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(S/E) Walk to the end of the car park at Pugneys and pick up the path that runs around the lake. You can see Sandal castle on the skyline ahead of you. As the path bends around the lake look for the path on the left (signposted) heading towards a wooden footbridge. Once across the wooden footbridge, take the path in front of you.
Pugneys lake was created by the quarrying of sand and gravel before becoming an open cast mine.
Flint tools about 8,000 years old have been found near here, left behind by Mesolithic people who lived near the riverside.
(1) After only 50m you come across a T junction. Turn left up the hill.
(2) Follow the footpath up the hill and carry on straight across the footpath cross roads, join the road (Manygates Road) turn right for Sandal Castle. (To shorten this walk, turn right here on to another footpath up to Sandal Castle.)
The battle of Wakefield took place here on 30th December 1460. Richard Duke of York was killed by a Lancastrian arm. Up to 2,000 men were killed. Sandal Castle was built in the 13th Century, more information is available at the Visitors Centre which has toilets and drinks/ice creams.
(3) Turn right on to a footpath that leads downhill.
In the medieval period, this area was a deer park providing venison for the high table of Sandal Castle. Archaeologists found deer bones when they excavated Sandal Castle.
(4) At Castle Farm cross over the road and take the path almost immediately opposite. The path crosses Pugneys Drain by a bridge and enters Pugneys Country Park. Turn right. This part of the path is very muddy in wet weather though a boardwalk has been provided.
(5) At the T junction with the main track round Pugneys turn left. The path on the left leads to a bird hide from which you can watch birds on the smaller lake which is a reserve for wildlife. Continue round the larger lake to return to the car park. (S/E)
Tourist office
