Ilkley Moor
Situated above the Yorkshire town of Ilkley, the Ilkley Moor is a beautiful slice of natural beauty, which is quite accessible to everyone seeking a place to escape to the countryside. Catering for those looking for an afternoon stroll, a more extensive hike or a couples picnic, the Moor offers you a wide range of options.
Travelling from Leeds for the afternoon, we had a lovely time wandering the hillside and catching the views overlooking Ilkley and beyond. If you're either travelling through Yorkshire or live in the surrounding areas and want to check it out for yourself, below we have provided some info about the Moor and our time there.
Location:
West Yorkshire, England
30km NW of Leeds or 80km NE of Manchester
Our Experience:
In late June, with our time left in Leeds coming to an abrupt end, we decided to take our last opportunities to get out and about to see a bit of our surroundings. One place that had been constantly recommended for a day out was the town of Ilkley and in particular, the Ilkley Moor.
Towering 402m above the small Yorkshire settlement is the vast area of moorland comprising the Rombalds Moor, of which Ilkley Moor forms just a fraction. The hillside and beyond is covered in heather and grass, which is broken up by impressive rock formations and scarring.
We arrived in the afternoon by bus and after popping into the visitor information centre for some directions, we headed South out of Ilkely. You can see the moor from anywhere in town and within 20 minutes we were well and truly making our way up the hillside.
The walk looks a lot tougher than it ended up being, especially when there are many different scenic things to stop and photograph or just appreciate. There is a designated pathway up to the moor that is well signed and mapped, however, you can easily follow the many blazed trails that lead you up.
After about 20mins you'll find yourself on the top ridge-line and looking back down over Ilkley and the beautiful Yorkshire countryside for miles around. We packed ourselves a few snakes and made a small picnic while enjoying the view.
For the next hour or so, we wandered on top of the moor and over to the Cow and Calf rocks, which looking at other people out and about, was a popular photo spot. This is another place perfect to just sit and watch the world roll by (even catching a small film production of some sort), with a cafe and pub close by to grab refreshments if need be.
As we were making our way back around and down, we stumbled upon The Tarn, which was a beautiful large pond just plonked on the hillside. With a few ducklings chirping away, it made for a very relaxing stroll around.
Finally, as we reached the town again, we still had a bit of time before a bus to Leeds came through. So we went for a little wander through Ilkley and settled down for a pint at the First Class Carriage, right next to the train and bus station.
Points of Interest:
Ilkely:
The town itself is quaint and has a lot of character, although very much on the small side. It's worth wandering around the little boutique stores, stopping at a local cafe or visiting the Ilkley Brewery, which producers some very good Northern beers.
White Wells Spa Cottage:
On the way up to the Moor is the nice white buildings of the spa cottage, which offers a lovely view back over the town (without hiking all the way up).
The Tarn:
Is a small hillside lake just up from the start of the climb to the Moor itself. It offers a nice relaxing spot for a picnic or slow walk around watching the ducks.
Cow & Calf rocks:
On the fringes of the Moor, to the south-east of Ilkely, is the rock formation on the hillside known as the Cow and Calf rocks. It offers a nice view and photo spot, while also containing a ton of rock engravings dating back to supposedly the 19th century. There is also both a cafe and pub of the same name down below.
Rombalds Moor:
Once up on top of the Moor itself, you have hectares of open moorland to wander through as you please. Comprising 7 individual moors, of which Ilkley Moor is the most notable, the
Useful Information:
Getting to Ilkely:
Train:
From Leeds
Duration: ~28mins
Times: Run direct every 1/2 hour during the day
Price: ~£10 return (cheaper with railcard)
Duration: ~1hr 28mins
Times: Run via Leeds every 1/2 hour during the day
Price: ~£25 return (cheaper with railcard)
For more info or train bookings see: https://www.thetrainline.com
Bus:
From Leeds
Bus No: X84
Duration: ~1hr 15mins
Times: Run regularly every 1/2 hour to Skipton via Otley
Price: £4.30 for day return purchased from driver.
For timetable & stops see: http://getdown.org.uk/bus/bus/x84.shtml
Information Centre:
Directly south of the bus and train station, the Ilkely Info Centre is located across the road in the entrance of the public library. Here you can collect a map or ask for directions and useful suggestions for your time in the town and out on the Moor.