Shipley Glen and Baildon Moor

The route

Start at Saltaire and make a 12.7km loop through Shipley Glen and onto Baildon Moor, linking the Leeds-Liverpool Canal towpath, the woods of the glen and the open moor above. It is a route of real contrast: flat, fast canal one moment, rocky wooded ravine the next, then open moorland with a trig point and a view. For a route so close to Bradford, it packs in a surprising amount of variety and greenery.

The glen and the moor

Saltaire is a Victorian model village and World Heritage Site, built by Titus Salt around his great mill on the Aire. From it the route climbs the wooded gorge of Shipley Glen, a rocky, tumbling ravine that has drawn day-trippers for well over a century and still runs a tiny cable tramway. Above lies Baildon Moor, a shoulder of gritstone and heather with a trig point and wide views over Airedale, Wharfedale and the Bradford fringe. Roberts Park, the canal and the River Aire tie the lower half of the loop together.

Why it works

This is a route for a varied day close to the city. The canal and park sections are easy and fast, the glen is rocky and characterful, and the moor gives a genuine top-out with a view. Navigation is mostly straightforward but the moor needs a little care in cloud. It suits a steady run, a loop with company, or a first mix of trail and moor. The glen paths are rocky and slick when wet, the moor holds water, and the towpath is shared with cyclists and walkers, so take care throughout. Saltaire has cafes, the mill galleries and a station, making it an easy and rewarding base. Come on a clear day for the Baildon Moor views, and it is hard to believe you are only a few miles from the middle of Bradford.