Castleford to Pontefract

From Castleford Bus Station proceed along Albion Street, then right into Carlton Street. Turn right through arches in the row of shops (Powell Street) and walk forward along the paved way to the railway station to start the walk.

(S) From Castleford Railway Station go through the underpass under the railway. Walk straight up the street, Beancroft Road, which becomes Barnes Road. Shortly after passing a small park on the left, the road climbs to a T-junction by Asda supermarket. Cross over the road ahead and turn right. Immediately after the level crossing at Cutsyke Junction, turn left along a road through industrial units.

(1) When this road turns right, continue ahead between the wooden fences and bear right along the gravel path to the left of houses, emerging at the road by the green bridleway sign. Cross the road and descend the tarmac bridleway to the entrance to Al Storage. Here, stay on the minor road, with the beck on the right, passing Rose Cottage and round a metal barrier. Follow the path, initially with a high metal fence on left. Keep on this main path, ignoring side paths. Bear right with the Motorpoint embankment on your left on the ascending track to cross the M62. On the other side, turn left and keep left at the fork, keeping parallel to the motorway.

(2) After a time, the track bends right away from the motorway but shortly turns left again at a 3way waymark sign. At the far end of a wood, after passing through the metal barrier, turn sharp right on a track that follows the outside rails of Pontefract racecourse. Keep on this track which leads behind the grandstand and comes to a main access road to the grandstand. Here the walk turns right along a tarmac road (but if you cross straight over it and follow the rails you will reach the access road to the car park with toilets and, a little further on, the boating lake).

(3) Continue along the wide metalled drive (this was once the main entrance to the course) to emerge by traffic lights at the junction of Park Lane and the main A639 road. Cross the A639 dual carriageway at the pelican crossing and turn right over the railway line at Tanshelf Station (Pontefract Line trains). Turn left at Stuart Road, signed Bus Station. Turn right between Morrisons and Tesco supermarkets and follow the road to the left past Morrisons to a T-junction. Turn left and cross the road at traffic lights. Turn left again and the bus station is on the right. (E)

The Wakefield Way is a 70 mile, waymarked walking route around the Wakefield Metropolitan District and covers a wide variety of landscapes. The route is divided into 11 sections of varying length with start and end points accessible by public transport.

For bus and train information contact Metro on 0113 245 7676 or www.wymetro.com