Dog-friendly walks in Kirk Smeaton

Fifty-nine hectares of magnesian limestone gorge where the River Went cuts a wooded ravine between Wentbridge and the Smeatons, the only real relief in a very flat corner of the county. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's own guidance is unambiguous: keep your dog on a lead at all times during your visit, and pick up after it, because cows and sheep graze the meadows at various times all year. The circuit here drops from the Leys Lane car park to the river, runs west under the crags towards Wentbridge and comes back along the higher woodland terrace, on natural surfaces with kissing gates, steps and small bridges and some steep narrow sections. There is no seasonal closure and no dogs-banned period, but the car park is small, has a 2.1 metre height barrier and fills quickly on fine weekends; the alternative is the small layby on Wentedge Road.