Chevin Forest Park

Is it right for my child?

• View seekers: the council says the north-facing escarpment rises steeply to 280m and gives views of the Wharfe Valley. The council also lists views from the Surprise View car park.
• Little legs: the Friends of Chevin Forest Park describe the Surprise View ridge path as short and fairly flat, up to one mile, with many benches.
• Trail hunters: Visit Leeds lists a Geology Trail, a Heritage Time Trail, a Tree Spotters route, two orienteering courses and geocaches.
• Age guidance: the official pages give none. Visit Leeds says much of the land is steeply sloping, with some very good level paths if you know where to look.
• Safety: Visit Leeds says the Chevin is a working estate, so you may see timber-extraction lorries on some tracks. It also lists crags for climbing. Keep children close.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Pack food, drinks and a nappy kit. The park page lists café hours, but a council report dated 25 November 2025 says the café closed in 2020.
• Bring a contactless card or the PayByPhone app. Parking is charged 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday.
• Note your PayByPhone zone: Surprise View 810360, Yorkgate 810359, East Chevin Quarry 810361, Lower Shawfield 810362, Upper Shawfield 810363.
• Wear boots with grip. The Friends say the Geology Trail is rocky and uneven in places, with some steep slopes.
• Download a trail before you go. The Friends offer audio guides for the Geology Trail and Heritage Time Trail on their website.

Prices and tickets

The council page lists no admission charge for the park. The council’s parking prices page gives these charges for all five Chevin car parks:

• Up to 2 hours: £1.20
• Up to 4 hours: £2.70
• Up to 12 hours: £4.50

Pay and display takes contactless card payment. You can also use the PayByPhone app, or call 0330 400 7275 to start and stop your parking. Charges apply 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday. The maximum stay is 23 hours, and the page says no overnight camping. The Otley Chevin price list does not mention Blue Badge concessions.

Visit Leeds and an older Friends page still say “5 free car parks”, but the council’s prices page lists these charges.

Pushchairs, babies and toilets

The Friends say many of the paths are uneven and steep. For accessible routes, the Friends point to Surprise View and the Heritage Time Trail.

• Surprise View: the council says it is wheelchair accessible. The Friends say a ramp lets wheelchairs reach the viewpoint.
• Ridge path: the Friends say its surface is mostly gravel and stony, and that it becomes more uneven after some gorse bushes.
• Heritage Time Trail: the Friends describe a circular walk of about 3km, much of it on a bridleway shared with horses and bikes.

Toilets are the big unknown. The council park page lists an accessible toilet and changing place at the White House Café, available during café opening hours. But a council report says the café closed in 2020, and the Friends say the café building is not open. The official pages mention no other toilets or baby changing in the park.

Food and drink

Do not rely on the White House Café. The council park page still lists café hours of 10am to 2pm on weekdays except Tuesday, and 11am to 3pm at weekends. However, a council report dated 25 November 2025 says the café closed in 2020 due to its poor condition.

The Friends of Chevin Forest Park say the café building is not open, with plans to reinstate a café. The Friends mention the Royalty pub, opposite Surprise View car park, and Mistal Kitchen, opposite the Shawfield car parks. The Friends advise checking both for opening times.

Getting there and parking

The council says the park lies on either side of East Chevin Road, Otley, 10 miles north-west of Leeds city centre. It gives the postcode LS21 3DD.

• Car parks: the council lists five, three on East Chevin Road and two on Yorkgate. The Friends place East Chevin Quarry and both Shawfield car parks on East Chevin Road, and Surprise View and Yorkgate Quarry on Yorkgate.
• Ridge path: the Friends say it starts at Surprise View car park, LS21 3DG.
• Car park hours: the council says the Yorkgate car park closes at 6pm, and the rest are open access. The Friends say Yorkgate Quarry car park is locked at 6pm.
• Disabled parking: the council park page says parking at the café is for disabled visitors only. The café itself is reported closed, as above.
• Buses: the council points you to West Yorkshire Metro. The Friends suggest the X84 from Leeds to Otley Bus Station.

When to visit

Visit Leeds lists the park as open 24 hours a day, every day, and open all year round. The council park page gives no opening hours for the park itself. Neither page mentions Christmas or New Year arrangements. Parking charges still apply 8am to 8pm, and the Yorkgate car park closes at 6pm.

The official pages do not suggest a visit length.

Additional needs and disability support

Beyond Surprise View, which the council says is wheelchair accessible, the Friends describe two routes.

Frequently asked questions

Is Chevin Forest Park free?

The council page lists no admission charge for the park. Parking is charged 8am to 8pm daily: £1.20 for up to 2 hours, £2.70 for up to 4 hours or £4.50 for up to 12 hours.

Is the Chevin too steep for young children?

Visit Leeds says much of the land is steeply sloping, though some paths are level. The Friends describe the Surprise View ridge path as short and fairly flat.

Can you take a pushchair on Otley Chevin?

The Friends say many paths are uneven and steep. The Friends point to Surprise View, which has a wheelchair ramp, and the Heritage Time Trail as the accessible options.

Are there toilets at Chevin Forest Park?

The council park page lists an accessible toilet and changing place at the White House Café during café hours. But a council report says the café closed in 2020. The official pages mention no other toilets.

Can children ride bikes on the Chevin?

The Friends’ cycling page, last updated in 2020, says the bridleways on the Danefield side, east of East Chevin Road, suit cyclists. The Friends say cyclists are not allowed on the White House side.

Are dogs allowed at Chevin Forest Park?

Yes. The council says dogs must be kept under control at all times. They may be off the lead only if they return immediately when called.

Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official Leeds City Council pages for Chevin Forest Park, parking prices, parks contacts and the White House report, the Visit Leeds listing, and the Friends of Chevin Forest Park visitor pages. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.