This great section of the trail takes you on a path between the canal and River Aire past Thwaite Mills. From here you can take a train back to the start. There is a bridge that has stairs up, so be prepared to carry your pram if you take it!
Route: Start at Woodlesford Lock and follow the marked path towards the city centre where you’ll arrive at Leeds Waterfront. Read more about Leeds Waterfront, and download a free map from the Canal & River Trust here.
Parking: Park in Woodlesford. There is limited parking around Woodlesford Lock, there are extra spaces at Woodlesford Train station but please be considerate of residents.
Facilities: There are no services that you pass on route, so make sure you head to the loo before you leave! Otherwise it’s a fair way until you hit the Royal Armouries.
Pushchairs: The path is mostly grit or tarmac but there are muddy stretches in the middle, so maybe avoid after rainy periods! There is one set of steep stairs, so if you do take a pram you might need two people or some big muscles!!
Alternative: You could park atThwaite Mills and join the path there to walk to and back from the city centre. This part of the path is very easy.
Starting the walk at Woodlesford lock gives you plenty to look at with the canal boats. When you get to the next lock (Fishpond Lock) you need to cross to the other side.
You’ll be on this side for a while, the path passes under the M1 and through the woodland that sits between the canal and river.
Next up comes the difficult part of the walk if you have a pram (if not- crack on!).
You need to cross back across the canal via this bridge. The steep steps on the top picture below need climbing. At the other side of the bridge the path is the picture in the bottom left, but on the other side of the road (bottom right picture) there are no steps so an easier option with a pram.
The path passes Thwaites Mills here, before once again crossing the canal and joining the new path of the route.
From here you start to see the residences surrounding the city centre, and you can see the improvements that are being made to the area. Stick to the side of the canal and you can’t go wrong!
The trains from the city centre to Woodlesford usually run every half hour, but check before you go!
Other walks from Woodlesford;
