Leeds Canal Path

[CommonRoom]

I am visiting Leeds soon and was planning on walking the canal path from the main station to Kirkstall Abbey.

I don't like using maps on my phone as the battery runs down very quickly. does anybody know if the path is well signposted?

If you follow signs from within the train station to Granary Wharf then this is where the canal starts. Don't head for the main exit there's a smaller exit which for the life of me I can't remember whether the exit has a number or not! Basically as you go up the escalators from the platforms you want to go left at the top not right. If you ask a member of staff in the station they will be able to direct you to the right exit though! If my terrible instructions manage to get you to the right exit then you will be right on Granary Wharf and you will see the canal

www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations-and-destinations/stations-made-easy/leeds-station-plan

If you look at this map it's the exit in the bottom left corner I should've just looked for a map to begin with

@MrsMcCluskeysCat Thank you!

Do you now if the path is signposted once it starts? On the map the path banks several times. Will it be obvious when to do this?

I can't say I've walked the first part out of the city sorry, only the bits further out but along those parts there's signage to towns along the way so I would think there's signs in the city centre parts too.

The last place to get off the towpath to go to the abbey is just before where the canal goes under Broad Lane.

Just before then you pass a big electricity sub station, under a narrow hump backed bridge and arrive at a small car park. If you go under the next bridge and past some mills you've gone too far.

Leave the canal at the car park and go left then then right and right again across a bridge, past the Bridge Inn into kirkstall.

After the entrance to the shopping centre there's a footpath through some woods. Go down the path and it leads into the grounds of the abbey.

I think there is some signs, not sure.

It’s a really easy and well used tow path OP.
It’s like Briggate most weekends 😉😂

Thanks everyone!

Honestly, I would just take a power bank! Also, make sure you're not on your own. Leeds can be a dangerous place, especially around there

Really?! It's very very busy with lots of families. I wouldn't hesitate to do that walk in the daytime. I certainly don't think Leeds is any more dangerous than anywhere else and think you're scaremongering a little there.

I agree @Feenie Leeds is no more dangerous than any other city/town. I live near the canal and on a weekend it's so busy! I'd have no problem walking there in the daytime.

@FunnyInjury

It’s a really easy and well used tow path OP. It’s like Briggate most weekends 😉😂

I think that reference might be lost on the OP if she's not local

Leeds is a dangerous place 😂😂 canal towpath will be fine in the day OP I walk to work and back in the city centre every day

@Feenie

Really?! It's very very busy with lots of families. I wouldn't hesitate to do that walk in the daytime. I certainly don't think Leeds is any more dangerous than anywhere else and think you're scaremongering a little there.

My thoughts exactly! We regularly park in the car park @BarbaraofSeville mentioned and walk out to Shipley and it's normally pretty busy even on weekdays.

@Almostmenopausal

Honestly, I would just take a power bank! Also, make sure you're not on your own. Leeds can be a dangerous place, especially around there

The power bank is sensible (though I guess if OP had one, they would already have thought of it) but the rest of your statement is just nonsense.

I wondered where I’d been living for 30 odd years for a minute!

@Almostmenopausal

Honestly, I would just take a power bank! Also, make sure you're not on your own. Leeds can be a dangerous place, especially around there

That is utter rubbish

That stretch of the canal path is probably its least scenic in Leeds. There should be loads of cyclists and some people fishing so it should be safe. I'm pretty sure you'll find your way out to the Abbey but if you go past the Hollybush Conservation site you're about to go too far!

Tbf it's all pretty much of a muchness that stretch of it. Agreed that the abbey is scenic and atmospheric on a quiet day but if I was going to walk along a yorkshire waterway I'd choose somewhere else like bolton abbey or even skipton if I was set on the canal.

@Feenie

I wondered where I’d been living for 30 odd years for a minute!

Well it is almost exactly 30 years since the Yorkshire Ripper was caught and that's the time that the comment about 'Leeds being a dangerous place' probably belongs in.

I don't think walking along the canal is a particularly risky activity during the daytime at the weekend. As others have said, there will be so many people doing the same, that the chances of something untoward happening is almost zero.

But I'm now curious OP, why have you chosen this particularly activity as part of your visit to Leeds?

I love Leeds. Canal is a nice and interesting walk. Some good coffee places on route. Enjoy.

@Almostmenopausal I am a South East Londoner and am used to walking anywhere and everywhere. It didn’t occur to me to feel unsafe walking along the Leeds canal

@BarbaraofSeville I have visited Leeds a few times and feel like I have seen the sights already. I fancy seeing something different, plus I love walking and have a couple of hours to fill between arriving in the station and checking into the hotel.