15th August 2021 - Ilkley Moor
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.9 miles
Total ascent: 1782 ft
OS map used: 297 - Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Darwin Gardens, Ilkley-Wells Road-Keighley Road-Millennium Way-Nab End-Addingham High Moor-West Buck Stones-East Buck Stones-Ilkley Moor-Lanshaw Lad-Twelve Apostles Stone Circle-Burley Moor-Cow and Calf-Ilkley Crags-White Wells-Darwin Gardens, Ilkley
I decided to head to Ilkley for my walk this weekend. Ilkley Moor has plenty of heather on it, and I've done a few walks across it at this time of year so know that when the heather is in bloom it puts on a great display, and today was no exception. The route that I went for started from Ilkley and made the most of the day by traversing the length of the moor from its western end at Nab End to its eastern end above Burley in Wharfedale, with paths across the northern slopes of the moor used to leave and return to Ilkley. Although the day was predominantly cloudy there were some sunny spells every now and then, which fortunately coincided with me being amongst the heathery parts of the moors. A little sunshine is needed for the heather to look at its best. It didn't stay completely dry though. The strong breeze brought a drizzly shower through while I was on Burley Moor in the middle of the afternoon, but it was brief, not worth putting my waterproofs on for.
From the car park at the Darwin Gardens in Ilkley I walked up Wells Road, then up Keighley Road, and onto the trail of the Millennium Way. I followed this west along the northern edge of the moor to Windgate Nick, and then took the footpath west by White Crag Plantation to reach Nab End. After taking in the view I retraced my steps to Windgate Nick and took a path southeast by a wall up onto Addingham High Moor and to the trig point. From there I followed the path southeast by the wall across Crawshaw Moss and up to West Buck Stones, where I stopped for lunch. I then made my way to the nearby East Buck Stones, then east along a path by the wall to Whetstone Gate, and the Thimble Stones, and then up to the trig point on Ilkley Moor. From the trig point I kept heading east along a flagged path to reach the Lanshaw Lad boundary stone, and the Twelve Apostles Stone Circle. I took the path south from the stone circle, then a track on the left east down Burley Moor past High Lanshaw Dam, Lower Lanshaw Dam and to Carr Bottom Reservoir. Approaching the bottom of the track at the edge of access land, I took a track north below Carr Bottom Reservoir past York View and Crag Top to pick up a footpath west up to Barks Crag. I then followed the path northwest along the edge of the moor past Stead Crag to reach the Cow and Calf, and from there I made my way up onto Ilkley Crags. For my return to Ilkley I took the path from Ilkley Crags down past White Wells to reach Wells Road and the car park at the Darwin Gardens.
Total ascent: 1782 ft
OS map used: 297 - Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Darwin Gardens, Ilkley-Wells Road-Keighley Road-Millennium Way-Nab End-Addingham High Moor-West Buck Stones-East Buck Stones-Ilkley Moor-Lanshaw Lad-Twelve Apostles Stone Circle-Burley Moor-Cow and Calf-Ilkley Crags-White Wells-Darwin Gardens, Ilkley
I decided to head to Ilkley for my walk this weekend. Ilkley Moor has plenty of heather on it, and I've done a few walks across it at this time of year so know that when the heather is in bloom it puts on a great display, and today was no exception. The route that I went for started from Ilkley and made the most of the day by traversing the length of the moor from its western end at Nab End to its eastern end above Burley in Wharfedale, with paths across the northern slopes of the moor used to leave and return to Ilkley. Although the day was predominantly cloudy there were some sunny spells every now and then, which fortunately coincided with me being amongst the heathery parts of the moors. A little sunshine is needed for the heather to look at its best. It didn't stay completely dry though. The strong breeze brought a drizzly shower through while I was on Burley Moor in the middle of the afternoon, but it was brief, not worth putting my waterproofs on for.
From the car park at the Darwin Gardens in Ilkley I walked up Wells Road, then up Keighley Road, and onto the trail of the Millennium Way. I followed this west along the northern edge of the moor to Windgate Nick, and then took the footpath west by White Crag Plantation to reach Nab End. After taking in the view I retraced my steps to Windgate Nick and took a path southeast by a wall up onto Addingham High Moor and to the trig point. From there I followed the path southeast by the wall across Crawshaw Moss and up to West Buck Stones, where I stopped for lunch. I then made my way to the nearby East Buck Stones, then east along a path by the wall to Whetstone Gate, and the Thimble Stones, and then up to the trig point on Ilkley Moor. From the trig point I kept heading east along a flagged path to reach the Lanshaw Lad boundary stone, and the Twelve Apostles Stone Circle. I took the path south from the stone circle, then a track on the left east down Burley Moor past High Lanshaw Dam, Lower Lanshaw Dam and to Carr Bottom Reservoir. Approaching the bottom of the track at the edge of access land, I took a track north below Carr Bottom Reservoir past York View and Crag Top to pick up a footpath west up to Barks Crag. I then followed the path northwest along the edge of the moor past Stead Crag to reach the Cow and Calf, and from there I made my way up onto Ilkley Crags. For my return to Ilkley I took the path from Ilkley Crags down past White Wells to reach Wells Road and the car park at the Darwin Gardens.
Route map
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.
Leaving Ilkley on the Millennium Way
Looking back across the northern slopes of Ilkley Moor
A small reservoir provides a foreground for a view across Wharfedale to Beamsley Beacon and Round Hill
Heading west to Woodhouse Crag
Looking up Wharfedale to a distant Great Whernside from Woodhouse Crag
The Swastika Stone
A bit of sunshine brightens up the view across Wharfedale
Looking back to Ilkley from Piper's Crag
Addingham and Wharfedale from Piper's Crag
Heading west to Addingham Crag
Beamsley Beacon, Middleton Moor and Wharfedale from Addingham Crag
There's a fine display of heather on Addingham High Moor...
Looking across Addingham High Moor to Rivock Edge
Before I head up onto Addingham High Moor I'm going to keep making my way west past Windgate Nick and White Crag Plantation to Nab End
On Nab End. Airedale, Cross Hills and Silsden.
Looking north to Draughton Moor, Barden Moor and Simon's Seat
Great Whernside in the distance on the left, Simon's Seat, Addingham and Beamsley Beacon
Looking across Airedale to Steeton Moor, Ickornshaw Moor and Earl Crag
Heading for the top of Addingham High Moor
Looking north across Addingham High Moor to Barden Moor, Great Whernside and Simon's Seat
At the trig point on Addingham High Moor
Looking across Airedale to Earl Crag and a distant Pendle Hill
The bulk of Ilkley Moor to the southeast
I pass through a sea of heather as I leave the trig point behind and make my way towards West Buck Stones..
Boundary stone on the edge of Crawshaw Moss
Heading from Crawshaw Moss to West Buck Stones
On West Buck Stones. Looking back north across Crawshaw Moss.
and west across Airedale to Earl Crag and the moors around Lothersdale
On East Buck Stones
Looking north across Wharfedale to Simon's Seat, Beamsley Beacon and Round Hill
and west back to West Buck Stones, with the moors around Airedale in the distance
It was worth waiting for the sun to come out to take in this view up Wharfedale to Great Whernside from East Buck Stones. The heather looks at its best in the sunshine.
Ilkley Moor from East Buck Stones
Heading across Ilkley Moor to the Thimble Stones
Carpets of purple covering the moor
OS benchmark on one of the Thimble Stones
My favourite shot of the day. Looking through the Thimble Stones across Ilkley Moor.
"Puddle". One of the Stanza Stones.
At the trig point on Ilkley Moor
The trig point is left for the path east across Ilkley Moor
The view north across Wharfedale
At the boundary stone of Lanshaw Lad
The Twelve Apostles stone circle
Following the track east to Burley Moor and past High Lanshaw Dam...
A drizzly shower passes through. It wasn't worth putting my waterproofs on for.
Lower Lanshaw Dam
Reaching the eastern end of Burley Moor with The Chevin and the village of Menston below
At the eastern end of Burley Moor and I take the path northwest up towards Barks Crag
Burley in Wharfedale and The Chevin from Barks Crag
Following the moorland edge path to the northwest past Stead Crag and the Cow and Calf come into view below..
The Cow and Calf
Ilkley Crag from the Cow and Calf
Wharfedale and Ilkley from Ilkley Crags..
Making my way down past White Wells as I return Ilkley..
