We are the Take a Hike Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Join us for a leisurely, flat walk around the countryside in East Leeds. Starting at East Garforth Train Station (no facilities here), this is a circular walk of just under 9 miles, including a cafe/toilet stop about half way round and a tap room for more refreshments near the end.
Heading east from East Garforth, the walk will proceed over farmland through Micklefield to Hook Moor Wind Farm, then into the Lotherton Estate (following the public footpath, no entry fee needed) for a lunch and toilet stop (after 4.25 miles). There is a cafe, but bringing your own packed lunch is advised, since there is sometimes a long wait for food at the cafe, but there will be time to buy a drink and cold food/snack.
We will then head to Aberford to pick up the woodland trail through Parlington Woods (past an award-winning tree and a mannequin that likes fancy dress!) to Quirky Ales Tap Room where the official walk will end (around 8 miles total). Here you can either join us for refreshments or make your way back to your transport (I'm happy to guide people back to the start of the walk if needed either before or after drinks) - it's less than a mile back to East Garforth Train Station (where the walk begins) or you may choose instead to walk 0.5 miles instead to Garforth Train Station, where there may be more train options.
Things to note and risks:
- Parlington Woods can be boggy sometimes, but I have it on good authority that it's ok at the moment so either shoes or boots should be ok.
- There are two reasonably busy roads to cross and a short section of the walk (between Lotherton and Aberford) where the footpath next to the road is very narrow (single file advised for about half a mile).
- Dogs are welcome, but a short lead will be needed for parts of the Lotherton estate, and recommended for the short stretch of the walk with narrow footpath next to a road.
- Quirky Ales' tap room is fairly small, so there’s a chance we will need to drink outside. Quirky will have a food van on the day serving loaded fries and other tasty treats.
Meet on Platform 1 of East Garforth Train Station There is plenty of free parking along (and around) either Woodlands Drive or New Sturton Lane (south side and north side of the tracks, respectively). The train station is a stop on the Leeds to York/Selby/Hull line. The 163 bus from Leeds or Castleford stops at the station on the south side, and the 19/19A bus from Leeds stops at the station on the north side. There is a footbridge to cross from one side to the other.
