Yeadon Tarn

Yeadon Tarn is in the centre of Yeadon around 9 miles north from Leeds City centre, just off the A658 along Victoria Avenue.

This site has around 46 acres of land to explore and if following the circular route around the lake. If you were to walk all the way around Yeadon Tarn Lake, you would walk a distance of 1.15km. The lakes origins are thought to be natural, but then to be used for industrial purposes.

Just around the corner you have Yeadon town centre with plenty of shops for those looking for some retail therapy and just across from Leeds Bradford Airport where you will spot many planes getting ready for landing and taking off.

Most people visit Yeadon Tarn to enjoy a casual stroll around the lake and take in the beautiful surroundings. There are however plenty of activities to keep you entertained upon your visit from playing bowls on the bowling green to taking your bike to the BMX track. There is also a playground for the little ones to enjoy.

Sailing and Water Sports

Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre offers numerous water sports activities to sign up to too. Some activities available being windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding.

Although it may be inevitable with some of the water sports activities, swimming is unfortunately not permitted in Yeadon Tarn lake.

Personal crafts (kayaks, boats, canoes) are allowed on Yeadon Tarn, but a session will need to be booked with an instructor first to make sure you are a competent paddler/have certification of any courses you have been on. An instructor will also need to look over the craft to make sure it is safe to use. There is a launch fee of £6.50, which increases depending on how long you are on the water.

Yeadon tarn Sailing Centre also hire out wet suits and buoyancy aids if you do not have your own.

Fishing at Yeadon Tarn

Fishing is permitted at Yeadon Tarn. The water is primarily for carp fishing only as of 2019, as part of the Yeadon Tarn Angling Club.

This 20-acre water next to Leeds Bradford airport offers a day ticket for any angler; and the opportunity to catch some of the 600 carp, which could come in up to 30lb.

You will need to contact the Specialised Pleasure Angling Club for day tickets and prices. For more info take a look at the Carp Squad website.

A Rod licence is required.

Walk the Dog

Dog walking is allowed at Yeadon Tarnfield Park, offering plenty of grassy areas, a walk around the lake and many bins dotted around the area to help clean up any waste. Your dog can explore as much as they like, as dogs are allowed off the lead here. Many people enjoy a bite to eat whilst admiring the lovely views. There are some great spots to set up your picnic station from the grassy areas, to the benches and the picnic tables.

Playground

Excellent play park, with stunning views. The play equipment is relatively new. Swings, slides and a zip line are the main installations. And on a nice day you can relax on the grassy areas next to the playground.

Running

Many Joggers enjoy a casual run through Yeadon Tarnfield Park and The Tarn Trotters also run a beginners running group that meet up on a Sunday morning.

Walk Around Yeadon Tarn

If you are looking for a short walk, we would definitely recommend Yeadon Yarn. The loop around the lake is a reasonable distance of 1.15km. This circular route is well maintained with a tarmacked path, and provide a view of the lake at all points. The combination of lake, plant life, and birds makes this route a relaxing one.

Plane Watching

As well as the stunning views, with being next to Leeds Bradford Airport you can also enjoy the thrill of seeing a low flying plane go by.

Please be aware that being next to the airport, flying drones is not permitted within this area.

What Does Yeadon Tarn Mean?

There was a Christian settlement in Airedale between 675 and 725 AD. Viking settlers called the highest point in the area Yeadon Haw. The word “haw” likely comes from the Old Norse word “haugr”, which also means “hill”. ‘Tarn’ means ‘small mountain lake or pool’. Meaning Yeadon Tarn translated to ‘water on the hill’.

When the Domesday Book was compiled, Yeadon, Horsforth,  and Rawdon were classified as land owned by the king (William the Conqueror).

Is Yeadon Tarn Lake Man Made?

The lake was naturally occurring, and later enlarged for industrial purposes and leisure use. It can be seen as being referred to as a fish pond on older maps. In 1925 Yeadon UDC bought the dam from Messrs D Waterwortfor (a local solicitor) for £2400.

Yeadon Tarn Sailing Club

The Yeadon Sailing Club was founded in 1928, with the rules that all boats would cost a maximum of £20, and must be built within 30 miles of Yeadon. These rules were changed 6 years later to allow more pricey boats. Apparently even then £20 didn’t go far…

The Second World War

In 1940 during the Second World War it was drained to prevent enemy aircraft using its reflection as a landmark to identify the nearby Avro factory. It was later refilled in 1945.

Skating on Yeadon Tarn

In the winter when the weather was colder, locals used to skate on it. When the ice became too rough the fire brigade would spray water over it to smooth it over. In the holiday times it was a bustle of boats, both rowing and paddle.

Yeadon Tarn has assessible toilets that are located in the Activity Centre. Opening time can be found on their website.

Unfortunately the public toilets located next to the children’s playground towards the south of the park close to the Tarnfield park public car park are not currently usable.

There are many bins situated around the site to help with disposing of any rubbish.

If you are getting a bit peckish there there are plenty of places within a short walk from the tarn to dine at. In particular towards the south end of the Tarn towards High Street. There is usually an ice cream van on site too if you have a sweet tooth.

Never Enough Thyme café and The Little Fisherman are both opposite the tarn and two very popular spots to pick up a bite to eat.

You also have The White Swan just a couple of minutes walk away if you want to relax whilst enjoying some real ales in a beer garden. It is also dog friendly.

You are spoilt for choice with multiple restaurants to choose from within the area. Two highly rated spots nearby are Murgatroyds which is a diner-style fish and chips restaurant and Il-Sogno which specialises in Italian cuisine.

Just off Cemetery Road towards the north end you have the Tarnfield car park, postcode: LS19 7UR (Google Map Link). This is free for 2 hours.

There is also parking available at the activity centre, postcode: LS19 7UP (Google Map Link) with disabled parking available.

The entrance and paths around Yeadon Tarn are well maintained and are accessible via wheelchair and are pushchair friendly. There are disabled toilets in the tarn activity centre and there is a disabled toilet next to the public toilets towards the south of the park (a RADAR key is required for this toilet).

Bikes are not permitted along the paths around the lake however there is a free BMX track located next to the Cemetery Road car park.

Bus Routes

There is bus route 747 which goes along Cemetery Road with various bus stops within a few minutes walk to Yeadon Tarn.  Bus routes 27, 34, 737 and 747 going along High Street stopping at White Swan PH and High Street Harper Ln towards the south end of the Tarn. If you are traveling from the city centre, these routes are ideal as they run from the centre and drop off opposite the location.

Along Victoria Avenue on the A658 there are also multiple stops with different bus routes. The Victoria Avenue Glenmere Mount (Bus route 737 & 757) is one of the closest stops along this road.

Train Routes

Guiseley train station is 2.1 miles from Yeadon Tarn, around an 8 minute drive or 41 minute walk. You could also get a bus for part of the journey from the station, bus routes 27, 33, 34, 737 and 747 run within parts of this route.