Rothwell Country Park is one of our favourite under-the-radar walks near Leeds city centre. Matt first discovered it during lockdown, when a long walk down the canal led him to stumble, accidentally, upon the park. At that time, he didn’t see a single soul as he meandered southeast along the towpath of the Aire and Calder Navigation away from the city centre.
These days, this small stretch of canal is busy once again with walkers and joggers. You will also find plenty of cyclists enjoying the Trans Pennine Trail, which stretches from Southport in Merseyside to Hornsea on the Yorkshire coast.
The park sits just above the canal, opposite Skelton Lake. It is easily accessible by car or public transport, making it an ideal short walk in south Leeds. Boasting fantastic views of central Leeds to the north and the rolling countryside to the south, Rothwell Country Park is an excellent choice for anyone looking to explore the green areas just outside the city. Here’s our guide to visiting, including walking routes and nearby pubs.
Rothwell Country Park: A summary
History: Rothwell Country Park hasn’t always been the green oasis it is today. Until 1983, the site was a busy, noisy colliery – a hub of deep coal mining. The pit even had a railway line connecting the colliery with the mainline. This link allowed Rothwell’s coal to be transported around the country. When Rothwell’s colliery closed in December 1983, the site was abandoned for over a decade. Eventually, in 1995, Leeds City Council began a regeneration project that culminated in Rothwell Country Park opening to the public in 2000.
Trail conditions: The main walking routes around Rothwell Country Park are mostly made up of rough gravel or loose stone. These trails can be muddy after heavy rain, but are otherwise easy enough to navigate in trainers. The smaller trails around the park are mostly dirt tracks – these can be pretty muddy at all times of year. If in doubt, we recommend wearing walking shoes.
Best for: We think Rothwell Country Park is ideal for a one or two-hour stroll. Given that the summit is quite exposed, we recommend saving it for a sunny day. Clear conditions will allow you to make the most of the views.
Size: Rothwell Country Park is 52 hectares.
Time needed: Depending on your fitness, you can see most of Rothwell Country Park in two hours. However, on a sunny day, you may wish to stay longer. Why not bring a picnic and enjoy the views from the top?
Getting there: You can walk or cycle to the park along the canal. Alternatively, there are train and bus connections from Leeds city centre. You can drive, but parking is limited. Keep reading for more detailed information on getting to Rothwell Country Park.
Why Rothwell Country Park is a great place for a walk
1) The views of the Leeds skyline. The highest point at Rothwell Country Park offers (in our opinion) one of the best views of the Leeds skyline. You are close enough to the city that you can easily pick out landmarks such as Bridgewater Place, Candle House and the buildings around Leeds Dock. You are also far enough away from central Leeds that you can appreciate the scale of the skyline. Try to count the cranes – the city is constantly evolving.
2) The story behind the park. There’s something special about walking around an area with an industrial past that has been reclaimed for nature. As you wind your way along the trails – passing ponds, woodland and wildflower meadows – it’s hard to believe that this used to be a hotbed of coal production. Local people take great pride in maintaining and developing Rothwell Country Park as a haven for wildlife. See the Friends of Rothwell Country Park Facebook group for more information.
3) Spotting other beacons of Yorkshire’s industrial heritage. One of our favourite sights from Rothwell Country Park used to be Ferrybridge Power Station. Sure, power stations aren’t everyone’s idea of a stunning landmark. However, we thought the sight of the gargantuan cooling towers reaching high into the sky was pretty cool. Sadly, the towers have all been demolished in the last few years. Nonetheless, you can still keep your eyes peeled for mills, chimneys and factories dotted around the landscape.
4) Its proximity to other brilliant walks. Rothwell Country Park’s prime position near the Aire and Calder Navigation means it’s easy to continue your walk. Options for extensions range from the nearby RSPB St Aidan’s nature reserve to Skelton Lake. The latter is just a stone’s throw from the park.
How to get to Rothwell Country Park (from Leeds)
It’s easy to get to Rothwell Country Park from Leeds. You can travel under your own steam by cycling or walking along the canal, or you can hop on a train or bus. Whatever your preferred mode of transport, there are plenty of options. Depending on your chosen option, it can take as little as 25 minutes to travel from Leeds city centre to Rothwell Country Park. Here’s how to do it.
On foot or by bike
Distance: 5-6 miles, depending on where in Leeds you start.
Time: Around 2 hours on foot at an average pace.
It’s a long way, but you can walk from Leeds city centre to Rothwell Country Park. This pleasant waterfront route takes you along the canal towpath of the Aire and Calder Navigation, passing Leeds Dock and Thwaites Mill (which will, sadly, close to the public on April 1 2024) along the way.
Eventually, you will reach the turnoff for Skelton Lake. At this point, cross the canal via the pedestrian bridge and follow the path left. After a few minutes of walking parallel to the railway line, you’ll turn right to walk under the railway bridge and enter Rothwell Country Park.
Route: Click here for the walking route from Leeds city centre to Rothwell Country Park.
By car
Distance: 7 miles
Driving time: 20 minutes.
Parking: Very limited outside Rothwell Country Park. We prefer parking at Skelton Lake services, where you can park for free for up to three hours – enough time for a stroll to the park.
There is limited parking at Rothwell Country Park itself. If you choose to drive directly to the park, you’ll need to find a parking place on Bullough Lane. Spaces are limited, and it’s a layby rather than a car park.
If you prefer a more formal parking space with guaranteed spaces, you could park at the excellent Skelton Lake service station, which offers free parking for up to three hours.
To get to Rothwell Country Park from Skelton Lake, follow the path between the lake and the small river. You will eventually reach the canal, at which point you can cross the bridge and follow the route to the park’s entrance. Click here for a map of the walking route from Skelton Lake.
Top tip: Do not follow the default driving route on Google Maps from Leeds. This route tries to take you on roads beyond Skelton Lake services that are closed to the public.
Driving route from Leeds for parking on Bullough Lane: Our favourite route to park at Bullough Lane is via Pontefract Road. This route adds a little bit of time compared to taking the motorway, but it’s a more leisurely drive.
Driving route from Leeds for parking at Skelton Lake: Our preferred route for getting to Skelton Lake services from Leeds is via the A63 and Pontefract Lane.
By public transport (our preferred choice!)
Getting to Rothwell Country Park by bus or train from Leeds is easy. The bus is the quickest option, since you’ll need to walk from Woodlesford station if you choose to catch the train.
Bus routes: The 141, 140 and 168 buses travel from Leeds bus station to Rothwell. The buses are operated by Arriva Yorkshire and run every 15 minutes. The nearest bus stop to Rothwell Country Park is Cross Avenue. From here, it’s a 10-minute walk to the entrance of Rothwell Country Park.
Train routes: Alternatively, you could catch the train to nearby Woodlesford, which is a 9-minute journey from Leeds station. From Woodlesford train station, a pleasant 35-minute walk along the canal takes you to the entrance to Rothwell Country Park.
Our top choice: Public transport is our top choice for travelling to Rothwell Country Park from Leeds. Not only is it a greener option, but you avoid the hassle of trying to park in the limited spaces nearby. With both train and bus options, you’re never short of ways to get back to Leeds after your walk. Leaving the car at home will also allow you to call in at one of the local pubs in Woodlesford or Rothwell for a post-walk pint.
Our favourite walking routes at Rothwell Country Park
There are many small trails to explore across Rothwell Country Park, but there are two main routes which we think you can’t miss:
- A circular walk around the outside of the park
- The walk up to the summit of Rothwell Country Park
The map shows a rough outline of our favourite walking routes at Rothwell Country Park. The circular route around the edge of the park takes in some of the “wilder” areas, including woodland. You can always choose to deviate from the paths if you want to check out the ponds, for example.
The summit is circled in yellow. As you can see, there are multiple routes to reach the summit – there’s no right or wrong way to get there. The park isn’t huge, so you’re never too far from the summit at any point in your walk.
A circular walk around the park
The circular walk takes you around the wilder edges of the park, tracking past picturesque birch trees, wildflower meadows and several pleasant ponds. It loosely follows the route of the Pond Trail, one of two named routes around the park.
As well as the Pond Trail, there is a Sculpture Trail on the park’s northwestern edges. To be honest, this isn’t our favourite section of the park – the sculptures here have seen better days and look quite neglected. However, near the Sculpture Trail, you can spot the remains of the old railway that served Rothwell Colliery, which is an interesting snippet of history. It’s worth a detour if you’ve got plenty of time, but otherwise, we recommend sticking to the central area of the park and its associated trails.
The walk up to the “summit”
For the best views, head up to the park’s “summit”. Here, you’ll find a 360-degree vista of the surrounding countryside. The Leeds skyline is visible, with skyscrapers and cranes jutting upwards towards the clouds. Otherwise, rolling hills and fields dominate the views.
The summit is easy to find – it’s located right in the centre of the park. If in doubt, keep an eye out for signposts, which will point you in the right direction.
3 places near Rothwell Country Park for a post-walk refreshment
If you’ve worked up an appetite or a thirst after tackling the trails around Rothwell Country Park, here are three pubs and cafes that are perfect for a post-walk refreshment. Most of these will add 20-30 minutes onto your walk, since there isn’t much in the direct vicinity of the park.
1) The Hare & Hounds in Rothwell
Steeped in history, the Hare & Hounds is a storied coaching inn perfect for anyone craving a post-walk pint in a traditional pub. As well as a tempting selection of ales, beers and cocktails, The Hare also serves hearty pub lunches throughout the week, including a traditional roast on Sundays. You’ll need to walk 25-30 minutes from the park to the pub, which is in the centre of Rothwell.
2) Gray’s coffee shop in Rothwell
If you’d rather swap a pint for a cup of coffee, Gray’s has become arguably the best cafe in Rothwell since opening in 2019. Priding itself on serving local, quality produce, this is the ideal spot to recharge your batteries with a coffee and a cake after your walk. Gray’s also serves a mouthwatering array of hot dishes, from traditional English breakfasts (last orders at 11.45) to sandwiches and paninis. Like The Hare & Hounds, you’ll need to walk 25-30 minutes into Rothwell to reach it.
3) Skelton Lake Services
It’s rare to recommend a service station as a great place to eat, but Skelton Lake services has plenty to offer the hungry or thirsty walker. There’s a wide choice – from classic fast food to Starbucks and Nandos. Normally, none of these would be worthy of a shoutout, but walking to the service station allows you to enjoy the pleasant stroll around Skelton Lake, and even extend your walk to nearby Temple Newsam estate. You’ll need to walk for around 30 minutes to get to Skelton Lake from Rothwell Country Park – scroll up for a link to the route.
Rothwell Country Park: Our final thoughts
Leeds is lucky to have lots of brilliant outdoor spaces – from Roundhay to Temple Newsam. Unsurprisingly, the city’s most popular parks can get very busy on a sunny summer’s day. If you’re looking to beat the crowds and check out an alternative green space in Leeds, we think Rothwell Country Park is an ideal choice. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in views. When you add in the park’s compelling story of post-industrial revival, it’s certainly worth the trip.
With easy access by foot, bike, train and bus, there’s every reason to add Rothwell Country Park to your plans in Leeds.