Walking: A breath of fresh Leeds air to bring in the New Year

Should you '“ heaven forbid! - over-indulged at the New Year, then this is the ideal circuit to clear the cobwebs and set yourself up for the day.

So put the kids in wellies and step into 2018 on this nice little family outing from one of Leeds’s most popular visitor attractions. If you can’t manage the full course, take the short cut of only four miles.

The wonderful facility that is Roundhay Park was the vision of one man, Thomas Nicholson, who purchased the Roundhay Estate in 1803 from landowning aristocrat Philip, Lord Stourton. Nicholson was born in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, in the 1760s, the son of a modest clothier. He made his fortune in London through a combination of banking and insurance broking and set about transforming his Roundhay estate into a green oasis.

He built the Mansion in 1818 in the deep recession following the Napoleonic wars, giving employment to scores of out-of-work labourers and returning soldiers. He transformed two quarries into lakes - the 33-acre Waterloo Lake and the much smaller Upper Lake. Waterloo Lake was constructed by old soldiers from Wellington’s triumphant army, hence its name.

Nicholson died in 1821 but his family continued to develop their property, laying out the Canal Gardens, among other ventures.

In 1868, the Roundhay Estate came on the market and Sir John Barran, the Leeds textile magnate, suggested the park should be bought by the corporation of Leeds, saying: “Here we have an estate which would make an ideal playground for the people of Leeds. Future generations will remember us with gratitude as they stroll along the pleasant walks enjoying the ease and shade of the trees”.

The cost of the 1,400-acre estate was a staggering £139,000 and the city fathers were aghast. However, they agreed to stump up an initial £40,000. Barran and his wealthy friends then stepped into the breach and loaned the city the remaining £100,000.

The park was opened to the public in 1872 by Prince Arthur, son of Queen Victoria. Sir John Barran is remembered by an impressive fountain visited at the end of this walk.

ROUNDHAY PARK and SHADWELL

Choice of 4 or 5 ½ miles:  Allow 2 – 3 ½ hours for long route. Map: O/S Explorer 289 Leeds.

Use the free car park at the end of Mansion Lane, off Prince’s Avenue, on the western side of Roundhay Park, Leeds. If the car park is full, park in Mansion Lane.

Exit the bottom (northern) end of the car park, passing between three stout, square wooden posts, and go down the tarred path with the Upper Lake ahead. Bear left round end of lake for 70 yards to where a metal fence and stone wall on your right guard a pool and turn LEFT (bench) through trees.