue up this road. If not turn right down Green Lane and go under the M1 through the graffiti tunnel.
You can either go straight on up the little hill and go along the edge of Wakefield Golf Course or turn right and go around Horbury Lagoons and the path along the Rover Calder.
Both routes take you to the edge of Monkton Industrial Estate and the path along the canal.
Go under Denby Dale Road with the Refuse Recycling Centre to the other side of the canal.
When you reach the lock gates before the canal joins the River Calder again go over the canal into Nuffield Gym’s car park
Head through the estate and head out onto Denby Dale Road by the Jaguar Garage (stay on the footpath!!)
Just after the bridge over the River Calder there is a footpath to your left. Continue along this and it will bring you out at Pugneys Lake close to the Blown Away play boat.
Map – click here
Route Details
Route Description
Head up Lock Lane towards the Aire & Calder Navigation Canal. Continue along the side of the canal (NCR 69) and after the tarmac works make sure you turn left along the footpath back towards the River Calder.
Turn left again and the footpath takes you between the golf course and the River Calder, you’ll pass Methley Viaduct on your left.
You’ll soon hit the edge of Castleford and just after the Riverside Medical Centre, you’ll come to the roundabout on Savile Road.
Keep going eastwards along Savile Road and you want to go over Millennium Bridge across the River Aire.
Turn immediate left after the bridge onto Weir View and the footpath takes you on the north side of the River Aire
Go across the locks and back along the north side of the Aire & Calder Navigation Canal by turning left.
Keep going along the side of the canal and you’ll end up joining the River Aire again and the West Corner of Fairburn Ings
Head towards the Visitors Centre and cafe at Fairburn Ings before returning on same route.
Map – click here
Route Details
Route Description
This route of part of the Wakefield Wheel (approx 40 miles) and you can do parts of it or follow some of their recommended routes.
From Walton Colliery car park turn right up Shay Lane along the National Cycle Route 67.
Turn left more or less opposite Walton Sports & Social Club still following NCR 67 and the cycle track takes you along Waterton Park Golf Course and into Haw Park Woods (you go alongside an old canal) and to the edge of Cold Heindley Reservoir where you’ll join onto Wakefield Wheel.
Head South away from Haw Park Woods continuing along NCR 67, you’ll cross Cold Heindley Common Lane
Turn right onto Navvy Lane towards Notton and just after the railway bridge turn left onto the NCR 67 / Wakefield Wheel cycle track. As you get close to the railway line take a sharp left, double backing on yourself and going back under the bridge.
Keep going along this track (you’ll go under Chevet Lane) and you’ll head into Newmillerdam Woods.
Just before you get to Barnsley Road head right, down through the woods (at the top of the Gnome Roam) and just keep going until you reach Newmillerdam car park or cycle around the lake.
Map – click here
Penistone to Dunford Bridge
This is a brilliant wide asphalt track on a very small incline. We did this as our little boys first long route as a there and back route of 11.4 miles and there’s a little fairy trail along the way
Sherwood Pines
There are so many cycle paths to explore in Sherwood Pines! Make sure you find the Gruffalo sculptures.
Leeds Urban Bike Park
Mountain Bike & BMX Centre in the heart of Leeds. Includes trails for all abilities plus a bike shop and coffee shop all on site.
Sutton Bank
One of the most beautiful views I have experienced whilst on a bike ride! With a cafe and bike shop as well as a pump track and trails of various lengths and abilities! We combined a few trails to do a whole day out with a lunch stop at High Paradise Tea Rooms and had a yummy pizza!!
For more outdoor ideas to do with your family click here
