Top Rated Parks to Visit in Scarcroft

"With over 700 acres of paw-pounding space, Roundhay Park is one of the UK’s largest urban green spaces–making it a top hit among dog owners in Leeds. Its asset is the variety of terrain: there’s open space for ball-chucking, woodland trails rich in sniffing opportunities (because sometimes a good boy needs more than bottoms), Waterloo Lake for hot-day dips, a steep climb up to the castle if a proper calf-stretch is required, plus the ‘secret gorge walk’–a 2.7km route to find a beautiful hidden waterfall. Look out for dog-themed events, too, such as the Yorkshire Dachshund Group’s annual Christmas sausage walk."

"You’ll find one of the biggest parks in Europe three miles north of Leeds city centre. Roundhay Park is a beautiful outdoor space that covers a massive 700 acres, with landscaped gardens, rolling parkland and two scenic lakes. It’s a great place to get back to nature, but you’ll also find a few man-made attractions here that are just as worthy of your time – think adventure playgrounds, sports pitches, tennis courts and a skate park."

"Landscaped by Capability Brown, Temple Newsam has 1,500 acres of grounds for you to explore, with stunning vistas and scenic walks. The Menagerie Ponds are one of the highlights. Each has a different personality – the first is surrounded by parkland, the second by perennials and the third by the bamboo garden."

"Another impressive country house close to the city centre, Temple Newsam may not have penguins, but its grounds are particularly lovely to walk around. Time your visit for spring to coincide with meeting the new born lambs and piglets at Home Farm. Temple Newsam | © Tim Green / Wikimedia"

"With a name like Golden Acre, this even sounds like a winning park for dogs–and it doesn’t disappoint. There are 136-acres on offer, which in doggy terms means space to christen at least 71 tree trunks. In between planted areas, there is vast parkland, woodland, fields, wildflowers, ponds, and a lot of well-maintained paths to walk along."

"Housed in a majestic stone building with pillars reminiscent of the Parthenon in Greece, sits one of the best collections of archaeology and geology in Europe. Ranging from prehistoric natural history, through ancient Roman treasure and up toward the modern-day, this is a great early stop on your exploration of York. Arm yourself with knowledge of the history that makes this city so special, and watch as every subsequent attraction comes to life with your new understanding."

"Visiting the Museum Gardens is yet another free activity to do in York. On a nice, summer’s day you can bring a picnic here and relax on a bench or the grass. You can also explore the ruins of the medieval St. Mary’s Abbey, or simply visit The Yorkshire Museum."

"Rodley Nature Reserve is a nature reserve dedicated to bringing wetland wildlife back in the area of Leeds. With regular sightings of different birds like owls, kingfishers, kestrels, lapwings and many others, you would certainly enjoy traversing the different paths that they have and be closer to nature through the amazing sights that they offer. A hidden gem, this wetland reserve can be considered a haven that offers a relaxing tour and walks around the area."

"Perfect for a nice walk to escape the city’s frenzy for a few hours.Moss Bridge Road, Rodley, Leeds LS13 1HP"

"Enjoy a little fresh air with an invigorating walk around Chevin Forest Park, a short drive from Leeds overlooking the town of Otley. The walk shows off the best of Yorkshire’s natural scenery, taking in dramatic views, rocky outcrops and moorlands scattered with beautiful purple heather."

"The clue’s in the name: this sturdy Regency country house is an Eden for green fingers. It’s set among 300 acres (121ha) of woodland and glorious landscaped gardens. In spring, you’ll encounter blazes of azaleas and ruby rhododendrons – no wonder honey from Rudding Park’s bees is on the menu at the funky Horto Cafe."

"Nature-inspired fine dining with seasonal ingredients from the kitchen garden. Enjoy contemporary fine dining in stunning surroundings @hortoatrp #food #oxtail #finedining #foodie #instafood #horto #harrogate. A post shared by Rudding Park (@ruddingparkhotel) on Feb 21, 2018 at 1:17am PST"

"With easy access to the M62/M1, this stylish 4-star hotel is just 6 miles from Leeds centre and the new First Direct Arena. Thorpe Park Hotel and Spa, part of Thwaites Hotels and the AA hotel group of the year, features a modern spa and leisure centre, boutique-style bedrooms and a creative restaurant. All rooms have free WiFi, tea/coffee making facilities, complimentary fresh milk and mineral water in your fridge, and each has a modern bathroom with a bath and walk-in shower; plus a hairdryer and fluffy bathrobes."

"Last but certainly not least, Thorpe Park Spa Leeds, a colossal Leeds hotel and spa. This Leeds spa isn’t shy when it comes to its facilities, we’re talking seven treatment rooms, relaxation lounge, manicure & pedicure stations, swimming pool, colour therapy sauna, steam room, indoor whirlpool, outdoor terrace and even afternoon tea!. The rooms all provide a reassuringly comfortable and relaxing environment and even come with biscuits and refres­hments!"

"Rounding out the top ten, Thorpe Park is popular among visitors for its spa facilities, with the professionalism of the staff also getting praise from reviewers. Ratings correct as of April 2019. LeedsLive has launched a WhatsApp group to keep you up to date with the latest news!"

"Tilly Peppers is a family run café, serving fresh yummy food and great coffee. Our aim is to make you feel at home."