Newwak two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Good short route, mainly along clear tracks or pavements. Good view of Sandal Castle.

Footpath next to Sandal RUFC overgrown but easy to detour along the side of the pitches and rejoin on the far side - alternative to us the footpath behind Aldi.

I walked this from Newmillerdam to Wakefield as the middle part of a three route walk from Royston to Rothwell. I enjoyed it and found it easy to follow, and it is surprisingly green for such a suburban route. I followed the GPX line through the Sandal rugby ground and was not the only person walking on it, though the new alternative looks to be better surfaced and might be easier.

Leaving the Newmillerdam car park, we cross the road and turn left, taking a right turn into School Lane, then following the footpath sign up a short lane and continuing straight on up the path past the houses and over a small hill. The path divides just above Slack Lane, where we stay on the left fork. Beyond Slack Lane the path is obvious.

Take the right turn just after the bridge, and follow this path through suburban woodland. After a while it joins a surfaced track, which leads easily to Kettlethorpe Hall Drive. Where Standbridge Lane joins the A6186 there is a useful pelican crossing across the main route.

We turn right and then left through the pub car park, and then through a little gap (easy to spot thanks to the bollard) and out onto the rugby field. Keep left, and pick up a path beyond the rugby field.

We soon rejoin the surfaced track (the alternative route Dan mentions which is now a signposted cycle track) and follow it all the way to Pugneys Road, enjoying the views of Sandal Castle. We then follow Portobello Road under the railway bridge to Barnsley Road, which we follow left onto Bridge Street and Kirkgate, using several pelican crossings to cross the busier roads.

We follow Kirkgate left into the pedestrianised area under the Cathedral, then beyond the cathedral turn right into Northgate and the meeting point.

I enjoyed walking this route. Look out for Sandal Castle to the east and enjoy the long, straight and green path alongside Pugney's drain.

When heading south options are not perfect coming off Pugney's drain towards the A6186. The suggested route makes use of an open gate (which looks usually open) which links the rugby pitches to the Star Sandal pub. This gate looks like it could be locked and the path is not an official right of way.

There is another path to the west of Aldi. This is clearly VERY well used. The are signs saying the land is private and there is no access, but I'm not sure anyone local has noticed them.

I think someone local might be able to design an even better route, but this worked very well for me. I'd certainly walk it again.

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