Wonders of Wakefield
Are you planning on getting out on your bike and cycling the Wonders of Wakefield cycle route? If so, why not take a look at our interactive map and discover some places of interest for you to visit. Most are just a short detour from the main route! We’ve grouped them into topics to make it easier for you to pick something of interest to you. Take a look and see what hidden gems you can find. Click on the pin to find out more detail about each location!
Garden Café @ The Hepworth Wakefield
What3words: doing.lonely.rift
Rest your legs and refresh yourself with a sweet or savoury snack or cake as you take in the beautiful gardens and ponder the history of the Tileyard North.
The Boat House @ Pugneys Country Park
What3words: drives.sized.lies
Enjoy the healthy, fresh food options whilst pausing to enjoy the view over the lake.
Beuley Café @ Newmillerdam
What3words: tonight.boater.inspected
Make the most of the lovely view of Newmillerdam whilst pausing for a bite to eat and refreshing drink. Varied menu at reasonable prices.
Woodland café @ Anglers Country Park
What3words: Diverged.twists.zeal
Offers a selection of hot & cold food, including gluten free & vegetarian options.
Four Seasons Café @ Nostell Priory Holiday Park
What3words: Housework.passport.duty
A great place to stop on a bike ride when you’re ready for something to eat! Varied menu, good value, dog friendly.
Southern Washlands Nature Corridor
What3words: plug.silk.clip
Less than one mile from the city centre, the Southern Washlands Nature Corridor comprises open water, swamp, marshy and neutral grassland as well as scrub & woodland over a series of 4 countryside sites.
The area has lots of interesting things to see whatever the season – wildfowl, such as goldeneye, greenshank & green sandpiper in the winter and wildflowers, butterflies and dragonflies in the spring & summer months.
Open every day.
Free parking at Heath & Balk Avenue
Fitzwilliam Country Park
What3words: disbelief.hindered.showcases
A former drift mine Fitzwilliam Country Park is now a park filled with open spaces, grassy areas & ponds. Pop along for a walk and see if you can spot Skylarks, Buzzards & meadow Pipits, wildflowers & dragonflies. Just a 10 minute ride from the Wonders of Wakefield route – why extend your ride & pay it a visit?
Open every day.
Free parking at Wentworth Terrace, Fitzwilliam
Sandal Castle
What3words: aunts.tops.stub
Visit the remains of this 13th century stone castle with fine motte & bailey. Just a short ride away from Pugneys Country Park, why not take a while to pause, climb the steps to the top of the motte and marvel at the view, you might just have time to stop at the café for refreshments too!
Open every day.
Free parking.
Wintersett Reservoir
What3words: spaceship.snapping.passage
Swap your wheels for walking boots for a steady but sometimes muddy walk that takes in both Wintersett & Anglers Reservoirs. A great spot for birdwatching!
Open every day.
Parking at Anglers Country Park.
Coppers Lake Park
What3words: players.teamed.pupils
A small but beautiful walk in a serene setting – what better place to try toe Love Exploring App and search for augmented reality Dinosaurs!! Download the App via Apple App Store or Google Play Store and open up a world of Dinosaurs and Dino facts!
Open every day.
Watertons Watchtower
What3words: blanket.promotion.baguette
After completing the wall around Walton Park Charles Waterton then went on to construct 4 sentry boxes to ensure that his pheasants and wildfowl weren’t disturbed by gangs of poachers. Only one of the towers stills exists, take a short diversion from the Wonders of Wakefield route at Haw Park Wood discover this piece of local history.
Open every day.
Parking at Anglers Country Park.
Wakefield Museum
What3words: nails.labels.muddy
Wakefield Museum is just a 10 minute ride away from the WoW route at The Hepworth, break up your journey and relive the stories of people who have lived and worked in the district. Visit the interactive exhibitions or take a peek behind the scenes to find out how the museum staff plan to turn an old department store into a new & inspiring museum gallery.
Opening hours & parking info – Wakefield Museum – Wakefield Council
Dame Mary Bolles Water Tower
What3words: acute.edges.steer
Visit this Grade II listed building with a fascinating history as a water tower & possibly a gazebo. With its tudor arched doorways and mullioned windows looking in on a water wheel this is an unusual & curious building.
Open every day.
Chantry Chapel of St Mary
What3words: bother.funny.volunteered
As you make your way round the Wonders of Wakefield you’ll pass Chantry Chapel. Sat on the side of the bridge The Chantry Chapel of St Mary The Virgin sits on medieval foundations. The chapel was built in the mid-14th century by the townspeople of Wakefield.
The Chapel opens on selected days for visitors – for further information visit The Friends of Chantry Chapel Facebook page.
Wakefield Cathedral
What3words: fish.pace.trim
Visit Wakefield Cathedral – the tallest church in Yorkshire! Its 247 foot tall spire is visible from many surrounding areas of Wakefield. The tower below the spire is also home to a pair of peregrine falcons and their young.
With over 900 years of history on site, including the worlds most complete collection ofstained glass by Charles Kempe this oasis of calm in the middle of the city is well worth a visit.
Opening times: Sunday to Friday 08:00 – 16:00. Saturday 09:30 – 16:00
Betty Eastwood Park
What3words: lush.ditching.crunching
Betty Eastwood Park in Crigglestone offers you & your children the chance to ditch your mountain bike, pick up your bmx and have a go on the purpose built track!
If that’s all sounds a bit too adventurous why not take a walk and see if you can spot the resident rabbits, hedgehogs, squirrels or bats!!
Open every day.
Free Parking – Haveroid Lane, Crigglestone.
Thornes Park/Clarence Park
What3words: decay.farmer.expose
A short way off the Wonders of Wakefield route whether you want to walk, cycle, scoot or skate there’s something for you at Thornes & Clarence Park. The recently upgraded play area is perfect for the little ones whilst the nearby skatepark might be just the thing for the older members of your family. Perhaps you’d like to take your pooch round the winding paths through grass and woodland or maybe you’d like to investigate the birds and ducks down by the lake before calling in to the café or pub located close by.
Open every day.
Free parking at Thornes Stadium, Lakeside and Holmefield Arms Pub
Little Farmers Trail – Blacker Hall Farm
What3words: live.chosen.weeded
If your young ones love all things animals head to Blacker Hall Farm and follow the Little Farmers Trail around the farm to see pigs, rabbits, goats, sheep & cows for free! Pick up a trail activity pack or buy some food to feed the animals.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
What3words: falgs.bordering.steady
Set in 500 acres of grounds, with over 100 outdoor sculptures, several indoor galleries, delicious food & drink available as well a shops and creative space there something for all the family at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Leave your bike at the secure bike stands and take your time wandering the grounds and galleries before making your journey home.
Opening Times: Daily 10:00 – 18:00 Pre-booking essential.
Parking available.
Strawberry Experience at Farmer Copleys
What3words: Bets.outsiders.highly
Join Farmer Copleys for their Strawberry Experience this summer!
Are you ready to Pick Your Own? Farmer Copley’s PYO Strawberry Experience is open from June until August, with an outdoor, fresh, safe area for picking your super strawberries up in our Spanish tunnels located on the farm.
They have time slotted your experience so you can have the best time picking and learning about strawberries, without the crowds and the guarantee of great tasting strawberries. They’ll have loads of different varieties of strawberries and of photo ops and tips to have a wonderful, memorable trip out. They will be closed every Tuesday to help the strawberries and help maintain the beautiful picking area.
Henry Daley Memorial Garden & Timepeice
What3words: ablet.dull.crucially
Take a walk through Walton Colliery Nature Park and discover the Henry Daley Memorial Garden and Timepiece.
This hidden gem, found tucked away down a smaller path is an intriguing memorial to Councillor Henry Daley who worked tirelessly to safeguard greenspaces whilst remembering the areas industrial & mining heritage.
Open every day.
Free parking at Shay Lane, Walton.
Ever Glow
What3words: paid.fend.sheet
Take a short detour off the Wonders of Wakefield route to visit Ever Glow a permanent artwork created by Graeme Mitcheson inspired by the canal that has played a vital role in the fortunes of Wakefield. The sculpture is inspired by the canal lock gates and was constructed at nearby Stanley Ferry.
Open every day.
A Living Landscape
What3words: fade.smile.stick
As you travel the Wonders of Wakefield route pause a while nr Neil Fox Way to enjoy the series of 5 artworks showing the adaptability of wildlife. The animals referenced in the artwork have been inspired by the notable species listed in the Ferry Flash Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Open everyday.
Bronze Stack 9, Viridian Green
What3words: drive.seats.down
Visit Annie Morris’ Bronze Stack 9, Viridian Green, just a stones throw from The Hepworth Wakefield a start/finish point of the Wonders of Wakefield cycle route. This 11.5 foot bronze sculpture of precariously arranged irregular spheres reflects the bus outdoor environment of the city along with the natural landscape and is one of a number of sculptures forming The Wakefield Sculpture Trail.
Open every day.
Parking at Brunswick Street.
The Art House
What3words: closer.barks.across
The Art House is a creative space hosting a wide variety of artists, makes & creative businesses. Hosting a variety of exhibitions, events & workshops along with working a wide range of community groups there’s always something new for you to discover. Along with a café, there is also a bike repair station available for you to use for basic repairs and pumping up your tyres.
Open: Tues to Saturday 09:30 – 16:00
Coppers Lake Park
What3words: players.teamed.pupils
A small but beautiful walk in a serene setting – what better place to try toe Love Exploring App and search for augmented reality Dinosaurs!! Download the App via Apple App Store or Google Play Store and open up a world of Dinosaurs and Dino facts!
Open every day.