The route starts at Spofforth Castle, picturesque ruin of a once-fortified 14th-century manor house belonging to the powerful Percy family and well worth a visit.
The route continues along a traffic-free route out of Spofforth and onto the historic market town of Wetherby, which sits on the banks of the River Wharfe.
Equidistant from London and Edinburgh, it became an important staging post for mail coaches in the 18th century and the marketplace has many attractive historic buildings. Make sure you explore the Town Hall, the Parish Church, the river bridge and The Shambles.
At Deighton Road in Wetherby, the route goes briefly on-road – use the crossing to follow it onto York Road. From there, turn right onto Hatfield Lane, then left onto Freemans Way, where the traffic-free path resumes.
The route takes you out of the town and past Wetherby Racecourse, regarded by many as the finest jump course in the north of England, and where the first race meeting was held in 1891. From here the route continues onto Thorp Arch Retail Park (with a road crossing to be aware of).
Please note
We have taken all responsible steps to ensure that these routes are safe and achievable by people with a reasonable level of fitness.
However, all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk. To the extent permitted by law, Sustrans accepts no responsibility for any accidents or injury resulting from following these routes.
Walking and cycling routes change over time. Weather conditions may also affect path surfaces.
Please use your own judgement when using the routes based upon the weather and the ability, experience and confidence levels of those in your group.