Walks you can reach from Bradford Forster Square by train
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Shipley Station to Horsforth Station (Yorkshire)
7m direct from Bradford Forster Square.
stunning views over Saltaire and Baildon. A very pleasant walk with a good mix of terrain, including a lovely stint alongside the River Aire and stunning views over Saltaire and Baildon. Some footpaths are overgrown and parts are inaccurately plotted on non-existent paths and requiring diversions.
Tough: steep ascents. 12km.
Overgrown footpaths and sections plotted on non-existent paths require a few diversions.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Shipley Station to Baildon Station (Yorkshire)
7m direct from Bradford Forster Square.
A short, straightforward route up to Baildon and let down by a long stretch along the main road.
Easy: 3km, moderate ascents.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Bingley Station to Shipley Station (Yorkshire)
7m direct from Bradford Forster Square.
An easy, mostly flat walk almost entirely along the wide, well-compacted Leeds & Liverpool Canal towpath, popular with cyclists, dog-walkers and buggy-pushers. The towpath switches sides at Dowley Gap locks and the canal crosses an aqueduct over the River Aire. The main route-finding is locating footbridges at each end and which have flights of steps. Follows the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Passes through the World Heritage village of Saltaire (Salts Mill), well worth a visit.
Easy: 5km, moderate ascents.
Busy roads to cross at each end (footbridges have flights of steps); be alert for cyclists on the towpath.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Baildon Station to Guiseley Station (Yorkshire)
15m direct from Bradford Forster Square.
A route through parkland and up a hill and with a bridge crossing on a narrow road with no footpath.
Tough: steep ascents. 6km.
Going over the bridge in Baildon can be sketchy as the road is narrow with no footpath and traffic can come from both directions.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Ilkley Station to Baildon Station (Yorkshire)
15m direct from Bradford Forster Square.
Tough: steep ascents. 10km.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Bingley Station to Baildon Station (Yorkshire)
15m direct from Bradford Forster Square.
Via the Shipley Glen Tramway.
Easy: 6km, moderate ascents.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Keighley Station to Bingley Station (Yorkshire)
15m direct from Bradford Forster Square.
A lovely, fairly well-used route with a delightful wooded section, excellent views from the fields, a riverside path beside the River Aire at Bingley. A fair climb at either end, with steps, narrow sections, kissing gates and stiles and footpaths that are muddy after rain. A shop at Long Lee towards Keighley, with benches at Long Lee Crick Club.
6km.
Steps, narrow sections and stiles.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Ilkley Station to Guiseley Station (Yorkshire)
15m direct from Bradford Forster Square.
stunning Ilkley Moor with its natural rock sculptures, beautiful walk, stunning views. A walk skirting the edge of stunning Ilkley Moor on the established Dales Way/Ebor Way, with natural rock sculptures and views across the valley, before dropping into Menston and a more urban and suburban final stretch into Guiseley with a tedious last mile on a busy road. Wet and muddy paths and steep elevation; the climb up to Cow and Calf can be slippery in wet weather. Follows the established Dales Way and Ebor Way. Can be shortened or returned by train from Menston, an intermediate station. Passes the Abraham Moon and Sons woollen mill and its factory shop in Guiseley.
Tough: steep ascents. 10km.
Numerous obstacles and significant elevation; the path up to Cow and Calf can get slippery in wet weather, and there are wet and muddy paths. Care with young bullocks in the last field before Menston.
Lunch: Lots of places for refreshments and a bakery in Ilkley.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Keighley Station to Ilkley Station (Yorkshire)
30m direct from Bradford Forster Square.
great views; amazing views to the south and east. A varied route climbing from town onto open moorland: cobbled paths and stone steps through Riddlesden, field and farm paths, then a long stretch of quiet but pavement-less moorland road (partly gravel) over Ilkley Moor and descending via steep cobbled and stepped paths and the tarmac paths of Mill Ghyll. Some unmarked sections. Crossing the moors there is rich birdlife including meadow pipits, curlew, lapwings, skylarks, swifts and buzzards. Good facilities at both ends.
Tough: steep ascents. 9km.
A long stretch of road onto Ilkley Moor with no usable verge (quiet but care needed); steep, rubbly short-cuts (Spicey Gill) that can be slippery and muddy when wet; some stiles and dilapidated gates; cattle and sheep in fields.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Morley Station to Leeds Station (Yorkshire)
30m direct from Bradford Forster Square.
Great view of Leeds from the top of the rise. A mix of rural and urban with great views towards Leeds: downhill through Morley, residential streets, the last few fields before the city, then past White Rose, along a busy ring road, up to Beeston and a high ridge with a steep grassy drop to a footbridge over the M621, through Holbeck, a final canal- and riverside approach with steps up to the station. Plenty of steps and some uneven and steep footpaths.
Easy: 9km, moderate ascents.
Steps and some uneven, steep footpaths; a steep grassy bank drops to the M621 footbridge. A busy ring road to walk along by White Rose.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Leeds Station to Garforth Station (Yorkshire)
30m direct from Bradford Forster Square.
A largely level route out of the city, starting along the River Aire and city-centre bridges, following National Cycle Route 66 through industrial estates, then skirting Temple Newsam park (the loveliest part, light woodland and grass), with a super-muddy section along Beech Walk and meandering paths through Millennium Wood before the village of Garforth. Mostly wide and weatherproof paths with two stiles; some hills; concrete-heavy around the Thorpe Park shopping centre. Generally follows National Cycle Route 66 with handy signposts; mostly off-road (80-90%). Crosses the A1(M) by footbridge; the Springs / Thorpe Park retail park has places to eat and drink mid-route.
12km. Moderate ascents.
A super-muddy section along Beech Walk near North Plantation; two stiles; a diversion is needed just before Thorpe Park (easy reroute via a short stretch of bridleway); the section south of Halton Moor needs care.
Lunch: Places to eat and drink at the Thorpe Park / Springs retail park mid-route.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Horsforth Station to Leeds Station (Yorkshire)
30m direct from Bradford Forster Square.
A route of three sections: quiet wooded pathways criss-crossing the railway, a tedious middle section of road walking beside a busy road, then a delightful ending through Burley Park and along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath with the River Aire alongside and leading right to the station. Ends along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath with the River Aire running parallel. Greener than many people expect for an urban route.
Easy: 9km, moderate ascents.
Some wooded sections would not feel appealing or safe walking alone at night, particularly for solo women; one long stretch beside the busy Queenswood Drive.