Rothwell Circular Walk
- Michael Palmer
- Jul 28
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 4
Rothwell Circular Walk – 4.19 Miles in West Yorkshire
Looking for an easy circular walk near Leeds? This 4.19-mile Rothwell Circular Walk explores Rothwell and the surrounding West Yorkshire landscape, combining an easy walking route with an area shaped by centuries of local history and coal mining.
Lyn and I personally walked, photographed and GPS recorded this route for The White Shire. We found it to be an easy and enjoyable walk, making it a good choice if you're looking for a relatively short circular walk around the Leeds and Rothwell area.
If you'd like to find another route after this one, discover more West Yorkshire circular walks or explore our full collection of Yorkshire circular walks.
Rothwell Circular Walk at a Glance
Distance: 4.19 miles
Time: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
Route type: Circular
Difficulty: Easy
Ascent: Approximately 375 ft
Location: Rothwell, West Yorkshire
Area: Leeds
Recorded using: Komoot GPS
Walked and photographed by: Michael and Lyn Palmer, The White Shire
About the Rothwell Circular Walk
Rothwell sits to the south-east of Leeds and has plenty of green space and countryside on its doorstep, making it a good starting point for a relatively short circular walk.
At just over four miles, we found this to be an easy route and one that can comfortably be completed in a morning or afternoon.
It's also an interesting place to explore because the landscape around Rothwell tells the story of this part of West Yorkshire, from its medieval past to the coal-mining industry that shaped the lives of generations of local families.
Rothwell: A Brief History
Rothwell has a history stretching back many centuries.
The town developed into an important local settlement and market town, with surviving historic buildings providing reminders of its past.
Rothwell's location between Leeds and Wakefield also placed it within an area that would later become heavily influenced by industry, particularly coal mining.
Today, the combination of the old town, surrounding countryside and former industrial landscapes makes Rothwell an interesting place to explore on foot.
If you enjoy discovering the history and heritage of the places we visit on our walks, discover Yorkshire attractions and historic places to visit.
Medieval Rothwell
Rothwell's medieval history can still be seen in some of the town's surviving buildings and landmarks.
Holy Trinity Church has medieval origins, with parts of the building dating back many centuries.
Rothwell was also associated with a medieval manor and royal hunting lodge. John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and one of the most powerful figures in medieval England, is among those historically associated with Rothwell.
The town later developed as a market centre, strengthening its importance to the surrounding villages and agricultural communities.
Rothwell and its Historic Buildings
Several historic buildings survive around Rothwell and provide clues to the town's long history.
One of the most distinctive is the Market House, which dates from the 16th century.
Holy Trinity Church is another important landmark and stands on a site with a long religious history.
Together with Rothwell's older streets and buildings, these features provide a reminder that the town's history stretches back long before the industrial development for which this part of Yorkshire later became famous.
Rothwell's Coal-Mining Heritage
Coal mining played an enormous role in Rothwell's more recent history.
Coal had been extracted around Rothwell for centuries, initially through relatively simple mining methods before larger collieries transformed the landscape.
Rothwell Colliery became an important local employer and formed part of the wider network of pits that once dominated communities across West and South Yorkshire.
Mining at Rothwell Colliery finally ended in 1983.
The closure marked the end of an important chapter in the town's industrial history, but the former mining landscape has since been transformed.
Rothwell Country Park
One of the most positive changes to the former industrial landscape has been the creation of Rothwell Country Park.
The former colliery site was transformed into a large area of green space, with woodland, grassland, ponds and paths providing habitats for wildlife as well as somewhere for local people to walk and enjoy the outdoors.
It's a good example of something we see regularly on our Yorkshire walks: landscapes that were once dominated by heavy industry gradually returning to nature.
That mixture of industrial heritage and countryside is one of the things that makes walking around former Yorkshire mining communities so interesting.
Is the Rothwell Circular Walk Difficult?
No. Lyn and I found the Rothwell Circular Walk to be an easy walk.
At 4.19 miles, it's a manageable route for anyone looking for a shorter circular walk around Rothwell and the Leeds area.
There is approximately 375 ft of ascent over the complete route, so although there are some changes in elevation, we wouldn't describe it as a difficult walk.
As with any countryside route, conditions can change considerably after prolonged rain, so sensible walking footwear is always recommended.
How Long is the Rothwell Circular Walk?
Our GPS-recorded route was 4.19 miles and took us approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete.
Your own walking time may be longer depending on your pace and how often you stop to take photographs, look at the scenery or explore points of interest along the route.
There's certainly no need to rush it.
Where is Rothwell?
Rothwell is situated in West Yorkshire, approximately south-east of Leeds city centre and close to places including Oulton, Woodlesford, Carlton and Robin Hood.
Its location makes it particularly convenient for people looking for circular walks near Leeds, Wakefield and the surrounding West Yorkshire area.
Is Rothwell a Good Place for Walking?
Yes. Rothwell has a surprisingly good mixture of countryside, green spaces, former railway and industrial landscapes and walking routes.
The transformation of former mining land into areas such as Rothwell Country Park has also created opportunities to explore landscapes that have changed dramatically within living memory.
For us, that's part of the enjoyment of walking around Yorkshire – you're not simply getting some fresh air and exercise; you're often walking through hundreds of years of local history.
Explore More of West Yorkshire
If you've enjoyed discovering Rothwell, there are plenty more places for Michael and Lyn to take you around this part of Yorkshire.
Discover more West Yorkshire circular walks and find another personally walked, photographed and GPS-recorded route.
Explore our full collection of Yorkshire circular walks covering routes across West, North, South and East Yorkshire.
Discover Yorkshire attractions and places to visit, including historic buildings, villages, countryside destinations and heritage sites.
Planning another day out? See what's on in West Yorkshire and discover events, shows, festivals and other things happening across the area.
You can also discover Yorkshire businesses and local services through The White Shire's growing Yorkshire business directory.
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.
Their walking guides combine first-hand experience with practical route information, local history and the character of the towns, villages and countryside they discover along the way.
Rothwell Circular Walk
View our GPS-recorded Rothwell Circular Walk on Komoot to see the route, distance and elevation profile and use it to help plan your own walk around this part of West Yorkshire.
Rothwell Circular Walk
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