Middleton Park and Woods Circular
West Yorkshire
Middleton Park is a large public park in south Leeds where dogs can run off lead through more than 200 acres of ancient woodland that has probably been wooded since the last ice age, one of the largest areas of semi-natural ancient woodland in West Yorkshire. The land was part of the manor of Middleton, whose owners grew rich from the coal beneath it, and the woods are pitted with the crater-like mounds of medieval coal workings, now a scheduled ancient monument. The Middleton Railway, founded in 1758 to carry coal into Leeds, still runs to Park Halt on the edge of the park. This 3.5km circuit from the car park by the visitor centre loops through the woodland and the open parkland around the lake and the rose garden. It is easy walking on woodland paths and park tracks with gentle slopes, and it can be muddy after rain.
This is a dog friendly walk and a real find for Leeds dog owners: the woodlands and playing fields are open for dogs to explore freely, there is no livestock, and the tree cover keeps things cool in summer. Dogs must be on a lead near the children's play area. The lake is a fishing lake, so keep dogs away from anglers and their lines. Watch for cyclists near the Leeds Urban Bike Park. The visitor centre has a cafe and toilets, and there is free parking off Town Street.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 3.5 km (2.2 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 5 min
- Walk Type
- Woodland, Park, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Visitor centre with Middleton Park Café and accessible toilets; cafe at the Leeds Urban Bike Park.
- Parking
- Free parking off Town Street near the visitor centre and lake, Leeds City Council; paid car park at the Leeds Urban Bike Park.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Middleton Park and Woods Circular, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Weavers Cottage - Slaithwaite
Sleeps 12 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £1,975 / 7 nights
Booking links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. Prices are a guide only and change with dates and availability.
All dog friendly stays in West YorkshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Middleton Park and Woods Circular dog friendly?
Middleton Park and Woods Circular is rated 8 out of 10 for dog friendliness, making it a genuine highlight for Leeds dog owners. The ancient woodland, open parkland, and playing fields are all accessible to dogs, there is no livestock to worry about, and the tree cover makes it a pleasantly cool option in summer.
Can dogs be off lead at Middleton Park and Woods Circular?
Yes, dogs can run off lead through the woodlands and open parkland for the majority of this 3.5km circuit. The main exception is near the children's play area, where dogs should be kept on a lead.
What should I know before visiting Middleton Park and Woods Circular with my dog?
A few things are worth keeping in mind. The lake is used for fishing, so keep your dog away from anglers and their lines, and watch out for cyclists around the Leeds Urban Bike Park section of the route. The paths can get muddy after rain, so come prepared with that in mind. On the plus side, there is free parking off Town Street and a cafe at the visitor centre, so you can round off the walk with a coffee.
Visitor Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience.
What’s Nearby?
Walk4.1 mi awayTemple Newsam Estate Walk
West Yorkshire
Dogs get plenty of off-lead parkland around Temple Newsam's Tudor-Jacobean house, then a tea room where they're welcome on a lead.
Walk5.2 mi awayOakwell Hall Country Park Circular
West Yorkshire
Dogs sniff their way through woods and meadows around Oakwell Hall, the 1583 Elizabethan manor that Charlotte Brontë turned into Fieldhead in Shirley.
Walk5.5 mi awayMeanwood Valley Trail: Meanwood Park to Seven Arches
West Yorkshire
Dogs get off-lead space, water and shade all the way along Meanwood Beck, from Meanwood Park through the woods of north Leeds to the Seven Arches aqueduct.
Walk6 mi awayRoundhay Park and Waterloo Lake Loop
West Yorkshire
Dogs get an easy, flat lap of Waterloo Lake in Roundhay Park, largely off lead, with woodland and a castle folly above the water for you.
Walk8.2 mi awayNewmillerdam Country Park Lake and Woods
West Yorkshire
A surfaced lakeside loop for dogs at Newmillerdam, with woodland paths and a dog-friendly pub by the dam for you.
Walk8.4 mi awayGolden Acre Park and Eccup Whin Circular
West Yorkshire
Dogs explore Breary Marsh and Eccup Whin at Golden Acre Park on a mix of lead and off-lead paths, finishing at a cafe terrace that welcomes them.