Here we turn left and soon branch right onto a fairly good path in a green corridor between a hospital and a housing estate. It passes under Stanhope Road through a tunnel, beyond which a surfaced track takes us up to Station Lane, which we cross and turn right to find another surfaced path which crosses under the M62 and goes up through fields to a small housing estate at Thorpe on the Hill. Cross Middleton Lane with care, turn right and another surfaced path takes us left through urban parkland. At the bottom of the park we pass through a hedge to a track that takes us left to St Georges Lane, which we cross and soon head right on a very straight surfaced path, which takes us most of the way into Middleton, and we follow the wide Middleton Park Road to the Middleton meeting point, a concrete bench by a bus stop....

Hugh Hudson

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 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! 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....

Jane Taylor

Good 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....

Sarah

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....

Sarah

It's possible to detour to the west and along a wooded track/edge of field....

JulietP

Variation of scenery and nice section through Thornes park. A couple of bits walking on quite a busy road....

Ella Northern

I 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....

Hugh Hudson

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. Take the right turn just after the bridge, and follow this path through suburban woodland....

Hugh Hudson

Where it divides we go straight on (left fork) along the edge of the field, then across another to follow the path along the edge of the golf course, then right and left down into Finkin Lane. There is a good path through the nature reserve, which we follow out onto Lime Pit Lane, where we turn left, then left again onto a signposted cycle track, which is not as straight as the GPX file suggests. We turn right onto Canal Lane and left onto Millcroft, taking the left branch at the T-junction and then the signposted path right through a little wood (there are steps here and a muddy section which the path crosses on tyres). An alternative path goes over a wooden footbridge to the field on the left hand side, and the edge of this field can be followed parallel to the right of way as far as another bridge where we rejoin the right of way....

Hugh Hudson

I walked it on a fairly wet day when it wasn't looking its best, but can imagine it's a real joy in the summer when the woods are greener and the fields are fuller. I designed and checked this route, but am sure someone local could do an even better job....

danravenellison

Look out for Sandal Castle to the east and enjoy the long, straight and green path alongside Pugney's drain. The suggested route makes use of an open gate (which looks usually open) which links the rugby pitches to the Star Sandal pub....

danravenellison

It's a very dangerous route down Lingwell Gate Lane, with fairly frequent coming around blind corners at 60 mph. It's odd as it doesn't need to be this way, with a far safer off-road path available and signposted (the Leeds Country Way)....

gardner5000