Midlee three

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I walked from Middleton to Leeds, having started the extremely hot day in Wakefield. I was very quickly into the cooler shade of the lovely Middleton Park, and down to the visitor centre for a welcome break. There were benches and toilets as well as a little café.
The “Waggonways” route was a very easy and pleasant descent to the far side.
The industrial estate wasn’t too bad, the west side of the road was lined with trees, sheltering me from the industrial units as well as the sun.
There were shops at the A653 crossing but I continued into Cross Flatts Park, which was pleasant, with benches, but not so much shelter.
A short street brought me past a cemetery and to the top of Holbeck Park, which had a fabulous view over the city. There was a long flight of shallow steps, but it was also possible to walk on the grass at the side of this. Except for the industrial road, the first 60% of the route was nearly all parks.
At the bottom of this third park was a ramped pedestrian bridge over the M621. After walking along the residential road next to the M621, it is not necessary to climb the shallow steps and walk alongside Cemetery Road (as the plot suggested); just walking round the corner brings you to the same colourful short subway then across the grass on a tarmac path.
Heading away from the M621, I needed careful attention to the plot to take me down a scruffy short alley and over a footbridge across the railway.
There were a lot of points of interest throughout the remainder of the walk, although some messy bits where there was building in progress. There were two lovely old buildings – the former church-like red-brick library, and the Egyptian style Temple Works, most of which has been covered with shrouded scaffolding since December 2008 when one of the stone pillars collapsed. There are now plans for it to become a northern branch of the British library (from Wikipedia). The end building is still visible to admire, as well as a little gatehouse. Wiggling through the renovated mills was fiddly but rewarding, with trendy bars and cafés. There were lots of bars around the canal too.
Crossing underneath the railway station was great fun. Jane showed me this area a few years ago (during a Slow Ways meet-up which was disrupted by covid) and it really is exciting. I’d been particularly looking forward to it this time as somewhere to cool down!
Leaving Neville Street to reach the route end point at City Square was complicated by the renovation work around here, but the works left clear walkways.
If you’re walking from Leeds City Square to Middleton, make sure you stay at road level, which is below the main station entrance. It’s difficult to see this on a two-dimensional map!
This route has the potential for 5* when all the works are completed.

Having walked Midlee Two and found a few problems, I made this route to iron them out and add some of my own touches.
Walked Middleton to Leeds. Middleton Park is a huge green space well used by the local community and dog walkers. There are several information boards and I learned that the wide paths were originally Wagon Ways, using gravity to send coal from the pit heads down to the valley.
The visitor centre has toilets, and a cafe which closes early.

After Middleton Park there was a long road through an industrial estate. I dropped one star for this section - having walked the alternative footpath in Midlee Two I would prefer to walk this version.

Cross Flatts park has lots of benches, where I stopped and watched some young lads play a game I had never seen before - I looked it up online and apparently its Kick Volleyball. Would be a great Olympic sport.

The descent through Holbeck Park is very steep with many steps.

After crossing the M621 the route goes through Holbeck, across railway tracks, and eventually passes the interesting Egyptian style building known as the Temple Works. There will be a lot of development in this area in the next few years.

Across the canal (the path is shared with cars) and close to the railway the path goes up a ramp to the left, under the railway station, then crosses the River Aire underground. The subway comes out on Neville Street. This is my favourite part of Leeds so I couldn’t leave it out.

Access to the meeting point on City Square is up Bishopgate Street. Currently subject to roadworks but they should clear soon.

All in all I found this a very successful route with plenty of interest.

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