Five beautiful Yorkshire river and canal walks to try this weekend Yorkshire News

To tie in with this month-long campaign, today we are publishing a selection of riverside and canal trails from the Walkshire Collection.

We hope you enjoy this selection of hikes safely, and during the coronavirus pandemic, we urge everyone to follow government guidelines and only travel if it is safe to do so. We also encourage readers to follow the Country Code.

1. Saltaire to Bingley on the Leeds and Liverpool canal

Starts / ends: Roberts Park, Saltaire / 5 rise Locks, Bingley

Starting the route at Roberts Park, Saltaire crosses the River Aire to take the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool canal. You will follow the towpath all the way to Bingley. At the beginning of the walk, you will experience the history of Saltaire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take the time to find the housing that Titus Salt provided for his workers. As you leave Saltaire, the route will start to feel more rural past Hirst Wood. Continuing on, follow the path to Dowley Gap Lock. This is the ideal stop for a mid-route snack at The Fisherman’s, a canal-side pub. The route will get more industrial as you begin to enter Bingley, and you can see the Damart Chimney towering over the Bingley 3 Rise Locks. Continue to follow the path past the 3 ascent locks towards the 5 ascent locks. Bingley 5 Rise Locks is one of the Seven Wonders of Waterways and is the steepest stair lock on the longest canal in the country. When you reach the top of the 5 locks, you will be able to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Aire Valley. There is a cafeteria, perfect for a post-hike feeding, a private mooring, and the Old Lock Keepers cabin at the top of the stair locks. You can retrace your steps along the canal or take the train from Bingley Station (5-10 minute walk from the canal) back to Saltaire.

2. Tinsley Pump House to Rotherham

Starts / ends: Tinsley Pump House / Rotherham

Start the hike at the Pump House in Tinsley, easily accessible from the Meadowhall South / Tinsley trolley stop. There is a path from the tram stop to the Canal. Once you get to the towpath, you will see the Victorian pump house. The pump house was built to help pump water from the bottom to the top of the Tinsley Lock flight, which had 12 original locks when it opened in 1819. Start walking from the pump house towards Rotherham, the route follows the traffic-free greenway for the entire distance. You will pass several locks on the three mile stretch. The first locks you will get to are locks 11 and 12 from the Tinsley flight. It is at these locks that the waterway becomes Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation. As you follow the path, the route will vary from a rural environment to a much more industrial one. As you enter Rotherham, look for the New York Stadium, home of Rotherham United FC, along the canal. Follow the towpath as you enter downtown Rotherham and past the new Forge Island development. The route concludes at Rotherham Central, where you can retrace your steps or hop on the tram or train back to Meadowhall.

Starts / ends: Easingwold / York

Follow the stunning River Foss as it enters York past the towns of Oulston, Crayke, Farlington, Strensall and Haxby, to name a few. There is a wide variety of landscapes to stroll from Woodlands to meadows, riverbanks and beautiful villages. Be sure to stop in those towns to take advantage of local hospitality when you need a pit stop. Finally, the ride arrives in York from the and it is a delightful walk to watch the city unfold before your eyes as modern buildings are replaced by old ones as you approach the medieval center. It’s 28 miles in total so look to break it down into smaller sections.

Starts / ends: Pocklington / East cottingwith

Follow the Pocklington Canal on this nine-mile flat route to East Cottingwith. You will get a real idea of ​​how the canal was used in Victorian times as there are many repurposed buildings to spot as well as the beautiful ships that use space today. As with most canals, there is an abundance of wildlife to see along the way. Watch out for the elusive kingfisher darting through the water, as well as swans, ducks, and geese. Great for the family if you are helping the little ones with that school history project.

5. Leeds Pier to Knostrop Lock

Starts / ends: Leeds Dock / Knostrop Lock

Starting the hike from Leeds Dock, located at Aire & Calder Navigation, the hike is easy to navigate by following the path along the river to Knostrop Lock and Thwaites Mill. This route is part of the Trans Pennine Trail. As you leave the city center from Leeds Dock, look for the street art that has been installed on the riverside. You will pass under the new rust-colored steel pedestrian bridge, which opened in 2019. If you walk away, you will walk around the edge of Knostrop Pier …