Community reporter Iola Shaw continues her West Leeds Walks series by taking a stroll from Armley to Gamble Hill.
This walk is just over 4km and runs from the Armley Moor bus stop (nos 15, 16, 16A and 86) on Armley Town Street, to Bramley Town Wnd with access to lots of busses including the 16, 16A or 86 straight back to the start.
The walk is along streets and paths roughly tracking the route of the railway line with some random things to look at or explore a bit further, depending on what catches your eye. It takes around an hour of walking.
This is the route map from my Strava, and it’s also on the OS Ap as “WLD 2 Armley to Gamble hill stone circle”.
I started this walk by having a sandwich in the park with 2 names on the corner of Armley town street and Wortley; some people call it Moor top, others call it Little Moor.
I bumped into the Commoner’s Muck gardening club Friday afternoon group working hard. It turns out they meet every week and have been reclaiming the park after it got very over grown a few years ago.
Michelle Gittins from the Armley Common Right Trust explained that it was one of the many activities they lead in Armley – their facebook page has all the details of upcoming activities.
I stayed on track and set off on my walk rather than joining the gardeners. After taking in the park turn left onto Town street towards Charlie Cake Park, (also looked after by the Commoner’s Muck group). Investigating the seat mosaics were a reason to have an extra loop around the park.
Leave the park at the far end and cross Green Hill Road to walk up Heights Lane, with the Dixons Unity Academy playing field on the right.
Go past Heights House – that definitely looks like a remnant of when this was all fields.
At the end of the road you go over the railway for the first time –take the first right after the bend and go along the top pavement along Heights Way – if you keep looking left there are great views across the valley between the houses – turn right after no 72 up the little ginnel and steps.
It looks a bit overgrown but these paths only stay open if we walk them, and you are straight back over the railway.
My inner six year old was very exciting that trains went both ways as I paused on the bridge – although I could only “see” them in my phone screen as these bridges have very high sides.
There’s a litte S bend in the path and then you see a left turn you need to take – do not carry on walking all the way with the playing field now on your right (unless you want a massive detour, I think the briars grow into the path very quickly).
This short path pops you out on St James Mews, follow this round, keeping rightish onto St Mary’s Park Approach and take the path across another pocket park. This has no name, and when you get to the end take the next little path across the road to your left which takes you through the slightly over grown area (bet there are some great blackberries here in August) to the back of the Poplars.
If you keep left like I did the path gets a little tired, as the paving slabs need some serious TLC but you will be very close to the railway, sadly no train flashed by, or take the right fork and the more worn route down by the flats.
Do pause and appreciate the long avenue feeling as you look across the Allotments.
After 100 yards look to your left after you have passed Poplar Court and follow the path down this way to go under the railway – this crossing has a dramatic view across the valley through the underpass and you can see old stone and brickwork
Turn right straight away after you come out of the underpass – if you head down the path with the quirky people holding up the railings you will head off towards the Farnley balancing reservoir and a whole different set of walks.
Follow the little path to pop out on Greenthorpe Road and look left for a stunning view before turning right up the hill and following the road until you get to the little ginnel just after number 13 and before a bus stop.
Go right here and you go back under the railway with a totally contrasting underpass that couldn’t be more functional and undramatic if it tried. Look right as the path takes you through the allotments to see a different view of the Poplar flats.
Take the next left that you can and you will shortly find you are coming out onto Henconner Lane opposite the Leeds Bacon Company, cross the road and turn left to go straight back under the railway – look up and around and you will see just how different this bridge is as it’s like a blend of the last two. The number 15 bus is always a single decker due to this!
Turn right onto Queensthorpe Avenue, and when you reach Gamble Hill Road keep straight on across the path, past the corner shop then turn left and then take a right.
If you take the first right you will end up coming out onto the grassed area at the top and you need to walk diagonally across the grass on the left to reach the Gamble Hill stone circle.
If you have gone further down the hill you will have to walk a little bit back up the slope.
I have no idea how these ended up here, despite searching for the story.
I discovered them when doing deliveries on the estate in covid time so was delighted to find they feature in this project, along with some of the views from the top of the flats I remember from those days. Not the most dramatic stone circle but the views are great!
Loop back towards Gamble Hill Drive – cross the grass and head towards the tall blocks of flats and head between the Gamble Hill Grange and Croft blocks of flats to reach Gamble Hill Drive.
Take the little path on your left after the garages and before you get to the bus stop on the bend.
This is the last little footbridge over the railway you are going to take. It curves around in an S bend and you come out on Henconner Lane by the bus depot.
Keep walking up the hill till you reach Bramley Town end and there is a bus stop – to go back to Armley cross over and use the one by the petrol station.
If you prefer you can keep going over the roundabout and end up at the Barley Mow on Bramley Town Street for some light refreshment before heading home.
It’s thriving again now after a rocky ride through the last few years, and is particularly important to lovers of Rugby League.
- If you would like a park you look after to be part of a West Leeds walk, please send details to news@westleedsdispatch.com.
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