(S/E) Leave the Centre and walk to the end of the car park at Pugneys and pick up the path that runs clockwise around the lake. You can see the ruins of Sandal Castle on the skyline ahead of you. The lakes were created after quarrying for sand and gravel and opencast mining.'
As the path around the lake bends round to the right walk up past the beach and continue until you reach the sign for Sandal Castle. Turn left and cross the wooden footbridge.
Flint tools about 8,000 years old have been found near here, left behind by Mesolithic people who lived near the riverside.
(1) Once you are over the bridge, take the diagonal footpath to the right. After only 100m you come to a footpath ‘T’-junction. Turn left uphill.
This section of the footpath was once a medieval road.
(2) Follow the footpath uphill and turn right onto another footpath across the field. Continue on the narrow footpath around the boundary of Sandal Castle until you reach the main gate to Sandal Castle.
The Battle of Wakefield took place on 30th December 1460 across the land on your left. Richard Duke of York, was tricked into leaving the safety of Sandal Castle and was killed by a Lancastrian army. Up to 2,000 men were killed.
(3) You can return to Pugneys by the same route walking clockwise around the lake or via the same route when you enter Pugneys Country Park at (1)
(1) Cross the bridge and turn left onto the path that runs round the large lake after entering Pugneys Country Park.
(4) You will see a path on the left. This leads to a bird hide from which you can watch birds on the smaller
lake which is a nature reserve for wildlife. To return to the car park, continue round the large lake.(S/E)
