Great And Little Preston, a civil parish in West Yorkshire, England, features a distinctive landscape shaped by both its industrial past and natural reclamation. The area is characterized by extensive nature reserves, including the RSPB St Aidan's, alongside arable farmland, pastures, and small woodlands. This varied terrain provides a suitable setting for several outdoor activities, including road cycling, jogging, hiking, touring cycling, and more.
Outdoor enthusiasts visiting Great And Little Preston can…
89
Routes
4.6
(146)
Average rating
1825
People visited

4.9
(41)
248
riders
31.2km
02:04
80m
80m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(5)
33
riders
16.7km
01:26
90m
90m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

26
riders
18.9km
01:30
110m
110m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
18
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.6
(7)
137
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(11)
130
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(4)
43
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

65
riders
42.9km
01:54
330m
330m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.0
(2)
44
riders
90.3km
03:45
410m
410m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

3.0
(1)
39
riders
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

23
riders
69.2km
02:52
260m
260m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.7
(10)
40
riders
22.2km
01:16
100m
100m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(11)
23
riders
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(5)
11
riders
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
5
riders
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

38
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
72
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
20
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

16
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.4
(5)
49
riders
53.5km
02:56
240m
240m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
20
riders
62.8km
03:35
320m
320m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(4)
11
riders
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(5)
34
riders
50.4km
03:13
480m
480m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?
Great And Little Preston offers a variety of outdoor activities including road cycling, jogging, hiking, touring cycling, mountain biking, and gravel biking. The region features over 65 routes across these sports, with an average rating of 4.64 out of 5 stars from more than 19,000 visitors.
Key natural features include RSPB St Aidan's Nature Reserve, a reclaimed industrial landscape now a vibrant wetland ecosystem. The area also features arable farmland, pastures, and small woodlands. The River Aire flows approximately 2 miles south of the parish, with some routes offering views of it.
Yes, Great And Little Preston provides routes suitable for road cycling. These routes often explore agricultural fields and offer open countryside cycling experiences. More information can be found in the guide Road Cycling Routes around Great And Little Preston.
Many easy hiking and walking trails are available, often forming loops through nature reserves and reclaimed industrial areas. Routes like the "View from Caroline Bridge – St Aidan's RSPB Reserve loop" (3.2 miles / 5.2 km) are suitable for various fitness levels. The guide Easy hikes around Great And Little Preston provides further details.
RSPB St Aidan's Nature Reserve is an extensive 355-hectare site transformed from a former opencast coal mining area into a vibrant wetland ecosystem. It supports diverse wildlife, including migratory and resident bird species, and is traversed by many popular hiking and cycling routes.
Yes, the area offers family-friendly routes, particularly within the nature reserves. Many paths are accessible and feature modest elevation gains, making them suitable for families. The diverse ecosystems provide engaging experiences for all ages.
Komoot offers several guides for the region, including Road Cycling Routes around Great And Little Preston, Hiking around Great And Little Preston, Running Trails around Great And Little Preston, and Gravel biking around Great And Little Preston.
The area is well-suited for touring cycling, with routes exploring both natural and historical sites. An example is the "Woodlesford Lock – Lemonroyd Marina loop from RSPB St. Aidan's" which is 19.4 miles (31.3 km) long and offers views of the River Aire.
Route lengths vary significantly by activity. For example, hiking loops like the "View from Caroline Bridge – St Aidan's RSPB Reserve loop" are around 3.2 miles (5.2 km), while touring cycling routes such as the "Woodlesford Lock – Lemonroyd Marina loop" can be 19.4 miles (31.3 km).
Information regarding mountain biking trails in the region can be found in the dedicated komoot guide. Consult MTB Trails around Great And Little Preston for specific routes and details.
The official website for the Great and Little Preston Parish Council is greatandlittlepreston-pc.gov.uk. It provides local information and community updates.
Yes, Great And Little Preston offers numerous jogging routes, many of which are loops through nature reserves and reclaimed industrial areas. The diverse ecosystems, ancient woodlands, and riverside trails provide engaging experiences. The guide Running Trails around Great And Little Preston details specific options.

