Most of the photographs on this page are by kind permission of local photographer Malcolm Eldon. If you would like to see more of his wonderful work please visit his Facebook page.

Keighley (Redcar) Tarn is a small lake on Steeton Moor above Keighley and the Aire Valley. The site consists of 6 acres of water surrounded by a level tarmac path. Ample parking is provided alongside the road. If you want to measure your walks, this is an ideal location. Three laps of the Tarn measure one mile. The entire path is level and there are no gates or stiles to interrupt your walk. The trees and bushes around the perimeter of the tarn are home to many common songbirds and other more rare breeds such as Canada goose, mallard, black-headed gull, coot, tufted duck, black-backed gull, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, robin, carrion crow, herring gull, Caspian gull, lapwing, blackbird, magpie, greylag goose, goldeneye, teal, cormorant, grey heron, common tern, pied wagtail, mistle thrush, song thrush, coal tit, wren and starlings. Bus services 710 & 716 to Raynham Crescent from Keighley bus station. For more information visit https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2088/keighleytarn.pdf

Holme House Wood - Birds seen include sparrow hawk, great spotted woodpecker and dipper. The main canopy of the woodland comprises of sycamore, beech, ash with lesser amounts of oak and birch. The shrub layer is sparse but includes holly, hawthorn and hazel. Use the bus service: 502, K1, K16 for Laycock and Fell Lane. For more information visit https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/higher-lower-holmes-house/

Park Wood is located very close to Strong Close, south of the Aire valley, on the east side of Keighley. Rising steeply from the valley floor to the highest point at almost 220m. The wood has commanding views over Keighley and the Aire valley, and is visible from much of Keighley town centre. The woodland is classified as partly ancient semi natural woodland and partly plantation on ancient woodland. Roe deer are spotted frequently, badger tracks have been spotted and foxes heard. For more information visit http://www.park-wood.co.uk/walks.html

Cullingworth and The Great Northern Railway Trail -visit Goit Stock woods and waterfall or follow the Great Northern Railway Trail which is a beautiful route on the National Cycle Network taking in not one but two spectacular viaducts, making it the perfect day out in this beautiful corner of the Bronte country. A regular bus service 67 and 68 runs between keighley and Cullingworth. For more information visit https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/great-northern-railway-trail/ and https://yorkshiretots.com/goit-stock-waterfall-walk-yorkshire/ and https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2039/goitstockwoodsandhardenbeck.pdf

Low Wood Nature Reserve is an attractive, secluded woodland which is notable for its beautiful spring displays of bluebell and foxglove, coupled with occasional sightings of badger and roe deer. The bus service K13, K17, K19 from Bradford to Keighley stops at Grange Road, Riddlesden. For more information visit https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/low-wood-nature-reserve and https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2039/goitstockwoodsandhardenbeck.pdf

Harden Moor. Being an open country parkland, Harden Moor is accessible all year round. It has a bridleway that runs along the northern edge of the moor, which also crosses Keighley Road at the eastern end of the moor and runs into Altar Lane. This then goes past Druid's Altar and takes the walker or mountain biker down to Bingley along the northern edge of St Ives Estate. Part of the bridleway crosses into St Ives further south as part of the Keighley leg of the Calder/Aire footpath. Harden Moor is bounded on the west and east by local unclassified roads which have car parks or parking available. The moor is accessible on foot via Hainworth Shaw from the north, St Ives Estate in the east and on pathways from the south through Ryecroft and Harden. Use bus routes 616, 619, K19. For more information visit https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2086/hardenmoor.pdf

Cliffe Castle is a beautiful park situated next to Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley. Formal and ornamental gardens surround the house.  There is a small woodland, play area, aviary, small animal house, glass house, water features and bandstand. The excellent facilities, including cafe, childrens' play area and aviary make Cliffe Castle Park a great day out for all ages. The following bus routes pass near Cliffe Castle and park 502, 903, K17. For more information visit https://bradforddistrictparks.org/park/cliffe-castle-park/

St Ives Estate is a wonderful Country Park with woodlands, wooden sculpture trail, open moor, and a wildflower meadow, and paths throughout. The Adventure Playground is a fantastic feature for the children, and Coppice Pond offers a chance to feed the ducks (not bread! swap bread for healthy snacks, like duck feed pellets available at the cafe) Take the 729 bus service from Keighley station. For more information visit https://www.friendsofstives.org.uk/

Doe Park is a reservoir and also has Bradford’s specialist centre for outdoor activities and education, situated there in Denholme. Activities on the water include sailing, canoeing, kayaking, dragon boating and raft building. Activities on land include our fantastic high ropes facility which offers team challenges such as Jacob's ladder, climbing/abseiling and an aerial obstacle course. They also offer birthday parties, team building and initiative challenges, nature studies, archery and orienteering. All the activities can be made fully accessible to all and, with so many activities in one place, Doe Park is the perfect place to have an adventure! Take the 696 or 697 bus from Keighley station. For more information visit https://www.bradford.gov.uk/media/2026/arounddoepark.pdf and https://www.bradford.gov.uk/sport-and-activities/outdoor-adventure/doe-park-water-activities-centre/

Shipley Glen Country Park and Cable Tramway. The country park comprises steep slopes above Loadpit Beck covered in ancient semi-natural woodland and heathland upon the plateau.  The site is a dominant component of a long sweeping south/west-facing woodland area stretching for over 2.5km.  Grazed by livestock until relatively recent times the open structure of the heath is now reverting to woodland as pioneer species such as birch move in.

Then the unique tramway was built in 1895 and operates narrow-gauge 'toastrack' cable-hauled trams. Two trams with canopy tops, run up and down a steep wooded hill every 3 minutes or as required. Restored and operated by volunteers. A museum is open at the bottom station with pictorial history and artefacts relating to Shipley Glen and tramway. A short walk from the world heritage village of Saltaire. Catch the train from Keighley to Saltaire and then walk through Roberts Park. For more information visit https://bradforddistrictparks.org/park/shipley-glen/ and https://www.shipleyglentramway.co.uk/

For more walks in the local area visit https://www.bradford.gov.uk/sport-and-activities/walking/self-guided-walks-around-airedale/ and https://www.bradford.gov.uk/sport-and-activities/walking/self-guided-walks-around-haworth-stanbury-and-the-worth-valley/