You have to really love to walk to take the kids with you. Or rather the kids really need to share your passion! We love a good hike, but unless we keep the kids absolutely motivated it definitely decreases the fun on the funometer unless there is plenty to keep their attention and stop them from getting bored. In and around Bradford, you’re lucky, because not only are there some great walk that take in the unmistakeable beauty of West Yorkshire, there’s also other activities that you can bribe the kids with especially if you make them your final destination!
A great city centre walk in Bradford that the young ones will love is the sculpture trail which takes you all over the city and is therefore a surprisingly good hike. There’s some really interesting sculptures on route and the kids ought to love finding them and taking the lead on this walk.
Saltaire is just outside of Bradford and is a great area for some countryside walks as well as activities for all the family. Saltaire is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the Salt Mills there house over 400 of David Hockney’s fabulous artworks. Saltaire is also right on the Leeds Liverpool canal which is a really fun walk especially as you spot the boats chugging by. Just be aware that for pushchairs this route isn’t really recommended.
Bradford and surrounding area is rich with history. Taking in a walk that encounters old heritage buildings can be fun for kids, so look into hikes that pass by old mills and strange historic monuments.
If you’ve got kids you probably want to stick to fairly easy routes such as the Hardcastle Crags Walk from New Bridge to Hebden Dale, Bride Stones Walk where you will see the amazing grit stone outcrops and Haworth Moor, home for the setting of Wuthering Heights. You are still looking at a couple of hours walk for these routes so be armed with child friendly snacks and some good walking games.
Enjoy!
