Reviews of RSPB St Aidan's. (Other) in Leeds (West Yorkshire).

RSPB St Aidan's

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399 Comments

Other

Nature preserve

RSPB St Aidan's Nature Park, Astley Ln, Leeds LS26 8AL, United Kingdom

Description

Information of RSPB St Aidan's, Other in Leeds (West Yorkshire)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

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Open hours of RSPB St Aidan's

Popular times

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Saturday

Reviews of RSPB St Aidan's

S. E.

Stunning scenery & wildlife... Great a cafe with a good selection of cold & hot drinks & delicious range of cakes. Easy access for all both in the cafe & around the reserve... Toilets are kept clean too.

E. H.

Absolutely beautiful scenery, lovely to walk round (choose your route carefully, the long route is a lot further than it looks!) Plenty of parking for £4 all day, or if it's busy you can park on the road outside. Friendly staff in the little cafe which is reasonable. Lots of birds to see, depending on what time of year you go, and March - June you can hear a bittern booming which is ace. Highly recommend.

i. s.

Love this place. Choose from long or short walks. Several watery areas. Large open areas, not much shade in hot weather and can get very muddy in wetter weather. Large amount of waterfowl to see. The birds are very loud in spring.

C. S.

Beautiful location walk, ride or just sit and enjoy a coffee looking at nature. Fabulous place for wildlife photography if you are around Leeds.

H.

Lovely place to visit. Ideal for walking, bike riding as well. Great place to watch birds! Don't forget to visit local coffe and contribute towards environment😊👍🐦

E. G.

I love this place. It's accessible to a mobility scooter user like myself, mostly flat (once you get down into the basin) and there is plenty of space for everyone. Sunday was a great day for me as a birder - I took myself off there last minute & was rewarded with some great birds. For those interested, I saw a red kite, a hobby & a kestrel. The spoonbills were in their usual spot, 12 today, including juveniles. They came closer late afternoon & I got to observe them all in quite a frenzied feeding session, which was fantastic to watch. And if all that wasn't enough, I got to see a bittern not once but twice - the second time was a sweeping flight across the path that gave me a great view of my first bittern.

A. J.

A great place for a short or long stroll. The parking is ample at the entrance, but you can park nearby if there are no spaces available.

L.

Love this place for walks, there is a nice little cafe also, picnic benches, kids and dogs had a fab time, lovely!

s. o.

Another great RSPB reserve. Walked 8k around, meet some great people including the volunteers workers. Finished up with some good pictures. Top location.

L. P.

Love having this on my doorstop, great 4 mile walk around the lakes on the outer perimeter, more if you weave in and out.

C. R.

St Aidan's is my go to place to get back to nature,a wonderful walk with plenty of paths to see the myriad of birds and wildlife,a good visitor centre with knowledgeable volunteers, always the chance of a rare bird

J. G.

Came here for a walk with the kids and we loved it, Car Park was reasonably priced and there is a toilet on site as well. The kids loved seeing the birds, We will be coming back here again.

S. U.

Truly a beautiful place to go for works with family, friends kids ect. Amazing place if you just need a breathe of fresh air.

M. P. O. T.

Absolutely a great place to visit. Great for wildlife. Good walking trails. Great views.

m. B.

Beautiful place. A lot of people swim in the lake but if that's not your thing there is a beautiful walk around the lake. It is wheelchair accessible as well. There are benches all the way around the lake, so if your mobility isn't brilliant there are plenty of places to rest. Enjoy x

S. C.

Lovely place, great for dragonflies, damselflies and 🦋. It's also not too far from Cleckheaton.

S. K.

Lovely evening walk, just as the birds were settling down for the night so not quite quiet.

C. S. L. H. R.

Outstanding. Great weather, great place for nature lovers. One of the more friendlier RSPB sites that I have visited. Good paths. Various coded walks that you can do of varying lengths and times - all marked up on the map. You can walk for miles and I did! The lakes attract a great variety of birds and thus subsequently a lot of birders. Toilet block and additional loo inside the café. Has a good little café which serves hot and cold drinks, ice cream and very good cakes. Friendly staff. Good chunks of cake slabs! Decent sized car park which is free to RSPB members, but you still need to get a ticket to display in your car. You can also hire binoculars for the day and also a mobility scooter. Runs events such as family nature rambles, community muck in days and astronomical events. Birds I spotted today were coots, moorhens, kestrels, egrets, bittern and more, but the bittern was the star of the show for me. Definitely recommend and I'll revisit.

t. p.

Beautiful. As with all RSPB parks, very lovely to visit. Car park has plenty of space, there are toilets and a cafe at the entrance. The cafe overlooks the lake, so it's a great place to rest. Beware, it's very open, so you'll really feel the wind, best to visit on calm days. Most dog walkers are well behaved - on a leash or under tight control. No random poo bags or litter. Well done to those dog walkers.

G. A.

Very relaxing, plenty of seating as you walk around the water. Beautiful views from the picnic tables where you can eat your own food or food bought at the café. Worthwhile visiting.

M. S.

Lovely place to take a stroll with different routes that take different lengths of time so suitable for everyone. Parking is cheap too and there is a visitors centre where you can grab a drink and bite to eat.

P. E.

A lovely place to walk or cycle for the whole family. Car park, toilets, cafe and good, mainly level paths for walks of varying lengths around various waters and marshes with plenty of birds to be seen and heard. There is one steep path on entering and leaving the park by the main entry.

A. C.

Excellent place to visit. Full of wildlife, nice routes to walk round. The abandoned lock was a hidden bit of history.

C. B.

Take a pair of binoculars! We didn't and saw a lot of birds, you cannot get close to the habitats, but as the land is flat you can see, just not far enough. If you fancy an almost entirely flat walk of about 3 miles, this is your place. Staff were helpful and pleasant. Got some nice photos.

J. T.

What a great escape from the hustle and bustle of Leeds. Nestled in Swillington, some great walks winding around a nature reserve for birds.

H. C.

Beautiful place Easy to walk Lots of birds Wheelchair friendly Cafe only has drinks and snacks

M. S.

A lovely peaceful spot to wander and see which birds you can spot. This was once an opencast coal site, now nature has taken over and is thriving. Thanks to all the volunteers who work hard to make this such a wonderful place.

P. M.

My favourite run 🏃‍♂️ I'm not a twitcher but if you are this is the place for you.. St Aidans why have you banned swimming?

N. B.

A great place to view the return of nature to an otherwise post industrial landscape. This site is twinned with the Fairburn Ings rsserve, on the otherside of the old Allerton By Water open cast. If you buy a £5 parking ticket, you can also visit the Fairburn site as well on the same day, free of parking charges.

R. M.

It's beautiful. Lovely walks with thousands of birds. Ideal bird watchers paradise. New little cafe just across the river for snacks and cafe. The Green House worth a stop off.

J. C.

Brilliant. Plenty of paths to choose from for eaither a long or a shorter walk around the lakes. Lots and lots of birds to see and you can swim in one of the lakes! Beware of no shade though, can easily get a sunburn. There's also a Caffè and toilets open in the summer. The carpark is pay and display but cheap :)

J. H.

Lovely area for walking and for picnics, decent for cyclists too fairly flat terrain. Gorgeous views. Car parking was £4.00. There is a coffee hut and outside seating

D. G.

This is the larger and more popular of two neighbouring RSPB run locations, Fairburn Ings, is a few miles East of St Aidens. They are both located within the complex of lakes and ponds formed by opencast mining. There are footpaths that connect. St Aidens is probably more popular because there are more walks and cycling, and links with the Trans Pennine Way. Lemonroyd Marina is nearby. Bowers Lake, near the entrance, has mini beaches to set up for a picnic and recreation, very popular in warm weather of course. There are refreshments available in the Little Owl Cafe, including vegetarian and vegan options, with picnic tables outside. There is a toilet block, with disability access, open10 til 5 in the summer months, 10 til 4 winter. A walk around the numerous lakes to the opposite side brings you to the River Aire. There is paid parking, free for members, but only 90 spaces, so bear this in mind if planning a visit in the busiest periods. Income from parking and the cafe contributes to the maintenance of this valuable asset to the conservation of wildlife. If St Aidans car park is full, consider parking at Fairburn Ings as an alternative, and taking the walk to St Aidens, after exploring the former, which has its own visitor centre, shop and cafe. The free roadside parking outside St Aidens has now been removed, with double yellow lines and penalties. In summary a lovely tranquil place to enjoy the wildlife and take a walk or cycle ride. Visited again, and noticed there are now notices around Bowers Lake with the instruction not to enter the water, therefore no swimming. There are no lifeguards or buoyancy aids, so the RSPB has to be mindful of potential incidents, legally covering themselves through the notices, especially if they are ignored. My return walk through the reserve was at dusk, and was atmospheric in the half light. The St Aidans website has useful information, including details of events, including wildlife photography courses.

S.

I have lived in the area of this all my life and I didn't even know it existed until a few weeks ago. It's an absolutely beautiful place to visit. I have been walking there with my 18 month old who loves watching all the birds and the paths are great for ouch chairs and little ones and I have done a bike ride around the whole thing. There's so much wildlife to see and explore. Great place and highly recommend a visit! There is parking on site but you can also park on the road for free just outside the entrance of the main car park is busy. Footh paths and bridle ways are signposted and there are site maps dotted around too.

S. M.

Fantastic place to go for walk / bike ride. Relatively flat so was easy for the grandkids to ride round the lake. We even got a visit from one of the swans while there

M. H.

A great place to walk around and breath in the fresh air. The area is well kept. It is a pity the people do not take notice of the signs. There are plenty of "No Swimming" signs around the lake but people ignore the signs and swim. Crazy.

U. D.

It’s been amazing to see the sanctuary come together. Lovely walks and cycling. A kaleidoscope of birds and environments. The cafe is very friendly and well priced. Lots of interesting things to see and do. Reasonable amount of parking. Great to visit for all ages. I’ve been there in every kind of weather and I’m always glad I’ve been.

A. S.

Lovely and how amazing to get a reply for my review! Thank you team 💖

P. T.

Great location ,Ideal for dog walkers and photographers.

R. “. S.

Well worth a visit for the wildlife & even if you like a walk in a safe place, different tracks to walk of different distances, the birds in spring are amazing.

B. C.

Really enjoyed this nature reserve. Circular walks with different options depending on time. Good views over the water, some tracks were elevated, others at water level. The old huge machinery from the open cast mine is there, which I found interesting to look at and photograph, as well as the birds. Saw our first Stonechat, so very happy. Will return.

R. W.

Great place for a quiet stroll, lots of birdlife. Even when there are lots of people there, you can always find a quiet path to walk along. Gets a bit wet in winter but what do you expect. Boots are the way to go.😁

N. M.

Popular nature location not far from Leeds Centre. About 15 mins drive from the city centre. Beautiful location that looks to have once been a working colliery. Since converted to a bird/nature reserve. Strewn with myriad of footpaths and cycle paths, the area is split into shorter, medium and longer distance walks. There are areas to sit and take in the beauty as well as various spots to plot up with a camera and tripod to capture the many species of bird that pass through at different times of the year. There is a large car park on site, toilets and what appeared to be a gift shop and cafe. It gets very busy at the weekend and the car park was full on arrival and so I parked on the roadside outside. There is an old mining machine there which is impressively large and a reminder of the recent past when the area was a colliery. Definitely worth a visit for an easy but lovely walk.

C. C.

Very beautiful and peaceful. It's a great place for walking, and to get some fresh air with stunning scenery. 🙂

M. B.

This is a beautiful place to take a nice pleasant stroll or even a nice bike ride. The paths are well established and mostly flat so evev if you struggle to walk this is a lovely pace to visit, full of wildflowers and nature.. (many birds too of course). Take a camera, you'll not be short of something to point it at.

R. H.

Nice little walk. Great in the summer I imagine. Careful with dogs off Leeds. Lots of birds being in the weeds.

G. R.

Beautiful walk, you can walk forever and see some wonderful birds, its peaceful in parts and its best to wear boots or wellies as it can be muddy but a lovely day out.

d. l.

Gorgeous rspb reserve. Nice walking on gravel paths. Coffee shop in the visitors centre (closed due to covid) home of the odd ball dragline machine.

L.

Lovely RSPB reserve. Great for dogs or just a nice walk. Lots of bird watching opportunities and a ncie little cafe

A. H.

Brilliant walk with the flora & fauna bird life very good including butterflies & other interesting insects, great place to walk dog too. The size is massive & so peaceful

L. D.

This place is beautiful must go to, but in autumn bring wellies.

P. B.

This is a lovely and slightly unusual place for a walk. Seeing and hearing all the birds is quite remarkable. There's a good path with some benches so it seems quite accessible. We took our dog with us and he enjoyed sniffing and exploring. Some of the facilities are a little basic but good nonetheless.

S. B.

Beautiful place to spend a couple of hours walking and wildlife spotting all seasons!

M. S.

This is a lovely and unexpected find on the outskirts of the city. Feels very new and bleak at the moment, especially in the winter, but would recommend

p. w.

Absolutely beautiful & they even have public toilets open covid aware of course but if u want to escape ur stresses then this is a day out for you, plenty of birds, even cattle a beautiful lake if u listen & look u can see & hear crickets I've taken a pic of one u have to look closely such a great family day out to enjoy are lovely nature & lovely friendly staff to talk with

S. J.

Brilliant place to see nature shame about the weather with being blown about as the afternoon progressed still managed to see many species.

I. F.

Great place with 4or5 different walk toilets and a little cafe grate for the dogs will be going back

E. W. S. &. M.

Lovely place for a walk! There’s plenty of walks, lots of people swim in the ponds and do bird watching. There’s a nice little cafe and some extremely clean toilets. You have to pay for parking, but you can park on the road just outside and walk in for free.

J. M.

Good for walk and winter swimming 🥽

P. M.

Lovely peaceful nature reserve so close to Leeds/Bradford metropolitan area. Former opencast coal mine site now reclaimed and in parts flooded. Easy to spend a hours walking or cycling around the routes within the reserve. Worth a visit for a quiet summer sunny afternoon.

E. C.

Beautiful place for a walk. Good choices for different length walks.

J. S.

Really pretty place. Perfect for a walk or cycle ride. There are many different directions you can go in so it never seems too busy

J. B.

Beautiful place stunning views good for walks bike rides and joggers ..cafe there too. friendly staff very helpful ☺..update 19.02 19 they are building a small play area near the cafe should be done summer this year 😉

N. K.

Had a lovely bank holiday wander around. Lots of youngsters swimming and having fun. Paradise for dogs. Friendly helpful staff in the little cafe.

G. W.

Great place to see wildlife & birds. Nice cake in the RSPB cafe as well

L. C.

Really nice walk and good parking availability

J. K.

Fantastic place for a walk and the wildlife is great to watch

E. K.

Absolutely stunning place no matter what time of day or weather. Perfect vantage to watch the sunrise and sun set!

J. H.

Great place to walk and run and spot wildlife

L. M.

Great place for a bracing walk and bird watching and through to the canal at lemonroyd marina

C. P.

Very pleasant area good to cycle & walk round, excellent views when up on the hill & wooded area, has historically interest especially with a large excavator on show. Cafe & bird watching unit is a bonus.

R. B.

Awesome venue for walking, cycling, jogging and of course bird and nature watching. Lovely staff in the cafe but would be perfect if they served proper coffee and not the machine stuff. You can easily spend 3 or 4 hours here without realizing.

L. M.

Lovely place to walk around. Lots of different birds and various paths off the perimeter path if you want to.go further

H. K.

Very picturesque place for a walk among nature. Only discovered that this is on my doorstep after living in the area for nearly 15 years!!

P. S.

Lovely, peaceful, firm walking pathways ideal for walking, cycling, children, prams & dog walking.

J. C.

Great place for trekking, walking dog and MTBing! Plenty of trails off the beaten track to explore, plenty of wildlife to see especially in the summer with dragonflies buzzing about! Can get flooded and soft underfoot during the winter months so be prepared!

A. R.

What a great place, not only providing a home for our bird life but the recreation area is just the place for family days out, picnicking, swimming or just relaxing and it's wonderful for dogs too. Blade certainly thought so.

P. C.

Top place for a nice walk, or cycling or jogging,. Birding too. Spend half an hour here or a full day. Clean toilets and a nice cafe too, with friendly staff.

K. R.

Happiest place if you like to see birds of all descriptions beautiful walks and a lovely quiet place

p. c.

Brilliant place for a long walk and cycling. Please donate and keep the place open let's not loose a great place for nature.

S. P. H.

Absolutely gorgeous location, went on a run around the grounds truly breath taking. Would highly recommend to walkers or cyclists

R. C.

Amazing walk with many many routes.

R. R. P.

Very nice to have a walk and enjoy the local nature

m. k.

Lovely RSPB reserve wetland, my 2 year old loved to see the various birds and chasing colourful butterflies , its a lovely walk around the reserve all year round .The staff are absolutely fantastic 👏 had a lovely chat with Wilson who was quite knowledgeable and shared a lot of info about the place and the birds.!! Can't wait to go again 🙂. There is off-street parking outside the gate, but i would rather park inside the gate which is 4£ hopefully the proceeds go towards preservation of the place. I was told there is children's play area coming soon on one side of park , cafe was closed due to lack of volunteer during Covid times.Clean Toilets at entrance.

C. A.

Amazing place to come with the family and friends. Bring your swimming sorts and sunscreen. Only £4 carpark charge which is a reasonable contribution to ensure things are maintained and looked after.

T. C.

Love this place, I live close by, it's amazing to walk over and see the sunset or sunrise on a summers day. The only thing missing is a good cafe with food and drink!

B. M.

A lovely place for a walk/cycle or a horse ride. Plenty of different paths to take either around the lakes or down the side of the river, meaning you can go to the reserve a number of times without walking the same routes. You can come here for a nice peaceful outing or if you want bring a camera for the wildlife and landscapes. Fairly large car park (pay and display), free for rspb members. Toilets I believe now are available to use (last visit they were closed due to COVID) but check the website. Visitors centre is still closed due to COVID. Friendly staff are on hand in the corner of the car park during opening times for help with car parking, becoming members of the rspb etc and they sometimes have drinks/snacks available to buy.

T. M. F.

Lovely place so peaceful

S. C.

Great place for a good day out walking and enjoying nature. Little Owl cafe on site selling coffee, tea,cakes and sandwiches. Our go to place ...

C. H.

Beautiful and serene with many trail options for different scenery and lengths of sojourn. We saw so many different types of waterfowl! Trails wide, well-kept and majority flat. Nice place for rainbow-spotting...

T. G.

Great place to walk the dog. Take wellies if it's raining can get very muddy. Cafe with friendly staff and nice drinks.

C. S.

Wow what can I say about this place well its a beautiful setting with a lake and all kinds of wildlife Geese what virtually sit next to you with out a care in the world swans too many to mention. A great place to take your family for picnics or just to relax and maybe go for a swim. Although I must point out there are signs up saying no swimming but I've been twice and both times had a swim. Please visit this place you won't be disappointed

D. W.

Absolutely beautiful walk, loads of wildlife, nice and clean, walk around here almost every week.

R. J.

Great place, extremely friendly and helpful staff, perfect for a stroll, bike ride or photography. Only thing missing is a hide for bird watching.

N. H.

Great place for a wild swim. Talk to the staff there and they'll talk you through the basics of swimming there and respecting the birds.

c. j.

We had never been to St aidans and went on the spur of the minute thing when driving by it. Really big place and well organised.

K.

This is a great place to chill out and a good place to see birds

S. N.

Great walking place but also fab for wild swimming.

H. B.

Beautiful, lovely walk, has a carpark and toilets.

D.

Quiet place to see birds .The paths are well marked and very easy to walk.

C. M.

Absolutely fantastic place to visit. Paths are smooth and easy to access. There are plenty of seats. However the website says the cafe sells sandwiches. There were no sandwiches available when we visited which was a let down because we had planned to have lunch there. Next time we will bring a picnic

M. P.

Loved it, came to see the massive drag line excavator (Oddball) but thoroughly enjoyed the walk around the reserve. Must see for nature lovers.

L. M.

Great place for a walk, as short or long as you wish. Great to cycle even wild swimmers swim here. Loads of people photographing the birds. If you are lucky to get to see deer in the wilds on the hill. You have to to pay car park or park free on the road. Toad side does get busy . Or even still if you become a member of RSPB you can get joint membership with your partner for a little as £5 per month , it's for a good cause and lets you park free, it's a win win situation.

D. H.

Accessible walking routes which are close enough to see the many varieties of birds without binoculars. Toilets and a small cafe for coffee , cake or ice-cream on a warm day. V pleasant. Well done RSPB for creating this lovely visitor attraction.

C. P.

Great walk and beautiful scenery. Pushchair friendly.

N. R.

A super bird reserve. Lots of walks. The sound of all the birds is wonderful. Car park £4 or free for RSPB members gives admission to the reserve, free if arriving on foot. Recommend a visit.

S. P.

Had a smashing day lovely walk around the lakes. Saw plenty of birds which made the day.

S. C.

Best £4 I've spent recently. That's for the parking and access to the site. Toilet block on site,visitor hut with helpful staff. Get a map of the site,plenty of footpaths,it's a massive site. Walked the purple route,plenty of people about but it's that big you are pretty much in your own world. Saw plenty of wildlife,the list is endless. Even if you are not that bothered about bird spotting,it's still worth a visit. Walked the blue route high up the views are stunning. If you are after a cheap day out,can't recommend this place enough. They are plenty of picnic benches near the visitor centre. They also sell refreshments etc(Fairburn Ings is the better stocked centre for gifts etc) The footpaths are used by mountain bikes and horses but would easily accessible with a pram or buggy. The site's pretty flat,and not too strenuous. Some activities for the family running throughout the summer.

A. C.

Lucky to have this COUNTRY park on my doorstep. I hope to be able to wander around unhindered for many a year to come.

S. B.

Yet another stunning RSPB location. There's no better way to spend the afternoon with your family

J. A.

A walker’s and nature lover’s paradise. Good for a picnic too. Great geese.

D. B.

Loved it, first visit, very peaceful. And really helpful and pleasant guy who looks after it all. And love Bowers lake

S. F.

Beautiful place with excellent walking trails & fauna.

J. M.

Really nice place for a walk and a lot of birds to see here as well

M. A.

Lovely place to walk or cycle. Wildlife is okay. Carpark never seems to be open. Early days yet for this reserveand it could be spectacular.

J. R.

Beautiful place. Peaceful, good short walk maybe 1 hour 45 mins. Great for birds. can get very muddy though.

E. C.

Lovely windswept afternoon walk. Very friendly staff and volunteers in the visitor centre.

C. M.

Really good site (gravel track) for walking, cycling or robust mobility scooters. Mostly flat, with a slope down from the car park. No cover from the sun, so be aware to wear cover up clothing if you need to. The multi-pathway layout is ideal for choosing your length of 'walk'. Lots of wildlife to see.

E. O.

Lovely place for a walk, free for members or £4 per car. Visitors centre has a coffee machine (£2 per cup), a great chocolate flapjack, other snacks and a disabled loo. Wear your wellies and pack another pair of shoes to drive home in because its often muddy!

J. S.

Fantastic place for walks and bird watching

f.

Bring your wellies in the winter or a good set of walking boots as it gets pretty muddy. Lovely open walk with a massive, historic piece of mining equipment next to the car park. Walking paths are long and flat with lake and river views. You have to pay for the car park, but it goes towards the RSPB.

A. M.

Always enjoy walking here you can find real peace and its right on the doorstep which is a bonus.

L. L.

Our walking group from 59 Centre Belle Isle, enjoyed a good walk Monday afternoon & had lovely coffee after

k. b.

Wonderful place to walk and soak up nature.

D. S.

Great place for hike

M. B.

Great for walking the dog while bird and nature spotting

R. M.

Well loved and cared for ones appreciate nature. Fantastic view from the car park of the whole site, good facilities, car park is pricey for non rspb member £4 I recall. We're members but I gave a donation as it was such a good day we were never far from a kestrel, we saw marsh harrier red kite and stone chat to name a few creatures. It was very windy conditions and it exposed everywhere so wrap up in winter. A must visit when near these parts.

M. F.

Superb reserve. Great for a walk. No hides (yet) but that's a good thing.

P. J. B.

Great place to walk/run path’s good.

S. H.

Brilliant place especially for walking my two French bulldog's.

I. &. B. A.

We enjoyed a flat walk around the wetlands. There are toilets but the cafe wasn't open. We walked a little further off the path to Methley and were delighted to find the Rivers Meet cafe. Definitely worth a visit!

G. E.

Lovely place for a walk with the family and now a little cafe too

M. H.

Wonderful to see what can be done to help reintroduce nature to sites previously polluted by historical industrial use. Great facilities!

L. H.

Visited during week when it's quieter and less bikes whizzing around. Great place to walk around and capture nature at it's best. Great variety of birds. Only downside is that some dog owners, not all, allow their dogs off their leads once they are away from the reception area allowing them to run into edges of water. There are numerous signs dotted all over requesting dog owners to kindly I serve the breeding season and keep their dogs on a leash! A cycle track would be handy as there can be near misses for those concentrating on taking photos not aware a bike is about to speed around them. Bikers please don't feel embarrassed about using a warning bell and slow down near walkers.

E. D.

Brilliant place, staff are very helpful. Great place to wander around for hours , loads of wildlife.

C. S.

This is a truly lovely spot; we've been here several times before, at different times of year, and it's a real feast for the senses. However, I'd also like to commend the lovely friendly, helpful guys who were manning the car park today! All in all, it was a lovely afternoon out.

J. L.

What a beautiful place this is had a lovely ride around staff very friendly and welcoming small car park toilets and visitors centre good for bird watching

S. M.

Beautiful walk, lots of wildlife, and a few areas to sit and relax. It upsets me to see so many people swimming and letting their dogs run/swim free in a nature reserve, where there are signs saying not to do both. The little rest-stop/cafe is also quite nice, though I was surprised their water is canned? Weird.

S. G.

Lovely place to walk and dogs love it.

L. B.

St Aiden’s is a really lovely place to go for a walk. There’s plenty of wildlife and looks great in the sun and snow alike. It’s next to the river/canal and cycle path so it’s possible to get here from Leeds city centre entirely off road.

i. c.

Great place to visit if you like birds or just fancy a walk. There is always something to see and there are plenty of picnic benches.

D. P.

What a beautiful landscape. Loads of space and opportunities to walk and observe the wild fowl on the lakes. Combined our trip with one at Fairburn Ings 10 minutes away.

S. R.

So... There are free entrances and free on road parking if you don't wish to donate to the rspb

p. c.

A great place to walk round and will be even better when all the improvements are finished.

r. c.

Excellent place with informative staff. Great walks, birds and wildlife

S. H.

Excellent place for anyone interested in wildlife

M. D.

Great place to have a walk round and see a good variety of wildlife

S. B.

Lovely place to walk (and cycle I would guess). There is a small shop selling drinks, cakes and sandwiches which you can take out to a picnic area with a view. I will be returning soon to do the full 6 mile walk but there are paths everywhere, so you can walk as far as you want.

H. D.

Lovely day , took my kids bug hunting with the backpacks we borrowed from the visitor centre.

F. B.

Best place in Leeds for long walk

T. C.

Paths could do with better signage, otherwise a great place, well worth the visit

L. F.

Really nice place to walk around. The staff are really friendly and helpful, and you can buy hot drinks and snacks in the cabin. I will definitely be going back.

T. K.

Lovely peaceful place and the new cafe with deck area is a great addition. Fab birdwatching and volunteering opportunities.

K. S.

Beautiful walk, even on cold days

k. a.

An excellent place to see a wide variety of birds

P. C.

Lovely walks plenty to see. Lovely little cafe.

A. F.

St Aidans is great for lots of different things. Have always enjoyed cycling here along the canal from Leeds and having picknics on the quieter side of the reserve it's also nice to drive over pick up some RSPB badges for my collection from the visitors center and go for a wild swim in the lake. Cold in the winter but is good for you

P. T.

Interesting place, believe this was an old quarry that got accidentally flooded, now its a beautiful RSPB site.

I. H.

I was fundraising for the rspb there. And have been around the reserve myself, which is absolutely amazing. Well worth a visit, as are over a 170 off our 224 nature reserves that you can set foot on. Join us and see what we do, get free access. If you have kids or grandkids get them connect to.

K. C.

Great walks but a bit flooded, great adventurising!!!

m. p. g.

Nice place to go for a walk and a nice cup of tea and coffee ☕

M. K.

Loved this place, so many tracks with so many birds. Not crowded even though it was a busy Sunday.... plenty of space for everyone. Will be a regular place for a visit.

w. f.

Great place to walk or cycle around, the visitor centre is an interresting place and they serve hot drinks and food too

B. D.

Really recommend coming here. Lots of easy walking available, very peaceful and pleasant place. There was parking and a toilet available. Tea, coffee, ice creams and flapjack available. Late afternoon sandwiches were sold out. Plenty of seating and benches available for those eating. Staff there serving refreshments and making sure the social distancing measures were maintained, were very pleasant and friendly, too. I didn't notice much shelter, if it was raining or very sunny, but it is suitable for all ages from young children to senior citizen. Not at all commercialised either.

D. L.

Nice place, very relaxing, full of wildlife.

P. M.

Beautiful area's to walk,although portocabin style, the toilets are very clean. Nice little information centre and cafe,you can get yourself a tea or coffee and sit at the picnic tables and enjoy the glorious view.

b. y.

Great walk around the reserve, Red kites and a peregrine were just a few of the many birds that can be seen here.

j. m.

This place is amazing, the amount of birds you can see in one place is brilliant. There's paths all the way round so you can see the birds in their natural habitat.

K. C.

Great place to visit always something interesting to see

D. W.

This is a spectacular wetland reserve one of the best examples that the RSPB has. The pools themselves are breathtaking with a diversity of wetland birds such as great crested grebes, black headed gulls and tufted ducks along with a few others. The pathways through are very intricate allowing to get a view of the wildlife on offer. The staff ate helpful pointing you in the right direction of what wildlife and the best places to see it. The views of the surrounding area is also spectacular. Overall this is a place I would recommend to anyone.

S. C.

Lovely walk. Friendly staff. (Could do with a few more benches for those of us that can't walk well and need to sit often). Such a nice place for a quiet getaway and a stroll...lots of birds to watch and the paths don't interfere with their habitats.

C. G.

One of my favourite nature reserves in the UK; amazing wildlife, scenery and walk. It has some of the most friendly and passionate staff I have met. The site is completely accessible for wheelchairs albeit a bit bumpy and often muddy in winter. When visiting here do be aware of the rules and stick to the path as selfish individuals always seem to ruin it for others.

G. B.

Super place to visit, good footpaths, heaps of wildlife, space to picnic and relax, definitely be going again. If there is anything to find fault with, I would say it is paying parking fees by card, if you have a card with you and know how to make the machine work, great, if you are like us and getting on in years, cash not card is the better option.

E. E.

Love this place! Its amazing to have such a wonderful outdoor space right on your doorstep, but you feel like you are miles away! Great for birdwatching and for nice walks, plenty of trails around here!

R. C.

Great walks in a beautiful wildlfe reserve.

S. r. m.

Good place for evening walk..

S. M.

Beautiful place for bird watching or just enjoying being in nature

S. W.

Covid safe getting drinks, using benches and toilets. Used different paths to other times we have visited and saw some new birds! Some RSPB staff around pointing out and advising about bird spotting. Was a great day out in open space. When cafe fully opens that will be the icing on the cake! 🤩

G. m.

Great area for walking and biking also great place for twitchers

C. W.

Amazing place to walk your dog

M. F.

First visit, great find, well laid out , some lovely walks, Interesting site, fantastic to see it now having known what it used to look like, what a change, from a industrial mining area to a nature park. Didn't have a lot of time to explore fully, returning soon.

L. W.

Beautiful views and a great place to take the kids. Good trails and wide paths to ride bikes.

S. H.

I would come back here if I had binoculars. For the landscape, there are better places to visit. But this could nonetheless be a great day out.

P. H.

Really helpful team in the visitor centre

G. S.

Saw upto 50 species of bird in one day, an excellent spot for the birdwatcher

T. S.

Very interesting venue, with helpful friendly staff. You don't have to be a bid watcher to enjoy this site. Plenty of scope for walking, mountain biking and very welcome takeout refreshments. I went on a day of winter sun - exhilarating! Down side is the limited parking. Buses get you there as does a bike. Be kind to the village!!

D. P.

As it was late in the day, it was very quiet aside from the sound of all the birds!

W. D.

Good for cycling, running and walking. I saw some people swimming too.

i. r.

Lovely place for a very long, short or medium walk. Lots of birds to see, walks away from the reserve to let dogs off lead. Volunteers doing a great job of tidying trees and making them into barriers. Great cafe for cuppa, cake or cold drinks eat inside or on picnic benches. Pay to park or park free on roadside, toilets too. Excellent hour or hours day out!

P. L.

Great place to visit to see plenty of wildlife

j. m.

First time visitors and enjoyed the tranquillity and easy walking tracks. The young lady in the Visitor Centre was extremely helpful.

V. B.

Always a lovely relaxing place to visit. Large car park which is free for RSPB members and just £4 for the car for non-members (entry to the reserve is free). Clean toilet facilities and a nice little visitor centre selling light refreshments and RSPB merchandise. Reserve maps are also available. Friendly staff always on hand to answer any questions, advise on sightings and help to identify wildlife spotted. Well worth a visit and much of the reserve is wheelchair friendly. A place a visit very regularly.

J. L.

Great place for a nice walk

J.

Beautiful place to watch wildlife any time of the year. If you're in Leeds or nearby, go for a walk, you won't regret it.

h. w.

A wonderful place for a nature ramble. Friendly and helpful staff plus drinks and snacks to buy.

J.

A beautiful place just to walk and chill.... even though the weather today was really hot.

G. T.

Beautiful area nice 2 hour circular walk

C. T.

Hidden jewel. Wouldn't have known this place existed, if it wasn't for the RSPB. Great place to exercise, great to see wildlife and looking forward to visiting across the seasons. Nice little shops with refreshments run by knowledgeable volunteers from the RSPB..Excellent place for couples or the whole family.

C. E.

Love this place. Lovely walk round n beyond if it takes your fancy. Approx three miles if u do the full perimeter. Sometimes advised not to let your dog swim in the water due to blue black algae, i always make sure my dogs dont regardless of warnings or not. Cafe now open n ample car parking but not sure if it's free parking. Many just park on the roadside. I'm able to walk from family house.

P. K.

Great reserve for a relaxed visit, quite apart from the birds. Easy walking round the lakes, good views of the water, helpful staff and volunteers.

N. H.

Brilliant place for a restful dsy out. Close to Leeds but you would not know it. Bonus of a large open cast excavation machine at the entrance (industrial heritage photo opportunity). .

R. M.

Excellent way to spend an afternoon, complete with short eared owl.

O. W.

Stunning area, can't believe it took me so long to find out about it! Nestled between Lemonroyd Marina and Allerton-by-Water, it's a huge area of walking trails surrounded by bodies of water (old mines that got flooded I think). So many birds to see too, and a great cafe and visitors centre at the top with friendly staff.

L. H.

Visited here in Jan 2019, then again early June 2021 and it was lovely to see how it has matured from a sandy bare landscape to a natural marshy wetlands with reeds and various grasses inhabited by nesting birds. Much of the area is a cycle route which didn't seem a problem, but (...and I walk a dog) many dog walkers did not heed the RSPB request to keep dogs on leads in this bird sensitive environment. There are plenty of places to sit and eat a packed meal. The cafe was mainly snacks so don't rely on it for more than crisps and drinks. If you are a walker, or a cyclist, there are a myriad of trails. I had intended to walk from here to Fairburn Ings and back but gave up when I got to 15 miles on the map which would have been partly along the main road if not linear. I'm not sure if all the route was cycle friendly, but I didn't have mine that day. I'm not a bird watcher but there was a small crowd where a grasshopper warbler in the short vegetation making it's unique sound.

L. a. J. I. w.

Wonderful site with an amazing number of birds, we were lucky enough to see a little owl, grebe, an egret and a Mediterranean gull amongst the swans, geese and mallards. There are a handful of trails to wander along and oddball in the car park is quite a spectacle. Staff were incredibly informative and very friendly, it will be good to enjoy the facilities more once lockdown has eased again.

J. S.

Lovely place to be. We went on the bikes from seacroft to temple newsam under the motorway bridge down the canal and got to st aidens that way. Lovely pedal round. Lots of bird activity. Smooth pathways (not tarmack just stoney walkway but not big stones easy for kids scooters and prams etc etc) long distance walks can be shown on a map up near the café at the main entrance (near the digger) friendly staff that are more than willing to help and talk to you about this place. No park (swings and slides) but still a good place to go to let the kids let off some steam! Will be going again at some point.

S. G.

We always love a visit to St Aiden's. There's plenty of parking, either in the main car park, or on the road side. There's so many routes to walk, or cycle. You can do a circular flat walk, or take a bit of a hill walk. The kids love it too! This is a RSPB reserve, the place really is a bit of a birdwatcher's paradise and makes for a great day out.

L. A.

I am not sure what need buying ticket for here but I went for a walk and it is an excellent walk that I enjoyed.

J. C.

First visit to this reserve. Many different types of birds to be seen on the lakes and in the reeds and trees. Lots of newly hatched water fowl. Large site with many paths and walk ways. It's a long way round though flat apart from near the main entrance.

J. F.

A great open space. Good walks and good cafe serving sandwiches and coffees. Great outdoor space with plenty of benches to watch the wildlife. Parking is £4 but free to members.

K. R.

Great place for a wildlife walk. Plenty of bird action and a number of routes / paths to keep things interesting. Our time there was limited due to winds and flooding but we'll be back. The staff were really welcoming and very helpful.

G. B.

It is a beautiful place, no cafe till Easter, lovely walks, for photography of birds, bit disappointed as reeds to high ,not being tall doesn't help. Toilets open though 🙂

D. G.

St Aidans was full of birds, dragonflies, butterflies... goegeous day. Lots of good walks.

G.

Great place to combine two hobbies, bird watching and cycling.

S. M.

This place is massive. Great walks long and short. We went on a particularly muddy day with a pushchair not advisable... So if you are with small family members not advisable on muddy days as no suitable paths But otherwise a great few hours out. 'cafe' has tea coffee machines and pre packed cakes. Lots of birds to see 😊

n. s.

Beautiful one of our favourite places to visit.

D. D.

Lovely views and fresh air. Different distances for refreshing walks and photography

D. B.

A beautiful and large nature reserve. I’ll be making this place one of my more frequent spots to visit.

M. H.

Brilliant place to visit, only thing from stopping it being a 5 star place is there isn't any hides, but don't let that put you off because it's a belter of a bird watchers paradise, a must visit for anybody

D. J.

Didn't get there until late. Lucky toilets are open until 4. From tomorrow drinks available take out due to Corvid regulations,the picnic tables have had to be removed. There are benches around the footpaths to sit down.Lovely up there today but bitterly cold.

S. P.

Beautiful area, often go cycling here.

J. S.

A large and varied reserve with several entances and crossed by several paths. It's breeding Black-necked Grebes are the highlight but with a strong supporting cast.

A. B.

5 hours at the reserve only managed to to see 20% site is huge can't wait to go back on a plus note got a Bitten in flight ,Staff were so helpful and knowledgeable 😁😁😁😁👍👍👍

P. S.

Lovely little peaceful walk, nice to see a bit of nature

J. R.

Great walks, lots of birding. Toilets and cafe with vegan options on site.

I. B.

First time I've been here. An amazing site with a mega amount of birds. Staff really helpful. Visitors centre is useful for a drink. Be prepared to walk a long way

J. P.

Lovely place to walk cycle or horse ride. Lots of picnic benches. I would suggest you take your own picnic and get your hot drinks and icecream from the little cafe

D. “.

Great space turned over to nature 30 years after coal mining here stopped following flooding. History is not forgotten with an industrial memorial left to respect those who worked hard to mine from the second world war through to the 1980s. Paths are reasonably well maintained but subject to pot holes etc.

R. O.

Its a great place for bike rides, walking and plenty of wildlife to see.

m. w.

This place is one of wonders of this country, so much to see and listen to. The abundance of wildlife is amazing, having recently been we saw a rare Franklin Gull which originates from the west coast of America I believe. Highly recommended.

J. N.

Used to patrol here before it opened to the public. Lovely site which is absolutely massive!! Lots of wildlife but unfortunately lots of people. In my view dogs should be outright banned during breeding season because although most were controlled, there's always those few... Dragline is a sight to behold in itself. Go at quiet times and you'll love it. Go when everyone else in the world goes and it takes the sheen off it. Same as owt though really

W.

Very good place to go if you want a walk in the sun. The cafe is a bit expensive £2-25 for a can of coke. But still a good place to go 👍😁

D. H.

Lovely walk and enjoyed spotting the wide diversity of wildlife

A. M.

Lovely walk, and wildlife 😃

J.

Beautiful views and very peaceful. Lots of places to walk. Quite muddy so prepare accordingly, Lots of parking available.

L. A.

A majestic experience. Most people won't have seen marshland like this, so the park itself is worth the trip. Beautiful birds (of course) and very friendly staff.

A. L.

A peaceful place with walks and cafe. Friendly.

f. k.

Beautiful place, perfect for a family walk with kids and for those wanting to explore nature more with and start going for walks more. Staff at the entrance are very welcoming and informative. Highly recommended for families!

M. G.

Lovely place to walk, walk dogs, and especially for birdwatching. Car parking free if you're a RSPB member.

D. L.

See great wildlife and views ar beautiful

H. C.

Perfect place for a walk. Excellent paths around and between various lakes. Lovely to see birds and flowers. Visitor centre is small but has basics in food, drink and toilets with nice terrace and picnic area. Very helpful staff. Adjacent old NCB dragline excavator also fascinating.

K. M.

Great to wander around the marshes especially on a sunny day like today. All sorts of birds to watch and appreciate (bring your binoculars) It's a bit wet and sometimes muddy underfoot even though the paths are mostly gravel so remember to bring good footwear and wellies for the kids

M. S.

Nice run, even nicer swim.

B. H.

Beautiful nature reserve with plenty to see, many different walks, a shop where you can purchase hot and cold drinks from the machine.

p.

Great for a run or bike ride or if you are a twitcher your in heaven here

P. D.

Fantastic place for walking and cycling, paths are really well layed out and easy for walking with babies and children. Lots of different routes depending on your energy levels, and birds of course!

I. B.

Great for wildlife

P. H.

This is a great place to for a walk, run or bike ride. Very scenic views looking across the lakes. I can see why this is a very popular destination for bird watchers.

A. S.

Great area to walk and see the wildlife

A. V.

Has finominal wives good for cycling, running or just going for a casual walk

S. D.

Beautiful reserve, lots of wildlife to see, including stoats, rabbits, and vast amounts of different birds from ducks to hen harriers

P. D.

For the booming bitterns. Best I've ever heard. Didn't get to see one though.

S. G.

One of the best wetland areas to see a diverse range of bird life. All connected with good pathways suitable for pushchairs and wheelchair users. A pleasant day out.

o.

Lovely place to go. Went on a guided walk lots of birds to see incl Marsh Harrier and green woodpecker. Will be going again..

T. F.

Easy parking, toilets, cafe, outdoor eating area with plenty of space... Friendly, helpful staff. Good for cycling, walking, birdwatching and child friendly walks with dogs throughout area...

L.

Great walk around the reserve. Well maintained paths and good signposting.

w. b.

Amazing, beautifully kept nature reserve, something for all walks of life, lots of parking available, along the road too, definitely worth a visit!

J. C.

Didn't realise there was a lovely little cafe here, nice surprise

P. “. W. A.

Wonderfull place great dogwalking

N. H.

Fabulous place to walk with great views. Lots of different routes around the lakes so you can do as long a wall as you fancy. Maps available from the super helpful rspb staff.

A. W.

Nice and big, plenty for birdwatchers, walkers and cyclists alike!

d. j.

Lovely place for a short / long walk. Plenty of wildlife, even a bittern (first one I have seen)... recommend to anyone

j. w.

What can I say. love this place. Family and pet friendly area with cafe, great for walking, cycling, running and bird watching.

D. S.

One of my favourite places for a walk round Castleford

S. S.

Massive place to walk around and go and walk the dog - she absolutely loved it! Would say that there is limited space for parking

J. M.

Great place for everyone to enjoy young and old. Lovely setting, plenty of wildlife, local history and very friendly and helpful visitor centre staff

T. C.

A great place for a walk.

C. M.

I go bike riding there all the time, it's beautiful

s. g.

Lovely walks snd view s

M. K.

Lovely place to go lots of wild life to see and hear .... you can walk or cycle round the grounds had public toilets and a visitor's centre with drinks and snacks and staff on hand to help .....

D. M.

Lovely place to walk round, watch people wild water swimming. It's just a pleasant walk. Plenty of table's to have a drink at.

S. G.

Haven't been here but it's been recommended to us by friends who have been so will definitely be going soon.

C. S.

Wonderful place to spend an hour or so and even longer if you have time. Lots to see and easily accessible by path.

D. B.

Nice place but too many bikes and dogs running around scarring the wildlife. Better going to fairburnings.

j. a.

Beautiful location. Very well looked after. One bird photographer I spoke to on walk round said it was best place to come and she always ended up coming back. Lovely, friendly voluntary staff. Very knowledgeable. Such a great use of this area and on the doorstep

C. B.

Lovely place for a walk and lots of wildlife to spot if you're of a mind

P. F.

This was the first ever visit to this wonderful Nature Park. It was a beautiful day and topped off by a choice of wonderful walks. They have a a visitor centre and cafe and the staff are very helpful and knowledgeable in their charity!

O. T.

Stunning, especially when the sun is out. A simple, perimeter walk is available with many different offshoots and desire paths to other areas. Several bridges cross the River Aire and into neighbouring villages. Parking area is free for members but £3 if not. Bring your binoculars!

G. L.

RSPB run wetland wildlife area. Many species of bird from flocks of black headed gulls to the occasional Bittern and spoonbill. Carpark is free for RSPB members or £5 non members. Easy access for wheelchairs.

J. L.

Gorgeous little place with lovely staff and RSPB pins! Shame about the teenagers swimming when clearly states no swimming all around the area, ruined the atmosphere

J. G.

A great place to go and unwind lots to see a great place to walk with it being all hard pathways you do pay in the car park but free if a rspb member out side picnic area and toilets available

A. M.

Lovely place to go see wildlife and you can clock plenty of walking miles without walking the same paths. Rspb staff onsite really friendly and helpful.

s. d.

Great reserve for all

F. P.

Great place to go walking with the dog and lovely home made cakes at the cafe

J. T.

I love this place which I go to alot.I went here with #open country bracken bashing which was a lot of fun.The bracken although beautiful when it flowers grows like a weed and won't let anything else grow.The centre has toilets &a small cafe selling hot&cold drinks .You can also see different kinds of birds everywhere

S. w.

Great place to walk the dog with the kids and look at the beautiful wildlife

J. w.

Fantastic place to walk round relax and see the wildlife also the staff are very helpful

P. C.

Brilant walk lovely wild life

K. R.

A beautiful place to walk around in the spring and summer time, it’s teeming with wildlife and all the plants, bushes as wild flowers are all in abundance. It’s a very relaxing place. There’s also a nice spot on the north side on top of a small hill where you can grab some lunch and park yourself on picnic bench, and there’s toilets if you should need. Another thing to also point out is the reserve is situated right next to the canal on the south side so you can veer off and go for a wander down the toe path if you feel so inclined.

E. F.

Excellent conversion of an open cast mine into a nature reserve. Great place to take a stroll and observe the wildlife.

D. W.

Great for bird watchers ,walking the dogs or just for a stroll around . Busy weekends and only small pay and display,but people park on the road outside (not supposed to ).highly recommend.

D. D.

Great place some nice walks not good in bad weather it gets very boggy even the puddles are like mini lakes nice little cafe well worth a visit lots to see and hear on a good day

A. L.

Such a nice place to spend your time at. Staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. A selection of walks depending on how far you want to walk. Such a unique habitat that there are birds a plenty. Even good on drizzly days.

F. b.

Fantastic site, great walk and plenty of bird life to spot

S. -. I.

Lovely nature reserve with a huge crane of the metal type as an added curiosity. Friendly staff, and week kept grounds, recommend a visit. Drone flying not advised

C. P.

Plenty of wildlife, friendly staff.

D. H.

Excellent location, loads of birds, well kept paths, dedicated "dog" area.

S. C.

It's a wonderful experience, particularly in the sun. Egret, Grebe, Heron, Coot, Canada geese, mallards, swans and the odd rapter. RSPB staff said a Hobby had been sighted today. We didn't sadly...

J. M.

Beautiful place for a nice walk. There is a boat that sells tea, coffee and snacks. Also a nice cafe and toilets. Great for kids and fairly flat.

J. C.

Beautiful place with nice, long walks with plenty of greenery and birds to watch. The staff in hut area are nice, friendly and knowledgeable. A very pleasant experience.

G. N.

One of the best reserves in the north east if not the whole country A firm favourite of mine This and nearby fairburn ings are well worth a visit

B. J.

Beautiful place. Gorgeous walking amongst all the wildlife.

K. T.

It was ok but i only saw seagulls and swans ....

H. M.

Lovely walk today. Lots of birds and wildflowers. We accessed it fom Lemonroyd bridge. A pity that facilities are not yet open which rather curtails a visit at the moment.

T. H.

Beautiful walks . So many colourful wild flowers . Lots of wildlife . People you meet here seem chilled out and friendly .

B. A.

A fantastic walk around a flooded former open cast mine. Welcomed to the site by an extremely large walking dragline (which itself is a history lesson). Lovely gentle slopes around the site with both beautiful scenery and birds (as expected). Around the perimeter there are many blackberrying opportunities and the odd treasure of an alpine strawberry to occupy children. A small walk over the River Aire and you meet the tranquillity of the canal. Parking is £4 but free if your a member of the RSPB.

J. W.

Beautiful site. Need to go back when it's a bit warmer! Wide open spaces and important spot for many rare species.

C. C.

Lovely place for a gentle stroll or bike ride great opportunity to catch some rare birds

M. W.

Amazing space lots of walking route. £4 parking charge for the day. Happy to pay it to keep it open as an RSPB site!

P. N.

Enjoyed a good walk round. The open cast mining machine is huge. Many birds as well.

L. M.

Enjoy the ‘wellness walks’ on the last Wednesdays of the month. A friendly group of all interests & abilities stroll around Bowers Lake, with points of interest identified by the knowledgeable Rangers. Only 1.1 miles & takes about 45 minutes.

D. B.

Beautiful flat bird reserve with lots of wildlife to see. Very accessible and pram friendly.

A. H.

A brilliant place to visit to see lots of different wildlife. Great for a walk or cycle.

C. P.

Lovely walks very peaceful

M. W.

Went with family to swim in the lake where wild swimming is permitted & loved it. Then saw more of the park & was thrilled to hear a Bittern. Staff vert welcoming too

M. F.

Easy to park, £4 flat fee with card payment so reasonable as free to walk round. Masses of birds and lots of easy, flat walks. Cafe doing take away only with Covid but lots of benches around. Nice place to spend a few hoirs

S. T.

Good place for a walk and you may well see a few birds! 😁

c. h.

Lovely place friendly staff

B. C.

A lovely walk and it feels like one of those marshy places on the Norfolk coast. Worth a visit and a walk.

A. S.

A beautiful place with lovely walks on good paths. Plenty of birds and wildlife to see all around.

c. p.

Enjoyed a coffee sat in the little cafe looking out over the reserve and chatting to the rspb workers, while observing what's in the fridges and all the things about bird counts around the room.

C. m.

Lovely place. Just wish people could keep their dogs on a lead

A. M.

Great place to walk need to wear waterproof boots. Lots of different birds to see.

C. G.

My first visit - really just cycling through on a sunny December Saturday. Good wide paths (plenty of space for dual use). Good views from the top of the hill and some spectacular old opencast machinery. Wasn't particularly looking for birds; saw some ducks, but didn't get close enough to genotype them 🦆😉

s. d.

Very quiet and peaceful, lovely walks to look at nature and birds, picnic tables avaliable. Card only for the car park to pay for parking, £4.00 to non members

M. W.

An amazing place to visit. Very peaceful, lots of wildlife and a great place to go with your camera on your own or with friends

T. W.

Fabulous hidden gem

P. M.

Lovely place, lots of different walks and a lot of very noisy gulls 😆.

S. R.

Lovely place opportunity to walk, sit or cycle to enjoy the area. Don't have to be a bird love to get something out of here.

A. M.

Great place to take dogs and kids as safe no traffic shame theres not more bins

S. H.

Lovely walking dragline!

L. W.

Amazing place. We don't live far so visit almost daily with out dog

H. S.

Great site to watch birds or just walk around. Small RSPB Visitors Centre with information, snacks. Toilets.

J. P.

Absolutely love this hidden gem! Parking is £4 but so worth it. Visitor centre and toilets currently not in use but the volunteers ensure there are plenty of refreshments available to purchase. The reserve itself is stunning, it is very popular but there are so many route options that you can walk for ages without seeing anyone. We take our pram and find the routes to be very family friendly. Perfect.

M. M.

Great place. The staff were so helpful and friendly. A beautiful view from the reception. Good paths. Car park. Well worth a visit.

I. M.

Great nature reserve. Please keep your dog on a lead for the sake of the ground nesting birds

S. U.

Great place to take your dog for a walk. Nice area to sit and have lunch too!

A. A.

Fantastic place for a walk and see wild birds also a massive mining crane you must see it also Cafe on site loads of parking the kids will love it .

P. T.

Lovely day out lots of birds to see. The pathways were good and reasonably flat. Wheelchair access is good. Spotted some birds that I had not seen before. Staff very helpful and friendly. Lots more to see as we get later into spring.

D. B.

Lovely place to walk round, plenty of different routes.

C. C.

Beautiful nature reserve, perfect for picnics. Lovely staff and volunteers who are clearly passionate about their work.

w.

Beautiful place for a walk with or without a dog . Friendly staff and helpful

I. Y.

This site has developed into a high quality birding site with excellent variety of water levels creating lots of opportunities for viewing a variety of species at most times of the year

A.

Fabulous place to cycle to and walk around.

C. G.

A really nice place. Great for dog walking and wildlife spotting.

C. “. H.

Always love a trip to St Aidens. Always try the car park first and if there is a space pay for parking - otherwise the place wouldn’t exist! Too many folk park on the road.

M. L.

Great site with sign posted walks

A. K.

A great place for everyone to enjoy, walking, jogging or cycling as well as bird watching!

m. g.

Cracking spot great escape from it all so big your never in a crowd loads of seating dotted around birds you don't see anywhere else or I don't anyway love it here been a regular visitor for 7 years now

D. W.

A large RSPB nature reserve, although we walked for several hours while watching out for birds there were still paths that we had not walked by home time.

D. S.

First time we visited even though we live locally. A vast area full of interest - some very fascinatingbirds! We will definitely come back for another visit.

r. l.

Very nice nature reserve Great for bird watching, when I visited Black necked grebe Franklin's gull red kite.plus lots of other birds

T. L.

Great place for a walk, can get a bit muddy after rain so good boots in order.

A. R.

It's a great place to take the kids on there bikes very enjoyable.

I. M.

Such an interesting place. Lots of history superb easy walking miles of gravel paths lots of insects birdlife and waterways to pass a day out

P. R.

Lovely area to have a walk, and lots of birds for the bird watchers. Will be going back again.

W. J.

If you like nature walks, this is the place for you. The RSPB have made this area into a fantastic nature reserve. Huge variety of birds to see and different walks to chose from. Loved it.

C. R.

Great place for a walk . Take in all the sights and sounds of the wildlife reserve. Very well sign posted . Theres a little cafe and toilet facilities next to the car park.

D. H.

A lovely place to walk around with paths in all directions

N. S.

Lovely walk and picnic area, we watched Red kites flying low over the hay field.

P.

Beautiful area for a family walk with shorter and longer route options depending on ability and preference.

S. B.

Great place to visit

J. L.

Great please to walk.

K. P.

Great place for a walk, pram friendly. Hot drinks and snack available at the visitor's centre.

P. S.

Lovely little retreat surrounded by nature

S. m.

Lovely walks, clean facilities, snacks and hot drinks.

F. C.

Lovely RSPB Reserve. Great walks throughout and plenty to see. Staff were excellent.

A. L.

Brilliant place. Can get very muddy so wear wellies if weather has been wet.

M. P.

A lovely place to visit. Lots of walks and very peaceful.

D. B.

Lovely walks in all kinds of weather, easy, plenty of wildlife, nice cafe, easy to find..

I. T.

Great place for a walk around the lakes whether you're a bird watcher or not.

J. H. n. b.

Had a very good afternoon here lovely walks and plenty of birds,nice cafe very helpful staff.lovely place.xx

J. D.

Great open space, birds, lake, friendly staff, helped with any issues

P.

Amazing nature park - free to enter - lots to see - good walks and visitor centre sells ice cream etc

k. 3.

A nice park to spend some time with your family

J. M.

Stunning nature reserve, the staff were so welcoming and informative

g. e.

Great walks just selfish idiots of an age to know better who think it's OK to swim in the lakes that are there for the wildlife.

B. W.

Great place to visit. Walking and seeing the wildlife.

T. H.

A beautiful reserve, with great walks and an abundance of wildlife, with geese swans and some wonderful birds of prey, a highly recommended visit.

C.

The most amazing place.. Minutes away from all major routes and a wonderful escape with walks for all types of people. Super helpful staff in the RSPB office too!

M. R. (. G. M.

Beautiful place to sit in the sunshine, feet in the water, great day, who needs the coast when you have this on your doorstep!

C. H.

Always such a wonderful place to visit. It's almost impossible to believe it's been re-purposed from an open cast mine.

S. R.

Stunning place to walk round or even swim if your brave enough

V. C.

Beautiful views and great paths for walking

L. D.

Beautiful place to take your family. Even if your not a twitcher. Lovely walks around the lakes

J. S.

Lovely visit to this new reserve - lots of helpful staff keen to chat and offer information. Limited facilities so far but has the essentials and not overly busy as a result of this.

A. R.

It's a nature-filled big wide open space! Great for walking, riding and relaxing. Toilets, refreshments, parking and currently being built is a children's play area - what more could you want?

J. B.

This is a lovely little RSPB reserve, good parking or access from the canal. Friendly staff as always. Nice place for a walk, run or cycle.

J. C.

Excellent place for a walk with the family, wide open space and good footpaths

R. A.

It was our first time here. Wow a beautiful place. You can walk, bike ride. Lots of routes. There is tea, coffee and snacks. Seating inside and out. We had a cup of tea and piece of cake. Yummy. Will definately be going back.

P. P.

Fantastic place for a walk with plenty of birds along the way

p. c.

Great place for getting back to nature, some great well maintained walks around the lakes.

M. D.

Great spot for a walk.

A. L.

Stunning place to be in summer. Very peaceful and beautiful place for family walks/runs.

m. h.

Great nature reserve to visit for a walk. My first visit but will definitely be back.

I. L.

Lovely place, very helpful staff member welcomed me and my dog, giving out map and leaflet and warning about a naturally occurring algae bloom. I don't know much about birds, but there were loads there! Recommend a visit.

s. t.

Lovely place. Quiet peaceful lots of walks

H. P.

Beautiful place. We stumbled across the park accidentally having set off on a walk along the canal. Wow, so peaceful tranquil and stunning views. I'm not a bird watcher as such but have always enjoyed observing ducks, swans etc and there was plenty of opportunity for that. Looking forward to this becoming a regular walking place and next time will try the cafe, the cake has been recommended.

K. W.

Great place to walk the dog. See lots of lovely wildlife. Ample parking. Mostly path, so accessible even when muddy.

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