Heath & Wakefield Loop Walk
- Michael Palmer
- Jun 26, 2022
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 6
Heath & Wakefield Loop Walk – 4.35 Easy Miles
Looking for an easy walk near Wakefield combining open countryside, local history and one of the city's most attractive historic villages? Our 4.35-mile Heath & Wakefield Loop is a lovely route for a relaxed few hours exploring this part of West Yorkshire.
Lyn and I personally walked, photographed and GPS recorded this route for The White Shire.
We rate it as an easy walk.
At 4.35 miles, it's a nice manageable distance – long enough to feel like we've had a proper walk without becoming an all-day outing.
For us, Heath is what gives this route its character.
The village sits around a large historic common, with attractive old buildings, open grassland and views across the surrounding countryside.
And despite feeling surprisingly rural in places, we're only around a mile and a half from Wakefield.
Heath & Wakefield Loop Walk at a Glance
Distance: 4.35 miles
Route type: Loop
Difficulty: Easy – based on our experience
Location: Heath and Wakefield
County: West Yorkshire
Nearby: Wakefield, Warmfield, Kirkthorpe and Stanley
Terrain: Common land, countryside paths, tracks and local lanes
Parking: Free parking is available at Heath Common
Highlights: Heath Common, historic village buildings, countryside and views towards Wakefield
Walked and photographed by: Michael and Lyn Palmer, The White Shire
Our 4.35-Mile Heath & Wakefield Walk
Lyn and I found this a really enjoyable easy walk.
It's another good example of something we've discovered repeatedly while creating The White Shire – we don't always need to travel far into the Yorkshire countryside to find an interesting route.
Wakefield is close by, yet Heath has a completely different feel.
Once we're around the Common and heading along the surrounding paths, the city can seem much further away than it really is.
At 4.35 miles, there's enough distance to give us a decent walk, while the easy terrain means we can take our time and enjoy what's around us.
Discovering Heath Common
Heath Common is at the heart of the village.
Wakefield Council describes it as a large area of grassland with areas of scrub, and the village and Common form a conservation area of historic and architectural importance. (Wakefield Council)
It's an unusual landscape.
Rather than being a formal park, the Common retains a much more open character.
People can walk freely across the access land, while horses still graze on parts of it.
For Lyn and me, it gives the beginning of the walk a particularly Yorkshire village feel.
Walking Across the Common
One of the pleasures of walking around Heath is the sense of space.
The Common opens the village up.
Instead of rows of houses running continuously along the roadside, we've got grassland and wide views separating some of the historic properties.
It also means our surroundings change depending on where we're standing.
Turn one way and we're looking towards old village buildings.
Turn another and the landscape opens towards the countryside.
It's a simple thing, but it gives Heath a character all of its own.
A Village with Plenty of History
Heath has been open common land for centuries.
Wakefield Council records that the land became a registered common during the late 19th century after local people resisted attempts to enclose it. (Wakefield Council)
That history matters because the Common is still such a dominant feature today.
Without it, Heath would feel like a completely different place.
Instead, we're able to walk across an open landscape that generations of local people fought to preserve.
That's something we enjoy discovering through The White Shire.
Sometimes the landscape itself tells the story.
The Historic Houses of Heath
There are several impressive historic properties around Heath.
Wakefield Council identifies five significant houses within the village, including Grade I listed Heath Hall, with some properties dating back to the 17th century. (Wakefield Council)
They give the village a surprisingly grand appearance in places.
For us, they're also another reason not to rush this walk.
It's easy to concentrate on reaching the next footpath and forget to look properly at the buildings we're passing.
Since starting The White Shire, Lyn and I probably spend much more time looking up than we used to.
There's nearly always something interesting hiding in plain sight.
The Pinfold
Another small piece of Heath's history is the old Pinfold.
This was once used for holding stray livestock until the animals were reclaimed by their owners.
If nobody claimed them, they could eventually be sold to recover the costs associated with impounding them.
The Pinfold was restored in 2005 and can still be seen near the car park. (Wakefield Council)
It's only a small feature.
But these are exactly the things Lyn and I enjoy finding.
You can walk straight past without giving it much thought, or stop for a minute and discover another little piece of Yorkshire's past.
The Whittling Well
Heath Common has another unusual historic feature – the Whittling Well.
Despite the name, it's actually a Georgian stone arch associated with a water source that was once used by people and animals.
Wakefield Council says it still fills with rainwater during periods of heavy rain. (Wakefield Council)
Again, it isn't a huge landmark.
But put the Common, old houses, Pinfold and Whittling Well together and suddenly our relatively short walk has plenty of local history packed into it.
Heading into the Countryside
Away from Heath itself, we get another side to the walk.
The surroundings become more rural as we follow local paths and tracks through the landscape east of Wakefield.
This is the sort of countryside we often enjoy most for our easier walks.
There are no mountains to climb.
We're not heading across exposed moorland.
Instead, we can settle into a comfortable pace, have a chat and enjoy being outside together.
Not every Yorkshire walk needs to be difficult.
The Trans Pennine Trail
The Trans Pennine Trail runs along the western side of Heath Common. (Wakefield Council)
That's quite a contrast with our little 4.35-mile loop.
The full trail stretches across northern England, linking the Irish and North seas through a huge network of walking and cycling routes.
We're doing something considerably less ambitious!
But it's interesting how major long-distance trails often pass through places we visit on our shorter White Shire walks.
Wildlife Around Heath Common
Heath isn't only historically interesting.
The Common also provides useful wildlife habitat.
Areas of gorse offer shelter and nesting opportunities for birds, while two ponds support frogs, toads and smooth newts. Kestrels and sparrowhawks can also be seen around the Common. (Wakefield Council)
We're not wildlife experts, so we don't promise what you'll see.
Lyn and I simply keep our eyes open.
That's part of the enjoyment.
You never quite know what's going to appear.
Is the Heath & Wakefield Loop Difficult?
Based on our experience, no.
Lyn and I rate our 4.35-mile Heath & Wakefield Loop as easy.
We didn't encounter anything we'd describe as particularly strenuous, and the distance is manageable for anyone comfortable walking around four miles.
As always, conditions can change following wet weather.
Countryside paths may become muddy, so sensible footwear is still worthwhile.
Easy doesn't necessarily mean spotless walking shoes at the end.
Is This Walk Suitable for Beginners?
We think it could be a good option.
At 4.35 miles, it's long enough to give you a proper walk without requiring the fitness or time needed for some of our longer Yorkshire routes.
There's also plenty to look at along the way.
The Common, historic buildings, countryside and wildlife all help keep things interesting.
If four miles isn't quite right for you, we've got shorter and longer routes across Yorkshire too.
How Long is the Heath & Wakefield Loop?
Our Heath & Wakefield Loop measures 4.35 miles, as recorded on The White Shire's West Yorkshire Walks collection. (The White Shire)
How long it takes will depend on your pace and how often you stop.
Lyn and I don't rush.
We're normally taking photographs, looking at old buildings or stopping when something catches our attention.
And Heath gives us plenty of reasons to do that.
For us, exploring what's around the route is just as important as completing the mileage.
Parking at Heath Common
This is another useful feature of the walk.
Wakefield Council currently confirms that free parking is available at Heath Common. (Wakefield Council)
There are also pubs and a café in the area, so it's easy to combine the walk with something to eat or drink.
As always, parking and facilities can change, so it's sensible to check the latest council information before making a special journey.
When is the Best Time to Walk Around Heath?
We'd consider this a good walk throughout much of the year.
Spring brings new growth across the Common and surrounding countryside.
Summer gives us longer evenings and plenty of daylight.
Autumn changes the colours of the trees and scrub.
Winter gives the open Common a completely different character.
Recent weather probably matters more than the season.
If Yorkshire has given us a particularly wet week, expect some of the countryside sections to be muddier.
More Walks Around Wakefield
If you enjoy this one, there's plenty more to discover nearby.
Lyn and I have personally walked routes around Nostell, Sandal Castle, Walton, Wintersett, Altofts, Stanley Ferry and other parts of the Wakefield district.
That's something we're deliberately building into The White Shire.
We want someone who finds one of our walks to be able to stay on the website and discover another route nearby.
So Heath doesn't need to be a one-off visit.
It can simply be the starting point for exploring more of this part of Yorkshire.
Explore Yorkshire with The White Shire
The White Shire has grown from Lyn and me enjoying getting out together and exploring Yorkshire.
We personally walk, photograph and GPS record the routes we feature.
But we're also building the website into a broader guide to the county, combining walks with Yorkshire history, attractions, interesting places and ideas for days out.
That's why places like Heath work so well for us.
We can go out for a relatively simple 4.35-mile walk and come home having discovered a historic Common, old houses, wildlife and little pieces of local history we'd probably never have noticed from the car.
Hopefully, The White Shire encourages other people to do the same.
About Michael and Lyn
Michael and Lyn Palmer explore Yorkshire together on foot, personally walking, photographing and GPS recording the routes featured on The White Shire.
Our guides are based on our own experiences.
We're not professional hikers.
We're simply a husband and wife who enjoy getting outside together, discovering interesting places and learning more about Yorkshire as we go.
Some walks take us deep into the countryside.
Others, like Heath, show us how much there is to discover surprisingly close to Yorkshire's towns and cities.
Heath & Wakefield Loop – Our Verdict
Our Heath & Wakefield Loop measures 4.35 miles.
Lyn and I rate it as easy.
For us, Heath Common is what makes the route particularly enjoyable.
The open grassland gives us a sense of space, while historic houses, the Pinfold and Whittling Well provide plenty of local interest along the way.
Then there's the countryside.
It's easy to forget we're only around a mile and a half from Wakefield when we're out walking around the Common and surrounding paths. (Wakefield Council)
At 4.35 miles, it's also a really useful distance.
Long enough for a proper walk.
Short enough to leave plenty of time for a drink or something to eat afterwards.
And for Lyn and me, it's another example of exactly what The White Shire is about – getting out together and discovering the Yorkshire that's sometimes much closer than we realise.
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