Family Walks around Wakefield

We love getting out and about as a family and enjoying the natural environment that Wakefield has to offer.

I’ve chosen  child friendly walks from North, East, South and West Wakefield so hopefully there will be one close by to you if you want to stay local or discover a new walk in another part of Wakefield.

North Wakefield – Lofthouse Colliery Nature Park

This is a great space for walking and cycling and is perfect for buggies or little ones gaining confidence on bikes! There is woodland, heathland, a small pond and large playing fields. All the paths are named after coal seams mainly worked at Lofthouse Colliery.

We did a circular walk of around 1.5 miles around half of the reserve (we used the centre path – Blocking Path). The western path goes alongside the Wakefield – Leeds train line which my little boy loved spotting all the trains zooming past! There’s also lots of picnic benches dotted around the paths for that perfect outdoor lunch!

• Parking: We parked in Outwood Train Station (WF3 3HR), cross the road bridge to platform 1 side and the start of the footpath is to the right of the train line access gates.
• Buggy Friendly: Yes, there are some great asphalt paths, watch out the middle one is pretty steep!

East Wakefield – Walton Colliery Nature Park

On the former site of Sharlston West Colliery, this is a brilliant park for buggy walking / running, riding bikes and taking a family walk!

The main paths are wide and mostly flat as they wind around the different ponds and lakes, with lots of ducks, geese and swans, with three coloured routes of distances between 0.5 – 3 miles.

We started off on the blue route in a clockwise direction and then joined the red route back along the larger lake and back to the car park which was approx 2 miles

• Parking: There is a Wakefield Council car park just off Shay Lane (closest postcode is WF2 6NB but you need to go further down the road and under the railway bridge if coming from Walton)
• Buggy Friendly: Yes, there are some great asphalt paths.

South Wakefield – Seckar Woods

Seckar Woods has been designated an SSSI in 1979 due to its unusual variety of habitat types and plant diversity not found elsewhere in West Yorkshire at a single locality. The woodland comprises of ancient woodland and lowland heathland and is perfect for children to play eye spy as they walk around the woods. There is also a walled pond in the centre of the woods which was built in the 1930s as a swimming pool!

We did a circular walk of just over 2 miles around the perimeter of the woods

• Parking: There is a small Wakefield Council car park (WF4 2LE) just off Seckar Lane (around 10 – 12 cars) – look out for a sign ‘Willowbrook House’ and it’s immediately on the right before the private house gates.
• Buggy Friendly: From the council car park mentioned above there is a small entrance to stop bikes entering so I think it would be difficult for a buggy to access at that point but you can access with a buggy via the main track from the A61

West Wakefield – Coxley Woods

Situated in the valley between Netherton and Middlestown, these woods stretch from Horbury Bridge up to New Hall HMP and are also known as Stoneycliffe Wood Nature Reserve which is managed by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

They have trees, stream, duck pond, dens, tree swings, wild garlic and lots of bluebells … a perfect outdoor adventure for the whole family!

Exploring Coxley Woods

From Coxley Lane car park head up the hill into the woods to an approx 1 mile circular route with the duck pond at the mid point or continue further into the woods up the stream for a longer approx 3 mile circular route.

• Parking: We normally park at the bottom of Coxley Lane (WF4 4PU) as there is a small car park (around 8-10 cars)
• Buggy Friendly: No, there’s a couple of tight kissing gates so a sling or carrier would be the best option

For more ideas of walks to do in the local area and exploring the great outdoors click here

If you’d like to recommend your local favourite walk please email me at [email protected]