Batley’s biggest
Oakwell Hall Country Park
Park or garden
45 ha (112 acres)9.2 km of path
2 hto walk all 9.2 km of path
63 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.6 mi north-westfrom the centre
Rideway
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Mtaylor848 · CC BY-SA 3.0B+Outdoors Grade
Outdoors in Batley · parks, paths & countryside
94% of Batley’s residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
120 km of footpaths run through the town and the kilometre around it, 3.5 for every square kilometre. Parks and playing fields in Batley add up to 2.7 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. Batley grades B+ for the outdoors: #28 of 91 in West Yorkshire. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
2.7 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
94%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
120 km
3.5 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
0%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: Nidderdale National Landscape
Outdoors grade
Batley grades B+ for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Batley, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
B+
Better than 66% of UK towns#28 of 91 in West Yorkshire · 28th of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space2.7 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
63out of
100
100
A park within a walk94%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
74out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape0%of the land within 5 km · None within 5 km
31out of
100
100
Footpaths3.5 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
72out of
100
100
The sea0%of the area within 5 km · Inland
42out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Towns its size
Batley is 28th of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 39,200 to 50,400 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Batley3.5
Towns its size3.7
West Yorkshire towns3.5
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Batley2.7
Towns its size2.4
West Yorkshire towns2.1
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Batley94%
Towns its size83%
West Yorkshire towns87%
All UK towns83%
Against towns its size, Batley stands out most for homes near a park: only 1 of the other 59 has more.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Havant Hampshire | A+ | 3.6 | 84% | 5.8 | 30% |
| 2 | Andover Hampshire | A | 2.7 | 91% | 4.4 | 21% |
| 3 | Wrexham Clwyd | A | 3.8 | 92% | 3.9 | 2% |
| 4 | Salisbury Wiltshire | A | 2.7 | 94% | 3.9 | 22% |
| 5 | Aldershot Hampshire | A | 3.4 | 77% | 6.3 | 17% |
| 6 | Wallsend Tyne and Wear | A | 6 | 93% | 5.7 | 0% |
| 7 | Merthyr Tydfil Mid Glamorgan | A | 3.3 | 89% | 3.2 | 29% |
| 8 | Haywards Heath West Sussex | A | 2.4 | 84% | 4.2 | 44% |
| 9 | Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex | A | 1.7 | 83% | 3.4 | 13% |
| 10 | Bletchley Buckinghamshire | A | 4.1 | 91% | 5.9 | 0% |
| 11 | Eastleigh Hampshire | A− | 3 | 76% | 4.9 | 17% |
| 12 | Llanelli Dyfed | A− | 2.3 | 85% | 2.4 | 18% |
| 13 | Trowbridge Wiltshire | A− | 2.3 | 91% | 4.3 | 3% |
| 14 | Christchurch Dorset | A− | 2.1 | 70% | 3.3 | 14% |
| 15 | Crosby Merseyside | A− | 4.6 | 89% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 16 | Ashton-under-Lyne Greater Manchester | A− | 3.1 | 85% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 17 | Chorley Lancashire | A− | 5 | 88% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 18 | Bamber Bridge Lancashire | A− | 6.4 | 88% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 19 | Hoddesdon Hertfordshire | A− | 6.5 | 82% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 20 | Leyland Lancashire | B+ | 4.6 | 91% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 21 | Cheshunt Hertfordshire | B+ | 4.8 | 79% | 4.9 | 0% |
| 22 | Newbury Berkshire | B+ | 1.9 | 81% | 3.3 | 50% |
| 23 | Hatfield Hertfordshire | B+ | 2.8 | 84% | 5.5 | 0% |
| 24 | West Molesey Surrey | B+ | 4.4 | 80% | 4.4 | 0% |
| 25 | Thundersley and South Benfleet Essex | B+ | 3.2 | 69% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 26 | Bridgwater Somerset | B+ | 1.9 | 86% | 3.7 | 2% |
| 27 | Yeovil Somerset | B+ | 2 | 90% | 3.2 | 2% |
| 28 | Batley West Yorkshire | B+ | 2.7 | 94% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 29 | Cwmbrân Gwent | B+ | 2.1 | 84% | 3.7 | 1% |
| 30 | Middleton Greater Manchester | B+ | 3.5 | 80% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 31 | Horsham West Sussex | B | 1.5 | 83% | 3.9 | 19% |
| 32 | Wokingham Berkshire | B | 4 | 84% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 33 | Leigh Greater Manchester | B | 5.3 | 77% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 34 | Arnold Nottinghamshire | B | 3 | 81% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 35 | Bishop's Stortford Hertfordshire | B | 2.3 | 80% | 6.8 | 0% |
| 36 | Ramsgate Kent | B | 1.2 | 89% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 37 | Borehamwood Hertfordshire | B | 1.8 | 97% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 38 | Winchester Hampshire | B | 1.2 | 79% | 3.8 | 35% |
| 39 | Altrincham Greater Manchester | B | 2.2 | 91% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 40 | Prescot Merseyside | B | 3.5 | 94% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 41 | Blyth Northumberland | B | 1.6 | 83% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 42 | Castleford West Yorkshire | B | 2.3 | 92% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 43 | Fareham Hampshire | B | 1.1 | 48% | 4 | 2% |
| 44 | Bury St Edmunds Suffolk | B− | 3 | 78% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 45 | Oldbury West Midlands | B− | 3 | 68% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 46 | Eccles Greater Manchester | B− | 2.7 | 93% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 47 | Lytham St Anne's Lancashire | B− | 2.4 | 83% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 48 | Braintree Essex | B− | 1.7 | 89% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 49 | Tipton West Midlands | B− | 1.9 | 79% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 50 | Willenhall West Midlands | C+ | 3.4 | 66% | 3 | 0% |
| 51 | Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire | C+ | 1.5 | 85% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 52 | Urmston Greater Manchester | C+ | 1.7 | 79% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 53 | King's Lynn Norfolk | C+ | 1.3 | 80% | 2.2 | 23% |
| 54 | Neath West Glamorgan | C | 2 | 80% | 1.4 | 0% |
| 55 | Kirkby Merseyside | C | 2.2 | 87% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 56 | Grays Essex | C | 1.2 | 83% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 57 | Keighley West Yorkshire | C | 1.6 | 73% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 58 | Boston Lincolnshire | C− | 2.1 | 78% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 59 | Worksop Nottinghamshire | C− | 1.3 | 75% | 3 | 0% |
| 60 | Grantham Lincolnshire | D | 0.9 | 69% | 2.7 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Batley’s built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Batley
The biggest is Oakwell Hall Country Park, 45 ha (112 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
All 10 named parks by size: 79 ha (196 acres) and 13 km of path
Parks & gardens 65 haPlaying fields 14 ha
The two biggest, Oakwell Hall Country Park and Wilton Park, are 79% of the named green space and carry 11 km of path between them. 5 of the 10 are under 2 ha: small gardens, play spaces and pitches.
Wilton Park
Park or garden
17 ha (43 acres)2.1 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.1 km of path
24 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Batley
Bagshaw Museum (The Woodlands) Grade II*
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Carters Playing Fields
Playing field
4.8 ha (12 acres)0.2 km of path
7 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Batley
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Jessop Park
Park or garden
1.7 ha (4 acres)0.6 km of path
5 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
2 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.5 mi southfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
John Curwen Academy Playing Fields
Playing field
4.5 ha (11 acres)
6 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.9 mi westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Rock House Recreation Ground
Playing field · 190 m outside town
2.0 ha (5 acres)0.4 km of path
3 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.4 mi southfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Batley Memorial Park
Park or garden
0.4 ha (1 acres)0.4 km of path
0.5 mi south-eastfrom the centre
1 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Staincliffe Park
Playing field · 70 m outside town
1.0 ha (2 acres)0.2 km of path
1 mi south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
All 10 named parks and green spaces
Oakwell Hall Country ParkPark or garden · 45 ha · 9.2 km of path
DirectionsWilton ParkPark or garden · 17 ha · 2.1 km of path
DirectionsCarters Playing FieldsPlaying field · 4.8 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsJessop ParkPark or garden · 1.7 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsJohn Curwen Academy Playing FieldsPlaying field · 4.5 ha
DirectionsRock House Recreation GroundPlaying field · 2.0 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBatley Memorial ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsStaincliffe ParkPlaying field · 1.0 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBirstall Cricket GroundPlaying field · 1.5 ha
DirectionsCarr House ParkPlaying field · 0.6 ha · just outside town
DirectionsClose to home
How close Batley’s homes are to a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (94%)Further (6%)
Batley94%
Towns its size83%
West Yorkshire towns87%
All UK towns83%
About 3,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 106 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 420 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
The Nidderdale National Landscape is 12 mi away
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
Peak District National Park covers 1,438 km² and has been a National Park since 1951.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
5 waymarked walks pass through or near Batley
120 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Batley and the kilometre around it, 3.5 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
RegionalLocalOther waymarked
Kirklees Way13.9 km
Leeds Country Way12.1 km
Bronte Way4.8 km
Dewsbury and District Ramblers Centenary Walk3.3 km
Wakefield Way1.5 km
Close to home, the Leeds Country Way has 12 km of local walk within 2 km of the town. 3 regional routes pass through, including the Kirklees Way, Bronte Way and Wakefield Way.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
When to get out
The best walking months in Batley: May to September
The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.0 | 9.7 | 11.7 | 13.9 | 15.9 | 17.0 | 16.6 | 14.8 | 12.6 | 10.4 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| High (°C) | 7 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 7 |
| Rain (mm) | 56 | 52 | 51 | 49 | 48 | 65 | 62 | 67 | 59 | 66 | 69 | 70 |
May is the driest month (48 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 21 °C). Winter days are short, about 7 hours of daylight in December, and 70 mm of rain falls in December, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 40 nights a year. The climate in Batley →
Things to do
106 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
The nearest beaches
Batley is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the town.
Treasure Beach21 mi from Batley’s edge
DirectionsDoncaster Lakeside Beach25 mi from Batley’s edge
DirectionsBeach at Doncaster Lakeside25 mi from Batley’s edge
DirectionsYork Beach27 mi from Batley’s edge
DirectionsSea Lions28 mi from Batley’s edge
DirectionsGood to know
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 1
Plus 1 viewpoint without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 2
Plus 2 nature reserves without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 106
Dale Lane Playground0.3 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 105 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
HeckmondwikeDewsburyLiversedgeDrighlingtonMorleyGomersal and BirkenshawBatley
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batley | B+ | 2.7 | 94% | 0% |
| Heckmondwike 1.1 mi | A− | 2.9 | 100% | 0% |
| Dewsbury 2.3 mi | B+ | 3.3 | 92% | 0% |
| Liversedge 2.5 mi | B+ | 2.0 | 98% | 0% |
| Drighlington 2.6 mi | B+ | 4.1 | 92% | 0% |
| Morley 2.7 mi | C+ | 1.2 | 87% | 0% |
| Gomersal and Birkenshaw 2.7 mi | B | 3.2 | 83% | 0% |
Heckmondwike, 1.1 miles away, grades A−, the best next door: every resident lives within 400 m of a park. None of the neighbours has a protected landscape within 5 km either.
Questions about the outdoors in Batley
What is the biggest park in Batley?
Oakwell Hall Country Park, 45 ha (112 acres), with 9.2 km of path. Wilton Park (17 ha) is second. 10 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Batley near a National Park?
Yes. Peak District National Park begins 12 mi south-west of the town’s edge. It covers 1,438 km² and has been a National Park since 1951. The nearest protected landscape of any kind is the Nidderdale National Landscape, 12 mi away.
What are the best walks near Batley?
5 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the Kirklees Way, Leeds Country Way and Bronte Way. Oakwell Hall Country Park alone has 9.2 km of path.
What is the nearest beach to Batley?
Treasure Beach, 21 mi from the edge of the town, then Doncaster Lakeside Beach (25 mi). Batley itself is inland.
How many people in Batley live near a park?
94% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Batley?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Batley good for walking?
For paths, yes: 3.5 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 72% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 63% (2.7 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Batley’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Batley’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.