Overview
The Bramley Falls Wood 5km is part road and part canal run, the route takes in the edge of Bramley Falls Wood. This run route is both technically challenging and visually appealing because of the range of terrain it covers. You’re never settled into one rhythm on this run route!
Wanting to find your way to the start of the route? Here is a link for a Google Maps Directions page.
This route has a distance of 5.3km and an elevation gain of 108m.
The largest non-stop incline begins in the final third of of the route, and has a distance of 271m and an elevation gain of 27m. You can see this on the above elevation chart in red.
The largest continual decline is 560m long with an elevation drop of 29m which starts within the first kilometre of the route. This is shown on the chart as green.
Route Highlights
One of the biggest highlights of running the Bramley Falls Woods 5km route is running the canal towpath. The Leeds Liverpool Canal is a hotspot for boating, wildlife and general outdoor relaxation. If you take a slight detour off Pollard Lane you will come to Fallwood Marina - a gorgeous spot where all the boats are moored.
Best Time To Run
One of the best times to run the Bramley Falls Woods 5km is in early spring when the wildlife and plant life are beginning to bloom. Expect to see a wide array of birds and wildflowers.
Route Description
Start the Bramley Fall Woods 5km on the Aire Valley towpath behind The Hollybush Café. The first part of this route is a gentle incline on the canal side path. Continuing your run you will pass Newlay Locks and take a sharp left up onto Pollard Lane. This is one of the toughest sections of the route because it’s a long hill climb!
The final stretch of the route brings you across the top of Bramley Fall Woods, and then back down the Leeds and Bradford road at a steady decline. The route finishes with a gentle downhill.
Warnings
In the winter or after sustained periods of rain you will need to tread carefully when running the towpath as it’s guaranteed to get boggy. And be careful of cars on the Leeds and Bradford road section of the run.
Location
Bramley Fall Park & Woods is a native woodland and attached park situation alongside the Leeds Liverpool canal just outside of the city centre. The wood is over 10,000 years old!
Bramley Fall Woods was one of the biggest Quarries in Leeds. Stone from the site dates back to the 12th century. Stone from the Bramley Fall Woods quarry has been used in many of the older building in Leeds. These include Leeds Town Hall, Kirkstall Abbey and the Corn Exchange.
To find out more about Bramley Fall Woods, take a look at Discover Leeds.
If you like running in this area, why not take a look at some other routes in similar areas. This route went through: Kirkstall.
Amenities
There are no toilets anywhere along the Bramley Falls Wood 5km. The nearest toilet you can access from the run route is at the Abbey Inn. You will find the Abbey at the bottom of Pollard Lane.
Parking
The best place to park up for the Bramley Falls Wood 5km is along Bridge Road at the Kirkstall Bridge Shopping Park. There are plenty of free parking spaces here. Follow the postcode LS5 3BL or via the Google Maps Link
Food and Drink
If you park at the Kirkstall Bridge Shopping Park, there are plenty of opportunities for a coffee in the area. However, we would recommend you sack off Starbucks and pop into The Hollybush Café, located near the start of the route.
