Best walks near Pontefract by train
Stations: Pontefract Tanshelf · Pontefract Baghill · Pontefract Monkhill
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Pontefract and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Pontefract.
Selby Station to Snaith Station (Yorkshire)
45 minutes from Pontefract Monkhill, with one change.
Highly recommended: great views. Very flat and easy walking: a canal towpath, a good-surfaced path across a former airfield, then open countryside, lanes and tracks and a flood bank and a bridge over the River Aire. Just short stretches of busy and verge-only road. Follows the Trans Pennine Trail across Burn Airfield, which has benches and interpretation boards; you may see gliders taking off and landing.
Warnings: A short stretch of busy road at the start, and a section of roadside walking with no pavement on a straight part of Hirst Road.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Scunthorpe Station to Brigg Station (Lincolnshire)
1 hour from Pontefract Monkhill, with one change.
Highly recommended: A pleasant walk including woodlands and a stretch along the river and part of it on the Ironstone Way. The first part leaving Scunthorpe can be a little tricky to follow. Part of the route follows the Ironstone Way. Extensive woodland.
Lunch: Refreshments at Broughton.
Warnings: Crossing the busy A18 can be hazardous; you could instead cross Brigg Road near Ashbyville.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Featherstone Station to Castleford Station (Yorkshire)
4 minutes direct from Pontefract Tanshelf.
Recommended: A largely step-free, fairly clear route on roads, paths and through a pair of parks, with a brief stretch of industrial ground between them. A field path leads out of Featherstone and the road into central Castleford is quite long.
Warnings: The path runs close beside the M62 for about ten minutes, with heavy traffic noise; you are safely behind a hedge.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Selby Station to Goole Station (Yorkshire)
45 minutes from Pontefract Monkhill, with one change.
Worksop Station to Retford Station (Nottinghamshire)
45 minutes from Pontefract Monkhill, with one change.
Recommended: an excellent route; very enjoyable. An off-road and peaceful route using byways, the Chesterfield Canal towpath, farm tracks and with some walking through housed areas on safe pavements at either end. The canal section can get hemmed in by bracken and undergrowth; no serious hills. Follows the Chesterfield Canal towpath; passes Babworth Church, linked to the Pilgrim Fathers, with a display board; few benches in the middle third.
Lunch: The Chequers pub at Ranby is the only refreshment option in the middle third and needs a detour off the towpath; stock up at the start otherwise.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Fitzwilliam Station Circular via Leeds (Yorkshire)
45 minutes from Pontefract Tanshelf, with one change.
Featherstone Station to South Elmsall Station (Yorkshire)
4 minutes direct from Pontefract Tanshelf.
Knottingley Station to Selby Station (Yorkshire)
5 minutes direct from Pontefract Monkhill.
Knottingley Station to Whitley Bridge Station (Yorkshire)
5 minutes direct from Pontefract Monkhill.
Wakefield Westgate Station to Normanton Station (Yorkshire)
30 minutes direct from Pontefract Tanshelf.
A walk that follows the river out of the Calder valley on the signposted TransPennine Trail, then through a country park with parkland paths, fields and lakeside tracks. The western part is on good paths; finding the right paths becomes tricky once away from the valley and with one section that can flood. Follows the signposted TransPennine Trail along the river. The Normanton meeting point has several benches.
Warnings: One slightly flooded section could be impassable in wetter conditions. Paths in the eastern half are hard to find and do not match the rights of way.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Retford Station to Gainsborough Central Station (Nottinghamshire)
45 minutes from Pontefract Monkhill, with one change.
Selby Station to Whitley Bridge Station (Yorkshire)
45 minutes from Pontefract Monkhill, with one change.
A mostly arable route along back lanes and field paths. Largely flat. Fields can get very boggy after rain and making footing difficult. Passes through Burn and Kellington.
Warnings: Several road crossings are on busy main roads with no footpaths. Multiple barriers to entry. Can be very boggy and slippery underfoot after rain. Can be muddy.
Walk details: Slow Ways.