Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Holbeck Viaduct Circular Walk
- Michael Palmer
- May 14, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Holbeck Viaduct Circular Walk – 3.36 Easy Miles in Leeds
Looking for an easy walk in Leeds that combines canal-side walking, industrial history and a different view of the city? Our 3.36-mile Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Holbeck Viaduct Circular Walk explores a fascinating part of Leeds shaped by canals, railways and industry.
Lyn and I personally walked, photographed and GPS recorded this route for The White Shire.
We'd rate this as an easy walk.
At just 3.36 miles, it's a relatively short route and a good choice when you fancy getting out for a couple of hours without tackling anything particularly strenuous.
This walk also has a personal connection for me. I was born in Leeds and have lots of memories of the city centre from when I was younger.
Leeds has changed enormously over the years, but walking around the city still brings back memories. At the same time, exploring it on foot with Lyn has made me notice buildings, waterways and pieces of industrial history that I probably wouldn't have given much thought to when I was a lad.
Leeds Canal & Holbeck Viaduct Walk at a Glance
Distance: 3.36 miles
Route type: Circular
Difficulty: Easy – based on our experience
Location: Leeds
County: West Yorkshire
Area: Leeds city centre and Holbeck
Terrain: Canal towpath, surfaced paths and urban sections
Highlights: Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Holbeck Viaduct, Holbeck and Leeds' industrial heritage
Walked and photographed by: Michael and Lyn Palmer, The White Shire
Our Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Holbeck Viaduct Walk
Lyn and I found this a really enjoyable and straightforward walk.
It's completely different from many of the countryside routes we feature on The White Shire.
There aren't rolling hills, open moors or woodland trails.
Instead, you're exploring a landscape shaped by industry.
The Leeds & Liverpool Canal provides some pleasant waterside walking, while the enormous Holbeck Viaduct gives you an idea of just how important the railway network once was to this part of Leeds.
At only 3.36 miles, it doesn't take all day either.
We found it a nice easy route with plenty to look at along the way.
Leeds – A City Full of Memories
This walk is a little more personal for me because Leeds isn't simply somewhere Lyn and I have come to explore – it's the city where I was born.
I have lots of memories of Leeds city centre from when I was younger.
Of course, the Leeds I remember isn't exactly the same city you'll see today.
Buildings have disappeared, shopping areas have changed, former industrial districts have been redeveloped and whole parts of the city centre have found completely new purposes.
But there are still moments when something familiar catches my eye and brings back memories.
Walking around Leeds with Lyn also gives me a completely different perspective on the city.
When I was younger, I probably wouldn't have thought much about old railway arches, canal infrastructure or former industrial buildings.
Now I find myself looking at them and wondering what they were used for and how they fitted into the Leeds I remember.
Sometimes The White Shire takes Lyn and me somewhere completely new.
Other times, like this walk, it takes me back somewhere that's been part of my own story for as long as I can remember.
Walking the Leeds & Liverpool Canal
The Leeds & Liverpool Canal is one of the main features of this route.
Today, following the towpath provides somewhere surprisingly peaceful to walk so close to the centre of Leeds.
It's quite a contrast with the reason the canal was originally built.
Construction began in the 18th century, and the completed canal eventually created a route of around 127 miles between Leeds and Liverpool.
The canal became one of northern England's great commercial waterways, connecting the industrial areas of Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Coal became particularly important, while limestone, textiles and other goods were also transported along the waterway.
Today, Lyn and I are using it for something considerably more relaxed.
We're simply enjoying a walk beside the water.
From Working Towpath to Walking Route
The towpath itself is another reminder of the canal's industrial past.
These paths weren't originally created for walkers and cyclists.
Before powered canal boats became commonplace, horses walked beside the canal pulling boats through the water.
That required a continuous path alongside the water – the towpath we're now using for leisure.
It's something we encounter repeatedly on our Yorkshire walks.
Old railway lines become trails.
Industrial canals become leisure routes.
Factories become apartments, offices or businesses.
The structures survive, but the way we use them changes.
Holbeck Viaduct
The other major feature of our walk is the impressive Holbeck Viaduct.
Built during the Victorian railway age, the viaduct stretches for around a mile through Holbeck towards Leeds city centre.
It was constructed in the 1880s for the London and North Western Railway and includes more than 90 arches.
Walking alongside it gives you a much better appreciation of its scale.
It's easy to drive past structures like this without really noticing them.
On foot, you have time to stop and look.
For Lyn and me, that's one of the reasons walking is such a good way to explore a city.
Leeds and the Industrial Revolution
Leeds grew enormously during the Industrial Revolution.
Textiles were particularly important, but the city also became known for engineering, clothing manufacture, printing and numerous other industries.
All those businesses needed transport.
The Leeds & Liverpool Canal provided one solution.
Then came the railways.
Together, the canals and railways allowed enormous quantities of raw materials and finished goods to move in and out of Leeds.
Our 3.36-mile walk brings those two periods together.
On one part of the route we're following an 18th-century canal.
On another, we're walking beside a Victorian railway viaduct.
Walking Through Holbeck
Holbeck became one of Leeds' great industrial districts.
Its position close to the city centre, canal and railway network made it ideal for factories and engineering businesses.
Although the area has changed considerably, reminders of its industrial past survive throughout the landscape.
Old brick buildings, railway arches, warehouses and workshops all help tell the story.
It's not conventionally beautiful in the same way as the Yorkshire Dales or Wolds.
But it has character.
And that's what makes this walk interesting.
Our Stop at Nero's Ices
One of the unexpected highlights of our walk was stopping at Nero's Ices.
We stopped for a drink and ended up hearing some interesting stories about its history.
That's exactly the sort of thing Lyn and I enjoy when we're out exploring.
You can plan a walking route beforehand, but you never really know what you'll discover until you're actually out there.
Sometimes it's the unexpected conversations and little discoveries that we remember afterwards.
As it's a mobile business, we wouldn't guarantee it'll be there when you do the walk.
But if it is, it's worth stopping.
Is the Leeds Canal & Holbeck Viaduct Walk Difficult?
Based on our experience, no.
Lyn and I rate our 3.36-mile route as easy.
Much of the walking is relatively level, particularly along the canal, and you're not tackling the sustained climbs found on some of our Pennine, moorland or Yorkshire Wolds walks.
The urban nature of the route also means there are plenty of surfaced sections.
Canal towpaths can still become wet or slippery following poor weather, so we'd recommend comfortable footwear.
Is This Walk Suitable for Beginners?
We think so.
At only 3.36 miles and with no significant climbing, this is one of our more approachable routes.
If you're starting to explore Yorkshire on foot and don't fancy committing to five, six or seven miles, this could be a good option.
There's also plenty to look at.
For us, that always makes a shorter walk much more enjoyable.
You're not simply walking three miles for the sake of completing three miles – you're discovering something along the way.
How Long is the Walk?
Our GPS-recorded Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Holbeck Viaduct Circular Walk measures 3.36 miles.
How long you'll need depends on your own pace and how often you stop.
Lyn and I don't rush.
We're usually taking photographs, looking at buildings and stopping whenever something catches our attention.
And because Leeds has so many memories for me, I probably spend even more time looking around on a walk like this.
At 3.36 miles, though, it's a nice manageable distance when you fancy an interesting walk without taking up most of the day.
Is This a Good Walk Near Leeds City Centre?
Definitely.
That's one of its biggest advantages.
You don't have to travel miles outside Leeds to find an interesting walk.
The Leeds & Liverpool Canal provides a relatively peaceful corridor through parts of the city, while Holbeck's industrial and railway heritage gives you plenty to discover.
If you're visiting Leeds and fancy seeing something beyond the main shopping streets, this route provides a completely different perspective.
For me, it also provides an opportunity to revisit the city where I was born and see it through very different eyes.
When is the Best Time to Do This Walk?
We'd consider this route throughout most of the year.
Spring and summer give you longer daylight hours and more activity along the canal.
Autumn changes the colours beside the water.
Winter has its advantages too.
With less vegetation, some of the old railway and industrial structures can actually become easier to see.
Because this is primarily an urban and canal route, you don't necessarily need perfect countryside weather to enjoy it.
What Else Can You Explore Nearby?
There's obviously no shortage of things to see in Leeds.
Leeds Dock and the Royal Armouries are particularly appropriate if you're already exploring the city's waterways and industrial history.
The city centre itself is worth spending some time exploring too.
For me, that's where many of my memories of Leeds are, although it's fascinating to see how much has changed over the years.
You can also continue exploring other sections of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal if you fancy a longer walk another day.
Explore More West Yorkshire Walks
If you've enjoyed our Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Holbeck Viaduct route, Lyn and I have personally walked and photographed plenty more routes throughout West Yorkshire.
Some are short and easy like this one.
Others take us through villages, woodland, open countryside and onto the moors.
Or browse our complete collection from across Yorkshire:
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 walking guides are based on our own experiences and combine practical information with some of the history and character of the places we discover.
We're not professional hikers. We're simply a husband and wife who enjoy getting out together, finding somewhere interesting to walk and discovering more of Yorkshire along the way.
Some routes take us somewhere neither of us has explored before.
Others have a more personal connection.
Being born in Leeds and having so many memories of the city centre makes this one of those walks for me.
It's interesting returning years later with Lyn and seeing familiar places from a completely different perspective.
Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Holbeck Viaduct Walk – Our Verdict
Our GPS-recorded Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Holbeck Viaduct Circular Walk measures 3.36 miles.
Lyn and I rate it as an easy walk.
It's relatively short, mostly level and has plenty to keep you interested along the way.
The Leeds & Liverpool Canal provides some pleasant waterside walking, while the Holbeck Viaduct and surrounding industrial buildings give the route plenty of character.
For me, there's another side to this walk too.
Leeds is where I was born, and walking around the city inevitably brings back memories of the city centre I knew when I was younger.
At the same time, doing these walks with Lyn has made me look at Leeds differently.
I'm noticing the canals, railway structures and industrial buildings that helped create the city rather than simply passing them by.
For us, that's what The White Shire is about.
Sometimes we're discovering Yorkshire for the first time.
Sometimes we're rediscovering places that have been part of our own lives.
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