Otley Pub Walkers

26/09/2026

Good old reliable X84 eh? The 10:27 that we were going to catch to Golden Acre Park is cancelled, so we're having to wait for the 11:09. 🤬🤬

21/09/2026

As promised, the details of our walk this Saturday [26/09] along the Meanwood Valley Trail:

We'll be catching the X84 towards Leeds at 10:27 from Otley bus station. Get off at Golden Acre Park at 10:45 to begin the walk. [Or if you're getting a lift to Golden Acre, we'll meet at the main gate when the bus arrives. So if you are definitely coming, let us know on here so someone can wait for you if you're late!] About 4.5 miles to The Myrtle Tavern in Meanwood, where we'll stop for refreshments. Another 3 miles from there into Leeds, where we'll pause at The Fenton [or just catch another X84 home for those who've had enough already!]

We should get to The Fenton before 3, so those who want to continue into the centre of Leeds and maybe visit more pubs and/or stop for tea can do so.

We already have 8 people definitely coming and others considering it, so it'll be a nice social day out. If you haven't joined us on a walk before, this could be a great way to start - the weather's looking good but not too hot; it's not a strenuous walk; and there are options to drop out or continue for even longer! Hope to see you there! BB

11/09/2026

Leeds List must've heard of our plan to walk the Meanwood Valley Trail, and they've noticed we still haven't done that Guiseley Gap Circular!

Autumn in Leeds never looks as good as it does on these fall-time wanders.

10/09/2026

MEANWOOD VALLEY TRAIL, Saturday September 26th.

Yesterday I checked out the route for our walk into Leeds from Golden Acre Park on the 26th, to make sure there were no obstacles or closures. It was a warm and sunny day, and just a bit damp underfoot in places from previous rain, but if it’s raining on the 26th or just before, there are likely to be some wet and muddy patches on the way.

If you can’t make it on the 26th, but you’re tempted to explore the route for yourself, I recommend this link - https://discoverleeds.co.uk/guides/meanwood-valley-trail-map/ -of-meanwood-valley-trail . Open it on your phone, follow the instructions to show your precise location on the map and follow it all the way. It’s set up for walking out of Leeds but works just as well in either direction. The trail itself isn’t always well marked – typified by the anonymous gap in the hedge out of GA park – and is sometimes narrow and overgrown. The first bright yellow sign I saw was in Meanwood village, about 5 miles into the walk, so the phone guide really is useful!

Apart from the walk alongside King Lane near the beginning, and the streets of Leeds at the end, it’s a mixed walk of fields, woodland and parks – and one creepy tunnel under the ring road! Photos will give a clue to the terrain, and the blip in the map shows the turning up the hill to The Myrtle Tavern and back onto the route. I do hope you can join us on the 26th, save the date and precise details will appear in the week before. I did intend to finish at The Fenton, but an X84 was due in 5 minutes, so I grabbed that and came home. I’m guessing we won’t be doing that on the day!! BB

10/09/2026

Temporary footpath closure on Chevin

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1)
LEEDS CITY COUNCIL
(DEFINITIVE FOOTPATH OTLEY 31)
(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF USE) ORDER 2026
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that due to work for an emergency repair of a dangerous wall posing risk to users;
Leeds City Council intends (in not less than 7 days) to make an Order In the interests of public safety, the effect of which will be that:
No person shall proceed along Definitive Footpath Otley 31, from its junction with Birdcage Walk to the junction with Johnny Lane, in the Otley & Yeadon Ward.
A Diversionary route will be available via Johnny Lane.
The Order is intended to come into operation on 24 September 2026 and to remain in force 24 hours per day, for a maximum period of 6 months. The works are expected to finish 15 October 2026.
All communications regarding this footpath should be addressed to [email protected] reference TC10148, or Charlotte Hamer 0113 78 8625.

Dated this 17 day of September 2026
Leeds City Council
Civic Hall,
LEEDS
LS1 1UR

07/09/2026

SIX CLASSIC PUBS OF LEEDS

Last Friday Vicky, Matt and I finally did what we’ve been promising to do for a while – plan a walk round half a dozen pubs in Leeds, similar to the one we did in Bradford earlier in the year. The attached photos pretty much tell the story, [including a slightly spidery route map!] but here’s a bit more detail about what the walk will be like:-

Arrive Leeds train station at 11:40 and walk up to THE VICTORIA HOTEL on Great George Street. This has been refurbished back to its fabulous best and was already busy when we arrived. 5 minutes later a scooter club turned up outside and the place got even busier!

It’s then a 10-minute walk [maybe more through the endless roadworks], to pub #2 - THE TEMPLAR – CAMRA award winner with a great choice of b**rs at around £3:75 a pint and only £2:50 on Mondays!!

Another easy 10 minutes gets you to WHITELOCK’S, via the absolutely fabulous County Arcade, while ignoring The Ship, The Pack Horse and The Angel, each in their own alleyway off Briggate. Dating from 1715, when it was known as The Turk’s Head [which is now open next door] it claims to be the oldest pub in the city centre.

All downhill now and a mere 5 minutes to THE DUCK AND DRAKE. A great music and b**r pub with no pretensions, but with a b**r garden not everyone knows about. Good place to grab a pork pie if you’re [a meat eater and] feeling peckish with just 2 pubs to go!

Best part of another ten minutes, over the river, past The Brewery Wharf Tavern and the traditional old riverside buildings on cobbled Dock Street to THE ADELPHI. Built in 1901 as one of the few Victorian ‘drinking palaces’ in Yorkshire, it later became the flagship pub for Tetley’s brewery round the corner. Wonderful!

Only THE GROVE INN to go now, just another 10 minutes’ walk along the riverside to this traditional pub from the 1830s that has managed to survive while all around it was being modernised. It even survived an arson attack in 2023 and was reopened the following year. Famed for b**r and music like the Duck and Drake.

A quarter of an hour will see you back on the station platform, making a total walk of about 3 miles. The whole trip from station back to station took us around four and a half hours. Photos are of all pubs inside and out [except I seem to have lost the interior of The Templar – which means you’ll have something extra to look forward to when you join us for the walk proper!] I was conned into sitting in the comfy chair for the photo of the three of us in The Grove – nobody told me it was so much lower than the other two that I’d look like a tiny bald child! We’re still deciding when to do it again, but we’re aiming for a Saturday like the Bradford one in the hope that most people will be available. We’ll certainly let you know ASAP! BB

02/09/2026

When the sunshine came [softly] through my window on Monday, I decided to walk over to Baildon to one of my favourite pubs – The Bull’s Head. The route I took does have quite a lot of roadside walking down the hill into Guiseley, but that can be avoided if you go up to The Royalty and across the fields. I didn’t go that way as I thought it might be wet – and the pools on Moor Lane showed I was probably right! Even the cows were trying to prove the old story by lying down, although it only rained very briefly a couple of times on the way.

The route goes through Esholt woods, then the village itself, before turning right up the hill towards Hollins Hall Hotel and across the golf course. The climb from the bottom of Cunliffe Lane in Esholt to the top of the golf course is 0.8 of a mile, and the total climbing on the 7-mile route is around 1,200 feet. So although it’s beautiful in places, it certainly makes you work in others!

Talking of beautiful, the views from the top of the Chevin were gorgeous after the rain; the hedge-arched path up from Esholt to Bradford Road is spectacular; and the lake by Tong Park and Esholt Cricket Club was as serene as ever! Another 0.7 of a mile climb from the lake takes you up into Baildon, and The Bull’s Head is over the roundabout and up Westgate. [If I’d had to have blood drawn at the chemist you pass on the way, I would definitely have chosen the venous option!] The public bar where I sat is to the right, with a lounge to the left, and it’s a welcoming pub with a choice of real ales.

Then you have to choose how to get home! You could always walk back via Menston to make it a round trip of about 14 miles! I cheated and got a lift, then called in at a pub in Otley, where a member of Andy FitzGerald’s household had already commandeered the comfy chair! Another grand day out! BB

26/08/2026

I had a strange walk yesterday from inner city Leeds to the outer suburbs. Best part of 5 miles from Leeds bus station to Halton. Paused at The Palace after 1-o-clock and it’s definitely not the real ale pub it used to be. Doom Bar, Boltmaker or Tribute and about 15 chrome-topped l***r, c***r and keg taps. Still, there were about a dozen drinkers and diners in there, which I suppose isn’t bad for a Tuesday lunchtime.

Then walked along the riverside path [which wasn’t particularly welcoming!] to Cross Green, before heading out through the estates and back-to-backs of the city. Having said that, there was a surprising amount of green space on the way – East End Park is huge, and Primrose Valley Park is even bigger. Even through Osmondthorpe and Wykebeck I seemed to be walking on off-road footpaths or across green space almost as much as on roadside pavements.

I nearly lost the route through the fields and woodland of Primrose Valley Park, but made it to The Leodis at about 3:45 with only one injury – a thorn puncture in my hand while trying to move a wild briar out of the way! No real ale at the pub, but Cruzcampo and peanuts was only 6 quid and very refreshing. What’s more, the place was buzzing, with about 20 people drinking, chatting, playing pool and slot machines. Not bad for a random Tuesday!

Not a route I’d particularly recommend for a relaxing afternoon stroll. Some derelict empty sites and the odd run-down, boarded-up commercial or domestic building along the way. Also some of the paths through woods or under railway bridges could seem a bit ‘remote’ and there had obviously been several fires in the parks. Still, I only saw one rat on the whole walk – it seemed to be chatting to a jackdaw alongside Wyke Beck at Halton Moor – and it goes to show you can always find interesting walks in the most unlikely places! Enjoy walking – wherever you go! BB

17/08/2026

Talking of Haworth, if you want to get there the hard (but definitely interesting) way, you could always join this walk! (I'll be resting up, waiting for our Meanwood Valley walk the following week!) BB

https://bradfordculture.co.uk/event/challenge-walk-bradford-pennine-gateway/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTwQ1VwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMERjR3ZEYkd2QmVBMzVzVklzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe_28NAtThRWJvWtI3CurF8XJjXitVvh7GiE3443XAgIgQCBN2aXjfpngrkc4_aem_qukbkzfjEY-gH3yuM458fA

Walk this 18 mile, linear trail from Ilkley to Haworth through our stunning National Nature Reserve.