Description
Having walked WAKROT 1 yesterday, I encountered a couple of minor problems, which I have attempted to resolve here. Firstly it is not necessary to detour onto the golf course at Hatfeild Hall (Normanton Golf Club), and this is neither a right of way nor (according to the helpful map posted at the golf course entrances) a permitted concessionary route, at least as drawn on the GPX file, and there is a quieter concessionary path a little further along that goes through the wood parallel to the road to the entrance to Stanley Marsh nature reserve. My second problem area was the path north from Lofthouse Gate to the M62. This crosses a very large crop field, and there is no cut line where the right of way should be. There are trodden lines around the edges of this field which add to the distance, but in any case the walk parallel to the motorway is noisy, so I think it is more sensible to stick to an easier line using roads (I think mostly with pavements but have not walked this section to check).
I have not addressed my third minor problem - north of the bridge under the M62 the right of way should follow the lane right but unless I missed something this appears to be blocked by a locked gate, and an unofficial footpath crosses north into the field over a wooden bridge and follows this field edge around to the bridge marked FB on the OS map south of Bushey Cliff Wood, where it is possible to rejoin the correct path
Having walked WAKROT 1 yesterday, I encountered a couple of minor problems, which I have attempted to resolve here. Firstly it is not necessary to detour onto the golf course at Hatfeild Hall (Normanton Golf Club), and this is neither a right of way nor (according to the helpful map posted at the golf course entrances) a permitted concessionary route, at least as drawn on the GPX file, and there is a quieter concessionary path a little further along that goes through the wood parallel to the road to the entrance to Stanley Marsh nature reserve. My second problem area was the path north from Lofthouse Gate to the M62. This crosses a very large crop field, and there is no cut line where the right of way should be. There are trodden lines around the edges of this field which add to the distance, but in any case the walk parallel to the motorway is noisy, so I think it is more sensible to stick to an easier line using roads (I think mostly with pavements but have not walked this section to check).
I have not addressed my third minor problem - north of the bridge under the M62 the right of way should follow the lane right but unless I missed something this appears to be blocked by a locked gate, and an unofficial footpath crosses north into the field over a wooden bridge and follows this field edge around to the bridge marked FB on the OS map south of Bushey Cliff Wood, where it is possible to rejoin the correct path
Status
This route has been reviewed by 3 people.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Wakrot two
Photos of this route will appear when they are added to a review. You can review this route here.
Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 3
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (3)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 3
Surveys
We are working to build-up a picture of what routes look like. To do that we are asking volunteers to survey routes so that we can communicate features, obstacles and challenges that may make a route desirable or not.
Slow Ways surveyors are asked to complete some basic online training, but they are not vetted. If you are dependent on the survey information being correct in order to complete a route, we recommend that you think critically about the information provided. You may also wish to wait until more than one survey has been completed.
Help people know more about this route by volunteering to submit a survey.
- Complete the survey training.
- Submit a survey for this route.
Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Wakefield
Grid Ref
SE3325720905
Lat / Lon
53.68357° / -1.49795°
Easting / Northing
433,257E / 420,905N
What3Words
leap.lifted.choice
Rothwell (Yorkshire)
Grid Ref
SE3452728136
Lat / Lon
53.74847° / -1.47792°
Easting / Northing
434,527E / 428,136N
What3Words
sample.labels.pink
| Wakefield | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SE3325720905 |
| Lat / Lon | 53.68357° / -1.49795° |
| Easting / Northing | 433,257E / 420,905N |
| What3Words | leap.lifted.choice |
| Rothwell (Yorkshire) | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SE3452728136 |
| Lat / Lon | 53.74847° / -1.47792° |
| Easting / Northing | 434,527E / 428,136N |
| What3Words | sample.labels.pink |
Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.
reviews
Jane Taylor
01 Nov 2023Walked Rothwell to Wakefield on a changeable Autumn day. The ground was very wet after recent storms.
Overall I think this a very good Slow Way, with a high proportion of footpaths, and most main roads avoided.
From Rothwell uphill on a track to Swithens Farm, on the ridge. Here a welcome cafe serving local farm produce.
The next section between the farm and the M62 had all the less good bits! First a series of small fields with ponies, which do make me nervous when I’m walking alone. Swithens has a large livery business and I think their ponies get a bit bored!
After that, the wet and muddy section, skirting fields all the way downhill to the M62; there was also a steep stile to deal with here. The mud wasn’t cleggy, it was slick and slippy, and I had to be careful in places. When dry underfoot this would be fine.
The path comes out at a gate just before the M62. Coming from Wakefield you might be put off by this gate with a large ‘dogs loose’ sign - do not be deterred, the footpath is hidden to the right of the gate and it’s all fields, no dogs! (I expect the gate notices are relevant to anyone arriving by car aiming for the property at the end of the track). Photo 6 shows the gap at the side of the gate.
After the M62 underpass the route is on quiet roads through Lee Moor, and then a lovely long surfaced footpath downhill to Stanley.
There are refreshments at Stanley but you have to detour for them, as the route skirts the ‘main strip’ Lake Lock Road.
I enjoyed the nature reserve and the information board about the earlier mining days. The wooded path by the golf course was an excellent find too (photo 8).
More muddy and soggy path uphill to Bar Lane (photo 9), and then a lovely long straight path downhill past Pinderfields all the way to Wakefield bus station, and eventually the end point near the cathedral.
No problems with the plotting and I enjoyed my walk despite the mud.
Sarah
14 Oct 2023Good route, quickly into greener areas out of Wakefield, Stanley Marsh Nature Reserve nice, then into proper countryside.
As per earlier review, route edit suggested once passing under M62 along Lee Moor Beck and then through Bushy Cliffe Wood.
-
Hugh Hudson
14 Oct 2023Thanks for reviewing this one - it would be great to get a verified connection from Leeds to Sheffield.
-
Share your thoughts
Hugh Hudson
15 Sep 2022I walked most of this route from Wakefield to Rothwell while attempting to follow WAKROT 1, but this one uses a more direct road/pavement route from Stanley to the M62 bridge which I have not walked but should be straightforward. See my more detailed review of WAKROT 1 for more details and a few pictures.
-
Share your thoughts
Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.
Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.
You can add up to 15 photos.
Other Routes for Wakefield—Rothwell (Yorkshire) See all Slow Ways
Review this better route and help establish a trusted network of walking routes.
Suggest a better route if it better meets our methodology.
Hugh Hudson
01 Nov 2023Thanks for reviewing this one - glad you enjoyed it. Two more short steps and we'll have Leeds connected at last.
Share your thoughts