9 Beautiful Circular Walks In West Yorkshire To Discover in 2025

Updated on January 11, 2025

Are you looking for an outdoor adventure or weekend walks in West Yorkshire? Look no further!

This round-up of the nine best circular walks in West Yorkshire has something for everyone. From easy terrain to more challenging routes.

Whether you’re a local resident, visitor, or just passing through, these beautiful circular walks offer stunning scenery and plenty of fresh air.

So, grab your walking boots and get ready to explore some of the most picturesque trails in the region!

Walks In West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire is an ideal region for walking and hiking. It boasts stunning natural scenery, a rich cultural history, and plenty of outdoor activities to choose from.

From the rugged Pennine hills to the tranquil valleys of Calderdale, this part of Yorkshire has something for every type of hiker. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely stroll or a challenging hike.

So, if you’re looking for your next great adventure in the outdoors, here are some of the best walks in West Yorkshire!

Walks In West Yorkshire

Circular Walks in West Yorkshire

For Yorkshire residents looking to get outdoors, there’s no better way than exploring the many beautiful circular walks in Yorkshire.

And if you’re looking to discover the very best places to walk in Yorkshire, make sure you don’t overlook the West Yorkshire region!

West Yorkshire has some incredible scenery and country walks, which are often overlooked. You can find some of the best walks in Yorkshire in West Yorkshire!

Here are nine of the best circular walks in West Yorkshire that will satisfy your every outdoor craving!

1. Tong And Fulneck, Bradford

Tong And Fulneck Circular Walks In West Yorkshire

Distance: 5 miles/8km
Approx time: 2hrs minimum
Terrain: Good field and woodland paths
Parking: Street parking on the edge of the village, BD4 0RT

Fulneck was founded as a Movarian settlement in 1744.

This non-conformist group built some incredible buildings, including a chapel, communal houses, and schools. You’ll be able to see examples of their architecture on the walk.

You’ll start and end your walk in the village of Tong. In between the two villages you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy some picturesque rolling countryside.

Be sure to pick up an ice cream from Goodall’s of Tong at the end of your walk!

For full details of the route, see here.

Hannah’s Highlight: Discovering the history of the Movarian settlement at Fulneck was so interesting! The church is still active today, and there is a museum dedicated to the history of Fulneck. The museum is well worth a visit, and you can even arrange a tour of the settlement.

2. Judy Woods, Bradford

Judy Woods, Bradford, West Yorkshire

Distance: 3.5 miles/5.5km
Approx time: 1hr15 minimum
Terrain: Good tracks and woodland paths
Parking: Roadside parking BD12 8LA

If you’re looking for a woodland retreat, Judy Woods is the ideal route.

Although the perfect spot for peaceful respite today, this wood bears the scars of an industrial past.

The remains of collapsed mining pits can still be seen, and the expanse of beech trees stems from the 18th century textile industry. They were planted to become spindles and bobbins!

This walk will give you an opportunity to appreciate just how expansive Judy Woods is. It will also take you through some of the pleasant surrounding countryside.

For full details of the route, see here.

Hannah’s Highlight: I am a sucker for a woodland walk! Any enchanting woodland stroll is a winner for me. This is a diverse route takes in lots of beautiful landscapes, but the woodland stretch is always my favourite.

3. Bingley, Five Rise Locks and St Ives Estate, Bradford

Distance: 7.5 miles/12km
Approx time: 3hrs minimum
Terrain: Good paths but steep terrain
Parking: Pay and display car parks, BD16 2NB or BD16 2NA

One of my favourite local walks, this route features a number of impressive sights.

The spectacular viewpoint of Druid’s Altar requires a challenging climb but offers stunning panoramic views.

Plus, the pretty St Ives Estate features a number of sculptures and points of interest along the walk.

While you’re in the area, you need to look at the Five Rise Locks. The impressive staircase of locks is the steepest in the UK.

These locks lift travellers of the Leeds and Liverpool canal almost 60 feet in only 320 feet of canal and it takes about 30 minutes to navigate!

For full details of the route, see here.

Hannah’s Highlight: My favourite spot on this walk was the packhorse bridge photographed at the top of this post. It is a picturesque and peaceful spot that looks like it came straight from the pages of a fairytale!

4. Farnley Tyas and Castle Hill, Huddersfield

Jubilee Tower, Farnley Tyas and Castle Hill Circular Walks In West Yorkshire

Distance: 5.5 miles/9km
Approx time: 2h15 minimum
Terrain: Field paths, road walking, and several stiles
Parking: Roadside parking next to recreational ground, HD4 6TZ

The pretty hilltop village of Farnley Tyas boasts some spectacular views of the surrounding rural countryside.

On this walk, you’ll be able to appreciate the peace of the local area, which is dominated by farmland.

It is worth extending your walk to admire Victoria Tower, perched atop Castle Hill.

This tower was built in 1898 to commemorate the 60 years of Queen Victoria’s reign. For a small fee, you can climb the tower and admire spectacular views for miles around.

For full details of the route, see here.

Hannah’s Highlight: The climb up Castle Hill is a steep one, but the striking views from the top are absolutely worth it! I’d recommend combining your walk with one of the tower open days. The climb up Victoria Tower is fascinating and the view from the roof is even more impressive! Check the latest Victoria Tower open dates and times here.

5. Bretton Hall, Wakefield

Bretton Hall, Yorkshire Sculpture Park Walk

Distance: 3 miles/5km
Approx time: 1hr15 minimum
Terrain: Good paths and tracks
Parking: Pay and display car park, S75 4BY

The impressive Bretton estate has belonged to only three families in over half a millennium.

The current hall was built in 1720 and served a prestigious school of arts between 1949 and 2007. Today, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park continues this legacy.

This walk will give you an opportunity to admire the Hall and the surrounding sculptures. It’s easy to see how the beautiful landscape inspired the arts!

For full details of the route, see here.

Hannah’s Highlight: Yorkshire Sculpture Park hosts an ever-changing portfolio of sculptures, so you can enjoy this walk several times and experience the work of different artists on every visit! I love revisiting an old favourite but discovering something new at the same time!

6. Newmillerdam, Wakefield

Newmillerdam Circular Walks In West Yorkshire

Distance: 4.5 miles/7km
Approx time: 1hr30 minimum
Terrain: Good lakeside and woodland paths
Parking: Pay and display car park, WF2 6QQ

This picturesque walk takes you around the Newmillerdam millpond and through secluded woodland.

Newmillerdam takes its name from the construction of a 13th-century corn mill. Despite having seen several reincarnations, the mill continued to operate here until 1960.

This gentle stroll gives you an opportunity to appreciate the beautiful country park. Within the woodland, you can discover the remnants of the milling past along the route.

For full details of the route, see here.

Hannah’s Highlight: My favourite thing about this walk is how well established the paths are! The route is super easy to follow without the risk of getting lost, climbing over styles and strenuous sections. It is a lovely and relaxing waterside walk.

7. Standedge Circuit, Marsden

Marsden Moor Circular Walking Route - Standedge Circuit

Distance: 10 miles/16km
Approx time: 5 hours
Terrain: Clear moorland paths with some steep ascents
Parking: Marsden Moor car park HD7 6AX

Marsden Moor is in the South Pennines, sitting on the border between West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. It is a huge expanse of moorland that stretches more than 5000 acres.

The moor has many walking routes for people to enjoy the incredible views.

There are circular walks which take in different sections of the moor or long-distance walks for day hikes that include sections of the Pennine Way.

If you want to see most of the Marsden Moor sights in one trip, the best route to take is the Standedge Circuit. This route is challenging, but the incredible views are so rewarding!

For full details of the route, see here.

Hannah’s Highlight: While there are so many spectacular views on this walk, my favourite, without a doubt, is Standedge. As shown in the photograph above, this dramatic escarpment provides impressive views across Lancashire. I highly recommend spending a bit of time here soaking up the scenery.

8. Walton Heronry, Wakefield

Walton Heronry

Distance: 3.5 miles/5.5km
Approx time: 1hr15 minimum
Terrain: Good paths and tracks
Parking: Pay and display car park, WF4 2EB

Walton Hall is a beautiful grade II listed building situated on a lake island and accessed by a cast-iron bridge.

It was the home of Charles Waterton, born 1782, who was an environmentalist well ahead of his time. He turned the grounds of the estate into what was possibly the world’s first nature reserve!

This walk takes you around the grounds of the estate. You can still spot descendants of the herons purchased by Waterton in the heronry today.

This diverse walk will take you beyond the lakes, through marshland, woodland, and fields on a pretty tour of Waterton’s legacy.

For full details of the route, see here.

Hannah’s Highlight: There is some wonderful wildlife to be spotted on this walk. If you’re a nature-lover, it is an excellent place to explore alongside some bird watching, and spot one of the famous herons if you are lucky!

9. Haworth to Top Withens Circular Walk, Bradford

How to walk from Haworth to Top Withens Circular Walk

Distance: 8 miles/13km
Approx time: 4 hours
Terrain: Clear and easy to follow paths with no stiles but does include stepping stones over the beck and a few steep uphill sections.
Parking: Brontë Parsonage Museum Pay & Display Car Park BD22 8DS

Top Withens is a ruined farmhouse located on the West Yorkshire moors, four miles from Haworth.

The site has become a literary landmark that attracts visitors from around the world, due to its connection to the Brontë sisters.

The sisters apparently frequented the farmhouse on their walks through the moors. So much so that Top Withens supposedly provided the inspiration for the Earnshaw family home in Emily Brontë’s classic, Wuthering Heights.

You can walk in the Brontës’ footsteps and enjoy a scenic moorland walk from Haworth. The route will take you around 90 to 120 minutes to arrive at Top Withens. Allow around four hours for the full circular walk at a steady pace.

For full details of the route, see here.

Hannah’s Highlight: One highlight of our walk was pausing for a picnic next to Brontë waterfall. The babbling stream is surrounded by grassland, ideal for pausing to enjoy some snacks picked up from the bakery in the village. Just remember to ensure you take all your rubbish away with you if you choose to do the same!

Beautiful Walks in West Yorkshire

So, these are just some of my favourite circular walks in West Yorkshire. Is your favourite one on the list?

I’m always keen to try new West Yorkshire walks, so let me know your recommendations in the comments!

Best Walks In West Yorkshire

Want More Beautiful Walks?

Do you want to explore more beautiful walks across the UK? Check out these brilliant guides for more ideas!

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Before You Go

So, here are my favourite circular walks in West Yorkshire! Which of these West Yorkshire walks will you be taking on first? Let me know in the comments!

And if you love Yorkshire as much as I do, sign up for my weekly newsletter for even more Yorkshire adventures and tips!

Until our next adventure,

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P.S. Love it? Pin it!

If you like this guide to the best circular walks in West Yorkshire, be sure to follow Get Lost on Pinterest. That’s where I’ll be sharing all my great Yorkshire walking guides.

Are you looking for the best walks in West Yorkshire, England? With cities such as Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and Wakefield there are plenty of things to do in West Yorkshire. But, despite the sprawling cities and industrial history there are a surprising number of places to go in West Yorkshire that are ideal for walking. From rugged moors to magical woodlands, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to walks in West Yorkshire. Click the pin to discover 9 of the best circular walks in Yorkshire!
Are you looking for the best walks in West Yorkshire, England? With cities such as Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and Wakefield there are plenty of things to do in West Yorkshire. But, despite the sprawling cities and industrial history there are a surprising number of places to go in West Yorkshire that are ideal for walking. From rugged moors to magical woodlands, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to walks in West Yorkshire. Click the pin to discover 9 of the best circular walks in Yorkshire!
Are you looking for the best walks in West Yorkshire, England? With cities such as Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and Wakefield there are plenty of things to do in West Yorkshire. But, despite the sprawling cities and industrial history there are a surprising number of places to go in West Yorkshire that are ideal for walking. From rugged moors to magical woodlands, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to walks in West Yorkshire. Click the pin to discover 9 of the best circular walks in Yorkshire!

56 thoughts on “9 Beautiful Circular Walks In West Yorkshire To Discover in 2025”

  1. Such a great and informative post. Thanks for sharing details on parking and time to walk through. The Five Rise Locks and St Ives Estate looks like that would be my first stop. Pinning for when I go. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • The Five Rise Locks is my favourite! It’s a beautiful walk with a lot to see on the route. I’m keen to do it again soon! I hope you get an opportunity to try them out!

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    • We are lucky to have some really beautiful countryside in the UK! I hope you’re able to visit again soon!

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  2. These all look and sound lovely! I do like a good loop walk and i flipping love Yorkshire! I guess the best part is that afterwards you can have a fab lunch (including yorkshire puddings) in a pub!!

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    • Yes!! Can’t beat pub grub! That is one of the many advantages of living in Yorkshire…you’re never far from a pub! It’s definitely the best way to end a walk!

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    • It is really stunning! I’m so lucky to be surrounded by beautiful countryside! Despite the industrial history of the area, we still have a lot of beautiful rural escapes.

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  3. Your photo for ‘Bingley, Five Rise Locks and St Ives Estate’ has totally inspired to do that walk. It just looks idyllic! I hope to travel to the UK again in 2021, and I’m saving+pinning your blog for future travel planning.

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    • That one is my favourite of all of the walks. There’s so much to see on the route! The hill is a little challenging but the views from Druid’s Altar are worth it! It’s exciting to hear you’re planning a return trip to the UK! Good luck with your travel planning and feel free to get in touch if you need any tips!

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    • I hope you’re able to come back soon and try some of them out! There are some really beautiful places around to take some beautiful walks!

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    • The statues are incredible. The walk takes you through the Yorkshire Sculpture Park which has different exhibitions on at different times of the year, so it is different every time you go! It is a lovely place to wander and admire the sculptures.

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    • There are so many beautiful places in west Yorkshire, I hope you get an opportunity to visit! Walton Heronry is a lovely walk! It is so serene!

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  4. Love this! I can’t think of a better way to explore and area than by foot. I live in the Cotswolds and spent this summer exploring all of my local footpaths including a number of the long distance paths like the Cotswold Way and Diamond Way. I really need to get up to Yorkshire, it looks so beautiful!

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    • Ah I love the Cotswolds! What a beautiful part of the UK! I’m heading there this weekend for my birthday in fact! I hope you get an opportunity to visit Yorkshire soon and try out some of these walks for yourself!

      Reply
  5. Love this curated list and guide of the best circular walks in West Yorkshire! Would love to hike all of them…nature is so good for the soul!

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    • Ah I agree! I think a good hike has solved all the problems I’ve encountered! These circular walks in West Yorkshire are some of my favourites. I’m glad you love them too!

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    • A walk is definitely the best way to discover Yorkshire! West Yorkshire in particular has some incredible hidden countryside that is often overlooked! Thanks for reading!

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  6. love this list.. and I appreciate your include description of the terrain…pinning the post for a hopeful visit in the future..and I might copy your way of organizing information..so easy to read and digest…

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    • Thanks Jennifer! I’m glad you found the guide useful and the information easy to digest! I hope you get an opportunity to visit sometime soon!

      Reply
  7. I am OBSESSED with walking loops. This is such a great list! So much better than what I would find on the All Trails map. Thanks for putting this together! – Linzey @thefamilyfuntour

    Reply
    • A circular walk is so much more satisfying, isn’t it? Otherwise, you reach the end of your trail and face the reality you have to walk all the way back again! I’m glad you like this list! Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  8. These walks all look so beautiful and unique! I think the serene atmosphere on the Judy Woods walk would make it my favorite. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

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    • Judy Woods is a lovely spot! There is something about a woodland walk that makes it feel like somewhere new no matter how many times you visit! Thanks for reading!

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  9. Each of these walks looks so picturesque and I’d want to try all of them! But the two that stand out are Judy Woods and the Five Locks that I’d want to explore first. I enjoy any walk through woods as it’s nice when it’s hot out!

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    • They are all lovely walks! Judy Woods is a beautiful spot! Although it wasn’t the heat we had to worry about when we last visited – it rained non-stop for the two hours we were there – even my waterproof hiking gear couldn’t hold up to the Yorkshire downpour! It was no less beautiful though! And the Five Rise Locks walk is incredible too!

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  10. All of these walks look really nice, but it’s fun to see some of the more unique ones with different sights. The tower on Castle Hill looks lovely, and those sculptures on the Bretton Hall walk certainly are different

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    • It’s great when you stumble across unique sights on a walk, isn’t it? Castle Hill is a beautiful place and the view from the tower is stunning!

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    • The walks are all stunning. There really are some beautiful places to explore in Yorkshire, but I often think West Yorkshire walks are overlooked. These are just a few of the beautiful ones on offer!

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  11. Very informative! I would definitely try out some of these but Tong And Fulneck will definitely be my first on the list and I’ll make sure not to miss trying the Ice cream from Goodall’s of Tong. 🙂

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    • The Tong walk is definitely one of my favourites! It is a beautiful place to visit and I strongly recommend the ice cream – it is delicious!

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  12. I haven’t explored West-Yorkshire yet, but I love this list of walks. Thanks for sharing the approximate time to complete them and also places to park. That can be tricky sometimes. Can’t wait to plan a trip over there.

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    • There are some beautiful walks in West Yorkshire, I hope you get an opportunity to explore them soon! It is often handy to research a parking spot as they are sometimes limited so I’m glad you find this information useful!

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  13. I think I’d try Judy Woods first, but they all sound great. I love circular walks that don’t leave you stranded (which happened to me recently).

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    • Oh no! I’m sorry to hear you got stranded! Circular walks are definitely my favourite for that reason! Judy Woods is a beautiful walk!

      Reply
  14. I cant believe in lived in London for 12 years and never made it to Yorkshire. I remember visiting Sussex a few times, Sheffield and bath and I loved it. England is filled with so many gems! thank you so sharing parking details too, as well as details to how long each walk would take!

    Reply
    • Ah there are so many amazing things to explore in Yorkshire! But I know what you mean, there are so many wonderful things to discover in the UK, you’d never be able to explore them all in a lifetime! I hope you have the opportunity to return and explore some of West Yorkshire sometime soon!

      Reply
  15. I love the idea of the circular walks along the water, whether the Bingley, Five Rise Locks and St Ives Estate, Bradford or others.

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    • Waterside walks are so magical, aren’t they? Newmillerdam and Bingley are lovely waterside strolls and two of my favourites in the area!

      Reply

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