Friends of Middleton Park
Walks in the Park
Some Suggested Walks
In normal times the Friends organise a guided walk every month during the summer. In 2020, when we were under lockdown in the Corona Virus pandemic, our organised events were cancelled. The Friends decided to make available some of the notes put together to accompany previous guided walks. We hope these might inspire you to explore different parts of the Park while taking exercise.
These notes contain some historic background and several have a map showing where the walk goes. We hope you find them interesting and helpful, and that they add to your enjoyment of the park. We plan to add new ones as they are available.
If you want to learn more about the history of Middleton and the Park, then try exploring our History section by clicking here. And if you have any questions for us, or have more information about the park then please contact us - details here.
The notes, maps are in Abode PDF format, so you can down load them and print them out ...
Steam Power in Middleton Park
Middleton's mining history involved the use of steam power from early times. Kris Ward had researched the use of Steam Power here and organised a walk around some of the sites in the park associated with it. This walk would have been one of our guided walks this year.
Click here for the Kris's notes and map.
Middleton in the War
For the 2020 VE day bank holiday Kris Ward was going to do a guided walk in the park, around the theme of Middleton Park in the War. Here are his notes and map for that walk...
Click here for the Kris's notes and map.
Alan's Walks ...
The Chair of the Friends, Alan, has contributed 2 longer walks around the outer edges of the park, and a shorter walk though the middle of the park, along with directions and photos...
Click here for the Alan's first walk notes and map.
Click here for the Alan's second walk notes and map.
Click here for the Alan's third walk notes and map.
Viewpoints Walk
The Viewpoints taken in by this walk are the site above Broom Colliery, the Clearings and the site of Middleton Lodge and Nick's View. Unfortunately at the moment there is no Map in the notes for this walk.
Click here for the Viewpoints walk notes.
Transport Walk
The Park has hosted many different forms of transport during its history: paddle boats in the Lake, Flying Circuses on the clearings, the Electric Tramway, the Great Northern Railway, the Middleton Railway and the coal Waggonways feeding the railway. This walk takes you round the park showing where these were, or still are!
Click here for Kris's Transport walk notes and map.
Park Owners Walk
The park was part of the manor of Middleton, which has been owned by the Gramaire family (1166-1300), the Creppings, the Leghes (1330-1706), the Brandlings (1706-1865) and the Tetleys (1865-1920). The walk takes in the Medieval Boundary Ditch, site of Middleton Lodge, the Ice House, the Lake, the Old Park Entrance, the site of Middleton Hall on Town Street, and St. Mary's Church.
Click here for the Park Owners walk notes and map.
Walk Around the Outskirts of the Park
This is a longer walk that takes you around the outskirts of the whole park. Though with the addition of the land of South Leeds Golf Club to the Park, this walk will have to be rearranged, and made longer!
Click here for the Outskirts walk notes and map.
Winter Walk
This is a general walk taking in many different parts and aspects of the Park: The Rose Garden and site of the Lodge, the Ice House, the Tram track, the Clearings, Park Halt Middleton Railway (and site of the original Belle Isle Village), and over the site of Broom Pit.
Click here for the Winter walk notes and map.
How to Find Middleton Park
Directions to the main entrance on Town Street, Middleton, can be found by using the postcode LS10 3SH in SatNavs, etc.
View Larger Map
Map of Middleton Park
The following is a brief sketch map of Middleton Park. Please click on the map for a larger version:
