Garforth to Wetherby (anti-clockwise)
- Easy riding
- Rail access
- Garforth (Leeds, York/Selby) - Other access - there are a couple of bridleways from Austhorpe or Manston (passing the old Vickers tank factory), out to Garforth. From Swarcliffe, we have also taken a farm track to the village of Scholes, turned left through the village, and right just before the old railway bridge; follow the road/track/road to Barwick-in-Elmet.
- Garforth - Sustrans National Cycle Network map for the start of this section (opens in a new window)
Route
Turn right out of Garforth Station, and make your way up to the main road, the A642 (busy road); bear left, and head for the traffic lights. Turn right, and follow the left-right dogleg round, to pass under the railway bridge. Head straight on to Barwick-in-Elmet.
In Barwick, turn right on to the main road through the village, to the May Pole; follow the main road as it bends to the right, then bear left at the Parish Church.
Follow this road, through the "dog-leg" and Potterton, to the A64 (VERY busy). The most dangerous bit of the whole route - somehow you are expected to dodge the white van men, sales reps, juggernauts, grey BMW drivers (and all the other stupid ......s who thinks the road belongs exclusively to them), to cross to the other side. Your reward - many more grey hairs, and a pleasant cycle along the bridleway through to the Thorner-Bramham road. Turn right, and follow this road to Bramham.
Cross the A1, turn left down the hill, and right again into the village. You now want a left turn towards Clifford.
Just into Clifford, take a right, and a left (just before a church); this will take you through to the A659 Otley-Tadcaster road. Turn right, and take the first left, across the River Wharfe, to Thorp Arch.
When you reach the crossroads at the old railway line, turn left; in about a half mile, turn right on to the bridleway which takes you round behind Wetherby Race Course. When you reach the road, turn left and head over the A1 and into Wetherby town. If you are passing through, the WYCR skirts the town centre by using disused railway line - follow it round to the left to cross the A661 Wetherby-Harrogate road.
On to BramhopeDiversions
- Just before the Garforth Golf Club, there is a small road which veers off to the right; this leads through the Parlington Estate, along a disused railway line (for a long-gone coal mine), as far as Aberford. You can turn left through the village, cross the river, and take the first left along Becca Banks. The road goes through the estate gates, and veers left to take you through the Home Farm, behind the "big house". Follow the bridleway up to the A64, and turn left to rejoin the WYCR.
- Alternatively, on reaching the road in Aberford, turn right and immediately left to reach Lotherton Hall, with its wide expanse of parkland and bird garden.
- The detour through Bramham Park (site of the Bramham International Horse Trials and the annual Leeds Festival) is also very pleasant.