Lofthouse & Outwood to Methley Disused Railway Path

Start                      Outwood Train Station (Trains going South Side, Wakefield etc)
Finish                Methley, Lofthouse Junction                  
Start Time        Jan 16, 2012 12:02 PM
Distance           6.15 miles
Duration           3h:00m:58s
Avg Speed        2.0 mph
Max Speed       5.9 mph
Calories            649 kcal
Altitude            177 ft / 398 ft
Elevation          145 ft ↑ / 343 ft ↓
Weather           Sunny, But Cold & Frosty
O/S Map          Explorer 289: Leeds - Harrogate - Wakefield & Pontefract
Terrain             Mixture of Tarmac/Concrete & Unfinished footpaths. 
                         Old Railway Trackbed - can be Uneven and Muddy in places


GPS Route


As you can see from the GPS Route above, this walk isn't a straight walk along the old line from Lofthouse & Outwood station to Methley, as we take a diversion along another old line and go around Stanley and to Bottom Boat, before rejoining the old trackbed.

Our walk starts at Outwood Station. Go down the steps leading to the platform for trains to Wakefield. At the bottom walk forward and take the path to the right of the metal fence. take the first path from this which will bring you to a large grassed area. follow the path on the edge of this field...you should pass some football pitches on your left. at the bottom of this field the track bears right and brings you to a stile by a gate. Go over this and onto a road (Colliery Approach). go ahead and pass a metal barrier across the road. You will soon pass another metal barrier. As the road starts to bear left cross it, and walk onto a small grassed area. You will then come to a T Junction with a main road (Potovens Lane). Cross this diagonally left and follow a footpath ahead.
This will soon swing to the right, and then turn left and onto the old trackbed.
Go ahead on this and you will soon come to a filled in bridge. Climb the steps on your left and cross the A61 (Leeds Road). Turn right to cross the bridge, then immediately left and down the steps to rejoin the track.


Steps to take you over the A61


Down the other side & Back on the Track


Follow the track straight ahead, going straight over at the next road.






Again follow the track up to the next road and T Junction. Cross Both of these, following on in the direction we have been heading, Then take the path to the right - with houses on both sides. Look out the the toadstool carving (below)



Go straight over the next road (Rooks Nest Road) and continue ahead, crossing diagonally over the next road (Lime Pit Lane).
On approaching the next road (A642 Aberford Road) Cross over and turn left to follow it before turning right into Water Lane.
Carry on straight ahead until you reach the sewage works. Here turn left and follow the footpath signposted ,The Wakefield Way'.
Follow this track along the bank of the River Calder for a short distance, and to your left you will see the Twin Towers of St Peter's Church.



St Peter's Church


As the river sweeps away to the right, look for a track away that goes diagonally left from the path we are on. Take this track and cross the next small road, and keep to the track in the direction we were going.
Shortly after passing a large pylon on your left, you will come to a car park and road. Turn left and go along the road up to the next road (Bottom Boat Road) a short distance away. Turn left here and follow the road uphill, then turn right into St Peter's Crescent following the signposts for the Trans Pennine Trail
On reaching this it is one long track all the way to Methley. 
















                                                                            Going under the M62








The Trans Pennine Trail splits from the track to the left (continuing to Leeds). When you arrive at this point keep going straight ahead through to Lofthouse Junction (Methley). (This part of the walk is the best part for me, with a real feel for a disused railway).










When you arrive at the working railway lines at Methley (Lofthouse Junction) follow the track left and go through a small housing estate and this takes you to the site of Methley Junction Station, and to the main road through Methley, and marks the end of the walk.


More photos can be seen here



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