The hidden Leeds castle sitting in overgrown forest next to the A61

Leeds has some great historical sites, from its old industrial areas to its historic town centre buildings, but it also has some monuments which are far older.

Harewood Castle is one of these, and sits just off of the A61 heading to Harrogate, but its often impossible to see from the road. Instead, you can access it through the small village of Harewood.

From there, you can find a small public path, covered over by green trees and bushes. The thin trail soon turns to a tunnel, before getting muddier despite the warm weather.

Read More: 'How bad have things become?' Judge's shock as Alfie Lewis murderer named and pictured for first time

Soon, the small path emerges into the wider woods, with some stunning views of the various farms and fields which make up Yorkshire's countryside. On a sunny day like we've had recently, the view only becomes all the more stunning.

The path itself is fairly muddy but clear, and is lined with a small stream and colourful flowers, with rays of sun lighting the way.

After walking along it for a while, the castle suddenly jumps into view from behind the greenery, standing tall hundreds of years after it was built. Historic England says the castle was constructed in the mid 14th Century, after William de Aldeburgh was given a licence to crenellate in 1366.

It is said that Edward Balliol, who was a claimant to the throne of Scotland during what is now called the Second War of Scottish Independence, fighting alongside England following the death of Robert the Bruce, who had defeated England years earlier, stayed at Harewood Castle after being deposed.

When William died in 1387 the castle passed to his son, also called William, who ruled until his death in 1391. With no heirs, the castle passed to the Rythers and the Redmaynes.

Eventually, the castle was sold in 1600 to pay debts and it was last occupied in the 1630s. By 1656 it was derelict and was sold to Sir John Cutler.

In more recent years, the castle was the subject of a £1 million rescue plan in 2000 as the castle became unstable and began to crumble. It was taken off of the Buildings at Risk Register in 2008.

Now, just five minutes up the wooded path, the castle remains magnificent, even if it is in ruins, jutting up out of the green trees and fields and towering over the surrounding landscape.

When arriving on the site, the first thing I noticed was its height, the castle is big and yet it remains almost invisible from the nearby A road due to the surrounding forest.

Getting up to the castle itself is also a bit of a challenge as the building is currently surrounded by stinging nettles, with only some small paths clear. Clambering through without getting stung can be a challenge, particularly around the sides of the castle.

Get all the latest and breaking news in Leeds by signing up to our newsletter here.

Due to the danger of falling brick and masonry, you can't enter the building, but the entrances are blocked by metal grates which you can easily see through. Inside, the courtyard, which is also overgrown with stinging nettles, can be seen, although there is not much left inside, with only the walls still standing.

On the upper side of the castle, you can hear the passing traffic moving from Leeds to Harrogate, and can just make out the flashing shapes of cars through the trees. However, standing next to the medieval castle, you feel a world away from modernity.

With summer fast approaching and the weather rapidly improving, Harewood Castle is a great spot to visit for anyone interested in the history of Leeds and Yorkshire, just remember to bring some long sleeves to dodge the nettles.