Thornes Park

Location - Thornes Park, Thornes Road, Wakefield, WF2 8QD - (what3words location)

Distance (around) - various options 

Accessibility at a glance:

• Access: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Dog friendliness: ⭐⭐

• Facilities: ⭐⭐

• Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

More in depth:

Parking and entrance:

• Limited and can feel unstructured.

• The most spacious spots are along the fence line.

• High turnover means waiting in the car is often effective.

Paths and distance:

• Predominantly tarmac, firm and suitable for mobility scooters, wheelchairs, and walkers.

• Several gentle-to-moderate slopes throughout Thornes, Holmfield, and Clarence Parks. The slope between Thornes Park and Clarence Park is steep—scooter-friendly but may be challenging for manual wheelchair users.

• Some garden areas (like the rose garden and glasshouse) have uneven flagstones that may be uncomfortable for scooters/wheelchairs.

Facilities

• Frequent benches, particularly around the water and main paths.

• An accessible, RADAR-key toilet is available at the Holmfield Arms.

• Small café near Thornes Park gates—opening hours vary. Outdoor seating is dog-friendly.

One of our favourite regular walking spots is Thornes Park, which links seamlessly with Clarence Park and Holmfield Park depending on how long— or adventurous—you’re feeling. Thornes was actually the first “other world” place we took Betty once she was allowed out into the big wide world beyond Nostell Priory.

Parking isn’t the park’s strong point. The best and most spacious spaces are usually along the fence, but it can sometimes feel like a free-for-all. Thankfully, cars tend to come and go quickly, so sitting tight for a moment often pays off.

Once you’ve bundled out of the car, you’ve got a few route options. All of them are on good, solid tarmac. The gentlest path in terms of incline leads you past the water and towards the aviary, which houses a lovely variety of birds. The water itself is just as lively, usually dotted with swans, Canada and greylag geese, mallards, and occasionally more unusual visitors—at one point we even spotted a mandarin duck and a kingfisher.

Betty, unfortunately, has developed a rather unsophisticated enthusiasm for bird droppings, so we often power-walk this stretch to avoid an impromptu all-you-can-eat buffet. Thankfully, there are plenty of benches here if you do want to sit and enjoy the view.

At the end of this path you’ll reach the rose garden and glasshouse, both of which are lovely for a slow wander. The flags in this area are uneven, though, so mobility scooters and wheelchairs may find it a little bumpy.

If you loop back the way you came and pass the cars again, you’ll reach a large field where many dogs enjoy a run and families play games. Betty stays on the lead—her enthusiasm for barking at other dogs is unmatched—so we usually keep moving and let her sniff to her heart’s content.

Beyond the car park, a slope leads up to Clarence Park, which includes a big playing field, a skate park, and a children’s play area. There is parking up here too, but only within the sports centre grounds, so we tend to avoid it.

The slope itself is fairly steep. The scooter handles it without fuss, but others may want to take it slowly. Once at the top, the paths around Clarence Park are wide, flat, and tarmacked. A seasonal miniature railway sits to the left—worth checking opening times if you want a proper look.

Continuing the loop, the path leads you downhill (often the same incline you just came up!) towards Holmfield Park. Again, the ground remains reliably firm. This stretch has several interesting features, including an old amphitheatre, a disused drinking fountain, a bandstand, a rhubarb statue, and the Holmfield Arms—which has its own review elsewhere on the blog.

As you near the end of the loop, you’ll pass the bowling green, tennis courts, and Stork Lodge, where you can borrow equipment for crazy golf or tennis. Near the main Thornes Park entrance is a small café—opening times vary, but they welcome dogs outdoors and have been known to treat Betty to a piece of sausage. If the café isn’t open, fear not: the ice cream van is practically a local landmark and is almost always there.

Thornes Park and Clarence Park can easily be visited on their own. Holmfield Park is more intertwined with the others, so it’s harder to treat as a separate destination. When we explore all three together, the loop is roughly 1.6 miles, with inclines here and there but consistently firm ground throughout.

We often finish with a stop at the Holmfield Arms, which is dog-friendly in the bar area, fully accessible for the scooter, and has a RADAR-key accessible toilet—always a welcome bonus.

Tip - a good place to visit even in the colder and wetter months as the ground is pretty solid.