Meandering to St Aidans

This is an opportunity to visit one of my favourite destinations in a 36 mile ride that starts opposite the Grade 1 Listed, mainly Norman Church and then goes through the affluent suburbs of North Leeds before passing by the equally affluent villages in an easterly direction. We then travel southwards through Thorner, Scholes and Barwick in Elmet towards Garforth where we pick up The Linesway, a dedicated cycle path that takes us right into St Aidan. This is a former open cast mine now a major RSPB site with extensive wetlands.
After our lunch we go through St Aidans and follow the Aire and then Aire Calder Navigation into Leeds. This does include the ramp and steps at Knowsthorpe. We pass by the Royal Armouries and head through the centre of Leeds on the network of cycle paths that includes Meanwood Valley before going through Alwoodley and back to Adel.
Whilst the majority of the ride is on road there are significant sections that are traffic free including The Linesway, St Aidans, Aire Calder Navigation. The surfaces of these are good. There are also extensive cycle paths going through Leeds.