Aire and Calder Canal
Distance (around) - About 1 mile
Terrain - Smooth, flat, tarmac.
Points to note -
Parking from the entrance we use is terrible (off Welbeck Lane), there is no designated place and it is purely chance
No toilets unless you walk to the pub (Stanley Ferry)
This is an access road, be careful of traffic and cyclists
The view is beautiful with all the boats
In terms of walks, this is one of the less developed places we visit being an old canal road, saying that, the path to walk is lovely, smooth tarmac with very few lumps and bumps and so is a smooth travel. It’s also straight so you can see as far as where you’re walking, this is somewhere we like to go in the winter, to avoid sludge. There are a few people who walk dogs in the area so you often greet people on the way. Betty gets the opportunity to have full length of the lead as you can see who is coming towards you in good time, albeit it is tarmac so will be hard for her underfoot.
We love walking along and admiring the boats, imagining living in one, how cosy it must be, so free to be able to get up the next morning and set off on your way. The swans also glide along serenely and we have even seen paddle boarders along the water. One of the barges has set up as a little coffee and cake stop - however we didn’t stop as we didn’t realise until too late.
Once you have walked along the path for about two thirds of the way there is a bridge to cross, this is fairly easy with just a little incline on both entry and exit, but the scooter managed fine. Betty wasn’t so keen on the bridge, with it being ever so slightly wobbly, but she overcame her fear and trotted across. Once over you can continue in the same direction to reach the Hungery Horse owned Stanley Ferry pub (this is an alternative, better, space for parking and could be the start of your journey instead), you can have some food at a reasonable price, however dogs are not allowed inside, albeit there are a decent number of outside tables with seating.
This walk is a non-circular, in the sense that once you reach the pub, the best option is to return the way you came. It is possible to exit via the pub carpark but this will lead you to the main road, which is less fun for us. Along the path we walk there are a few benches where you can sit and take it all in, or simply watch the world go by in a calm and peaceful place.
As this is a canal path, there will are lots of other connections to this path, we are yet to discover these, it goes on for over 30 miles and you can find more information about access and paths via the Canal and River Trust.
Tip - pay attention for cyclists.
