This family friendly walk starts in Rothwell and takes you along the disused railway line towards Robin Hood. Plenty to see and easy terrain.

Distance: 2 miles

Route: Simple outline of route here.

Facilities: The walk starts in Rothwell centre, where there are a number of excellent premises offering food and drink. Morrisons, with a café and toilet facilities is also just up the road. This makes this a perfect walk to help digest a good meal out! There is also a play area a little distance off the path (you’ll be able to see it as you’re walking).

Parking: There are a number of free public carparks in Rothwell, this walk starts at the car park opposite Salute at the White Swan.

Accessibility: The walk towards Robin Hood is all along the disused Railway Line on a gritted path, so perfect for buggies and little ones on bikes. The return leg is on a narrow leafy path, and includes a stile and steps. I’d recommend turning round and retracing your steps if you do have a buggy.

Rothwell Pastures Walk Description

From the car park, take the footpath that starts at the Rothwell Castle Information Board. Keep looking to your left to see the ruins of the old manor house. You’ll soon come to an uphill footpath to your right that takes you up to the disused railway.

Continue along the path. When you start to see homes to your right, keep looking out for the play area on the grassy area.

You’ll eventually come to a gateway with a flight of steps to your left and a footpath on your right. If you have wheels, continue straight or turn back, but to walk this loop take the footpath on the right. This leads onto a dirt track, through woodland at the back of some houses before leading back onto the main track you were on. Walk back along here and climb the steps (which will now be on your right).

The route here is narrow, and takes you on a tree lined path along the side of a farm (and huge plant tunnels) and fields. Eventually you leave the path to come out at a drive between buildings, straight ahead of you you’ll see the entrance to another footpath (where you may hear some rather excitable dogs).

The footpath leads to a small footbridge and onto a grassy field, where you can pick up the path back towards the start. Cross two footbridge and continue along this path back to the carpark.

Other walks you may enjoy in the Rothwell and Woodlesford area can be found on this post.