Walking through the Chevin Forest

The Chevin Forest Park

The Chevin is the name given to the vast area of woodland that can be found on the slopes overlooking Otley.

It makes for a top family friendly walk, and is definitely nature’s playground!

Where to walk on the Chevin?

Well there’s a simple answer to that. Just about EVERYWHERE! The Chevin in Otley is simply packed with trails, and this is one of our favourite ones! Hands up who loves a great woodland walk?

There are stick dens, streams, prehistoric settlements, gigantic rocks and loads more on this circular trail. So why not give it a go!

Examining one of the Chevin Streams

Walk details for Chevin Forest Park

Distance: 1.5 miles

Terrain: Some steep in places, a combination of rough woodland tracks and wide easy tracks. Ascent is just under 100m but on the whole this walk is flat. This walk can get muddy.

Parking: Parking on East Chevin Road, Lower Shawfield Car Park, just before York Gate Farm.

Public Transport: No local train station. Nearest is Burley in Wharfedale and Guiseley. Buses run to and from Otley bus station, but this a pretty long walk away.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Location: East Chevin Road, Otley

Map: OS Explorer 297 Lower Wharfedale and Washburn Valley.

What 3 Words: finishers.hidden.trucked (start point)

Toilets/ Baby Change: No

Nearest Cafe/ Amenities: Cheerful Chilli Cafe at York Gate Farm, just across the road. Otley town centre.

Walking out of a stick den on the Chevin

Directions to Otley Chevin

  1. I’ll begin with a little bit of advice about the Otley Chevin. Both sides of the park area full of paths! Use the main tracks if you don’t feel confident in exploring, but there is a LOT to explore if you’re feeling brave! This route will take you along the main routes of the Chevin Forest Park, so if you find yourself on a narrow overgrown path, wading through undergrowth and trees, you’ve definitely gone wrong!

  2. The car park is enclosed by a wooden fence. Exit the car park onto the large wide track leading into Chevin Forest with your back to the road. The path you will need to take, heads down on your left hand side and alongside the fence. It is easily identifiable, but is not as wide as the main tracks. It heads downwards into the forest.

  3. Head onwards, and down, until the path bends round to the right. You will soon reach a T junction with a large wide track, you need to turn right here and keep going! You will stay on this track for around 1km. You will find plenty of opportunities to go and explore the trees, pass an iron age settlement, the ruins of a building (the kids LOVE speculating as to what is used to be - I think it was the old gamekeepers lodge) a stream and GIGANTIC ROCKS. They are really quite spectacular, and great to go and explore the little caves, nooks and crannies, and to climb on. This is a popular rock climbing spot, so there are also the professionals to watch and be inspired by!

  4. Just before 1km, the path will start to rise, fairly steeply towards the end, and you will see another T Junction with a wide track. This is one of the main tracks through the Chevin. Turn sharply right and follow it. There are THOUSANDS of stick dens to explore along here, but we love the absolutely spectacular one about 500m along the return track (pictured). You have to come off the track and walk into the woods to find it.

  5. Continue along the track until it descends to a stream. Cross this, and head back up the other side. You will see a little wooden ‘throne’ on your right, and then soon after that, the car park where you started!

Last walked December 2022

Climbing on one of the Chevin rocks

⭐ We hope you enjoy our walks, but please exercise common sense as routes can change with the weather conditions and seasons! The routes have been walked by our own two feet, but you know your own limits. Always take a back-up map, don’t rely on GPS alone, wear appropriate clothing for the weather and take adequate snacks and refreshments with you (although as a parent, I know you already know that bit!)

⭐ Leave no trace! Take nothing away and leave nothing behind, take all rubbish home with you.

At the Iron Age Settlement in Chevin Forest Otley

At the Iron Age Settlement…

The giant rock formations in the Otley Chevin

Gigantic Rocks to Explore

Playing in the large stick dens of the Chevin

What’s cool for kids on this walk?

✨ Well where do we start. The history of the Chevin goes right back to prehistoric times, around 8,000BC. Artefacts have been found, dating back this far. The planting of trees began right back in 1780, when the land was enclosed and since then has been forest. Two Iron Age settlements have been found, and there are some pretty cool ruins of one of the old forester’s cabins to explore. If you fancy learning more about the extensive history of the place, check out chevinforest.co.uk.

🍃 Did I mention there were loads of stick dens? THERE ARE LOADS OF STICK DENS!

🌳 The woodland is great for stick collecting or fungi spotting, bird watching and more! But if you need some extra whinge busting help, then why not try one of our walking games? Or you can download a free scavenger sheet!

The Hoffman kiln a kid friendly place to visit

Want to find more kid friendly places to explore?

We have over 100 family friendly walks in and around the Yorkshire Dales and beyond!

Find our kid friendly walks HERE!

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