Temple Newsam

This Tudor-Jacobean stately home has almost 1000 acres of parkland to discover, making it a popular spot for walkers, runners and cyclists. Temple Newsam sits in the countryside to the south-east of Leeds, a 15-minute drive from the city centre. You can also reach it by bus, which involves a 30-minute ride followed by a 20-30-minute walk through the estate. While there’s a fee for parking and entry into the house and Home Farm, this is discounted for Leeds Card holders and those who just want to stroll through the gardens and grounds can do so for free. Much of Temple Newsam’s landscape was shaped by ‘Capability’ Brown and throughout June visitors can admire the dazzling display of delphiniums in the Walled Garden and see the Rhododendron Walk in full bloom. There are also three scenic lakes to picnic beside and children will have lots of fun on the adventure playground. If you’d like to take a proper walk here, you can follow the Temple Newsam Circular around the estate’s perimeter. This is 4.3km long and takes around an hour and ten minutes to complete.

Aire and Calder Navigation

If you’d prefer to explore the city itself while learning more about its industrial past, a walk along the banks of the Aire and Calder Navigation is just the thing. One of the two canals that meet in Leeds, this busy waterway is still used today for the transport of goods, and by those who live on it or cruise it for leisure. On the Canal and River Trust’s website, you’ll find details of a 2.5-mile walking route that starts in Clarence Dock and follows the canal’s towpath in a south-easterly direction, ending at Thwaite Watermill. This walk takes around an hour and a half to complete and passes landmarks like the Royal Armouries, Hunslet Mill and the Victoria Works Complex and Crown Point Bridge. You’ll also spot narrowboats, colourful street art and water-loving wildlife as you head out of the city and into the lush greenery on its outskirts.

Kirkstall Abbey

One of Britain’s best-preserved examples of a medieval Cistercian monastery, the remains of Kirkstall Abbey can be found on bank of the River Aire, a 10-minute drive or 20-minute bus ride from Leeds city centre. Disestablished during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, this Grade I-listed monument sits in 58 acres of parkland that’s a haven for wildlife, with open grassland contrasted by more landscaped areas. It also boasts a children’s play area, tennis courts, and rugby union and football pitches for those who enjoy getting active outdoors. Family activities and trails take place here throughout the year and those who want to learn more about the abbey’s past can imagine how its 12th-century monks may have lived through the interactive exhibits in its recently renovated visitor centre. Entry is free for Leeds residents who can provide proof of address.

Middleton Park

Situated to the south of Leeds, this large public park can be reached in 15 minutes by car or around 30 minutes on the bus. Middleton Park is free to visit and spans 630 acres, almost a third of which are taken up by ancient woodland. You’ll find wildflowers growing here in spring and summer and might spot birds such as woodpeckers or treecreepers. Those who want to take a walk around the park can choose one of four heritage trails to follow. These cover different aspects of the park’s past and present, including mining, ownership, ecology and transport, and maps are available online or from the onsite visitor centre. Middleton Park is also home to a cafe, bike hub and equestrian centre, along with a fishing lake, bowling greens and a children’s play area. It even has a railway.

Images – @templenewsam, @harewoodhouse, @leedsmuseumsandgalleries