Walking and cycling paths
Running the length of the valley between stone terraces and native trees.
Peter Dowley from Dubai, United Arab Emirates — CC BY 2.0 · Mustafakamil.77 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sammy Six — CC BY 2.0 · Ahmedpictures12 — CC BY-SA 4.0
The valley on which both Riyadh and Diriyah were founded, running more than a hundred and twenty kilometres across the city from north-west to south-east. It is a seasonal watercourse rather than a river, and around it grew the palm cultivation and Najdi settlements of past centuries. Water here is the reason a city exists at all in a place with neither coast nor river. By the late twentieth century the wadi had become a drain for sewage and waste. It was then rehabilitated in a large environmental project running over several years: the channel was cleared, lakes, stone terraces and walking paths built, native trees planted, and a natural gravel bio-remediation plant installed that treats the water without chemicals. The scheme won international awards for environmental design. What people come for today are the parks along its length: green space, walking, running and cycling paths, small lakes, and family seating areas that fill at weekends and on winter evenings. The stretch nearest Diriyah is the best known, and from it you see the escarpment on which At-Turaif stands. Entry is free — this is a public park, not a ticketed attraction — and the best hours are late afternoon and winter evenings.
Running the length of the valley between stone terraces and native trees.
Cleaning the water through gravel without chemicals — the basis of the valley's recovery.
From which you see the escarpment carrying At-Turaif.
West of Riyadh, from Uyaynah to Al-Hair
On its own, no — it is parkland rather than a monument. It makes complete sense with Diriyah in one evening: visit At-Turaif, then come down into the valley or sit at Bujairi Terrace above it. For anyone living in Riyadh it is among the best places in the city to walk.
Late afternoon into sunset, and in the winter months especially. Summer days are far too hot before evening. Weekends are crowded with families; weekdays are much quieter.
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