A visit to Skelton Country Park in Leeds
Welcome to the Trans Pennine Trail
A national coast to coast route for recreation and transport – for walkers, cyclists and (in part) horse riders
Welcome to the Trans Pennine Trail
A national coast to coast route for recreation and transport – for walkers, cyclists and (in part) horse riders
Welcome
A national coast to coast route for recreation and transport – for walkers, cyclists and (in part) horse riders
Out on the Trail – Skelton Country Park, Leeds
A day looking after our youngest grandchild gave Sarah and I the chance to explore a lesser-known gem just off the Trans Pennine Trail in Leeds.
Skelton Country Park is an ex-industrial area that has been regenerated into an attractive green space that is perfect for walkers, cyclists and dog walkers.
It is accessible by car with up to 3-hours free parking available at Leeds Skelton Lake Service Station, just off junction 45 of the M1.
Our first surprise when arriving was the eco-friendly looking food court with a ‘living roof’ and a wildlife visitor area with views over the lake – not the conventional service station that we’re used to.
It’s approximately a 2km walk around the lake and the park’s strategic location on the Trans Pennine Trail makes it an ideal starting point for longer journeys or a stopover for people tackling the TPT and looking for overnight accommodation in the Ramada by Wyndham hotel.
The walk from the car park runs behind the food court, passing a very smart play area before joining the route around the lake.
As we reached the lake, we walked along a well-defined track with plenty of flora and fauna and a diversion down to the lakeside that enabled us to take a closer look at the Swans and other waterfowl. Gaps in the woodland around the lake also provided more distance views of the lake.
Once we arrived at the other side, we were met by the River Aire running one side of the path, with the lake on the other. We reached a junction where we turned left, crossing the bridge over the river and a fish ladder before joining the TPT which runs along the Towpath of the Aire and Calder Navigation which is the canalised section of the Aire and Calder rivers.
We followed the TPT to get a closer look of the M1 bridge, counting our blessings that we were out in the fresh air rather than on the motorway, before returning back to the lake and refreshments at the service station.
We were soon presented with our second surprise of the walk, seeing rowing boats on the canal, to discover from a conversation with the rowers, that Leeds University Boat Club is based in Stourton and its crews train on this section of the canal.
We reached the M1 bridge but not before navigating past a very territorial swan holding its ground in the middle of the path.
We admired the engineering of the bridge and the street art before making our way back to the lake and the service station where we bought a tasty lunch from one of the fab outlets within the food court and spent a very pleasant 20 minutes sat in the picnic area enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the place.
Located just below Temple Newsam to the south of Leeds city centre, it’s a haven for those seeking a quiet, unspoilt spot away from the hustle and bustle of urban life, providing a diverse habitat for fauna, flora and wildlife while the distant hum of traffic reminds us that the world is still moving on around us.
So, pack your walking shoes, grab your binoculars, and set out for a few hours of relaxed exploration at Skelton Country Park.
Date: 27th September 2024
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