Beach and river walks near leeds

It’s been scientifically proven that being near water is important for your wellbeing. It’s called ‘Blue Mind Theory’ and is as simple as being happier and more meditative when around water. Luckily, Leeds and Yorkshire have some beautiful beach and river walks for you to take 5 and recharge, and maybe even catch some rays while you’re at it!

Leeds Canal

If you want a nice river walk without having to leave the city centre, then the canal is for you. There’s lots of culture and history jam-packed into the area around the canal, with sleek modern areas such as Brewery Wharf and Granary Wharf. But the further out you head, the more rural and quieter it gets. You can even stop off on the way at Cardigan Fields or Kirkstall Abbey on the way.

Knaresborough

Home of the famous Knaresborough bed race, this market town has a castle, Mother Shipton’s Cave and the River Nidd which runs right through it. We’d definitely recommend popping down to the cave, one of England’s oldest tourist attractions, and seeing the petrifying well. Once you’ve enjoyed all the quintessential Knaresborough features, go off the beaten track and have a stroll along the river.

Scarborough

Swapping out Knaresborough for Scarborough, this coastal town has some of the most beautiful beaches in the North. You can get here via train from Leeds and enjoy a traditional seaside experience. There are touristy beaches if you love the hustle and bustle, or some better-kept secrets like Cayton Bay, which is absolutely stunning.

Aysgarth Falls

If anyone tries to tell you Yorkshire isn’t the most beautiful county, take them to Aysgarth Falls and enjoy proving them wrong next to a beautiful waterfall. Off the beaten track in the Yorkshire Dales, this one is a bit further away than some of our other river walks, but if you can get there then it’s well worth the extra effort. Just look at it!

Thruscross Reservoir

Another Yorkshire Dales entry, and who can argue when it looks as good as this? Just outside of Harrogate, this is actually one of four local reservoirs. It takes around 2 hours to walk round the reservoir, which is dotted with picnic spots, and has an old mill nearby. In fact, this reservoir is so great, it inspired one of the Inspector Banks novels! Not bad, even if we do say so ourselves.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to river walks and beaches in and around Leeds, the Yorkshire Dales are so big and so beautiful, it would be impossible to include everything on this list. But next time you feel the urge to clear your mind, or even if you just fancy a change of scenery, you know where to go.