The Townclose Hills Local Nature Reserve is a rural park in the village of Kippax with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The park’s diverse range of flora and fauna is spread across a patchwork of terrains, including meadows, grassland and woods. Go for a hike with your family along the crisscrossing paths that meander through this 64 acre (26 hectare) reserve.
Appreciate the tranquility amid the wilderness of the serene park. Ascend to the top of the reserve’s magnesian limestone hill for an excellent vista of the surrounding flatlands. You’ll also stumble upon scrubland and wildflower meadows, which boast orchids and clustered bellflowers in summer.
Make your way through the dense woodland and notice the sycamore, hawthorn and wych elm trees. Among the range of animals that call this area home are butterflies, woodpeckers and cuckoos. On summer nights, see how glow worms light up the forest.
Chat to some of your fellow walkers and play with their dogs. Cycle or jog along the so-called Lines that run along the flatter parts on the side of the park’s hills.
At the southern end of the reserve, you’ll find the Kippax Leisure Centre. Participate in the array of activities and make use of the facilities, which include a swimming pool and a basketball court.
Note that the park is open to the public for free at all times. It is known by locals as the Billy Wood. Wear appropriate shoes to tackle the steepest parts of the hills and watch out for cracks in the limestone rocks.
The Townclose Hills Local Nature Reserve is by the village of Kippax, a little east of Leeds in Yorkshire. Drive east from central Leeds for 10 miles (16.1 kilometers) and leave your car in the Kippax Leisure Centre parking lot. Go to nearby sights, such as the Great Preston Snooker Club, Kippax Park and St. Mary C of E Church.