Pugneys Country Park
Location - Asdale Road, Denby Dale Road, Wakefield, WF2 7EQ
Distance (around) - 1.5 miles
Terrain - Mostly flat, small incline and path mostly small stone gravel
Points to note -
Blue badge holders are exempt from parking charges
Mobility scooters are available for hire
Accessible toilet
Dog wash station available
Café not dog friendly but can eat outside
Pugneys Country Park is known for its use as a water sports venue, with people visiting to participate in non-engine powered water sports e.g. wind surfing, kayaking and canoeing, you can bring your own, or hire from the centre. There is a large carpark with Pay and Display facilities (blue badges holders are not exempt), a playground, a cafe; selling hot and cold food/drinks, fully accessible toilets and showers (for humans and dogs). Mobility scooters can also be hired from the site.
The carpark is large, with a few designated disabled bays, although the ground is somewhat uneven, so care has to be taken for potholes. There is a mostly accessible pathway around the large lake which is approximately 1.6 miles long which is firm underfoot, suitable for the scooter, but can get a bit muddy in the wet, which is why I say mostly accessible. Depending on your starting position (you can walk clockwise or anticlockwise around the lake) there is an incline, however this is the only strenuous part of the walk (other than walking itself) and there is a gravel section which can feel a bit like being in a tumble dryer. Towards the end/beginning of the walk there are BBQ bases, along with a large grassed area to sit and relax after the trip round. The grass is accessible to the scooter and it is quite nice to sit there on a warm day. There are accessible bird hides suitable for watching the beautiful Kingfisher and other water birds in the location such as grebe, cormorant, mallard and more.
On many occasions dogs have been in the lake water itself, although care must be taken as on some occasions the water has been closed due to green algae. Dogs must also be watched near nesting bird sites, but these are mainly restricted to the bird hides. This is quite a popular walk with dogs for the area.
All in all it is a lovely ride/walk round, with ample opportunity to stop and admire the view, along with visiting the bird hides and taking in the sights and sounds of nature. The ice cream vans dotted around are also a pleasure to see and the cafe at the beginning/end offers a wide variety of food and drink throughout the whole year, although unfortunately dogs are not allowed in the café. However they do sell dog treats and there are picnic tables outside where dogs are welcome.
Tip - in winter the dog and the scooter get extremely dirty.
