Esholt Woods

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Quick description

What’s there?

Four woodlands

The four distinct woods that come together to form Esholt Woods are Sping wood, Belmont wood, Jerrison wood and Sodhall Hill wood.

In the spring, visitors can look out for the pretty bluebells, and follow the path along the Guiseley Beck at the eastern end of the woods. This makes for a peaceful walking or cycling route, with the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal just south of the woods. Taking in the elevated views of Bradford and Leeds from the same spot is a real highlight.

Esholt Woods are a fine collection of woodlands around Guiseley Beck and Yeadon Gill. Their character changes quickly, with areas of beech pine, oak, birch and sycamore all easily accessed from the edge of Guiseley, Yeadon and Esholt. – Goddard, C. (2021). The West Yorkshire Woods. Gritstone Publishing

Esholt Village, home of the original Emmerdale Farm

For more than two decades, Esholt Village has been drawing in Emmerdale enthusiasts from across the globe. It was the picturesque backdrop selected to be Emmerdale Farm when the show aired in 1977, and fans have been visiting the Yorkshire hamlet ever since.

History

Esholt Hall

Constructed in 1709 by Sir Walter Calverley, Esholt Hall took the place of Esholt Priory, which was a tiny Cistercian nunnery originally consecrated by Pope Alexander III in 1172 and held by the Kirkstall Abbey. Today, the site is owned by Yorkshire Water.

Natural history

Its varied habitats, including ancient woodland, wet woodland, open meadows, hedgerows, and ponds, support a variety of species including butterflies, birds, small mammals, and specialist plants and fungi.