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19th August 2014 - Ilkley Moor

Walk Details

Distance walked: 9.0 miles

Total ascent: 1122 ft

OS map used: 297 - Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley

Time taken: 5 hrs

Route description: Ilkley-Millennium Way-Addingham High Moor-East Buck Stones-Whetstone Gate-Ilkley Moor-Lanshaw Lad-Twelve Apostles-Ilkley Crags-Cow and Calf-Ilkley

This was actually my first visit to Ilkley for this walk across Ilkley Moor and I'll definitely be back. I deliberately picked a weekday so that it wasn't so busy. There was some sunshine around when I set off but it was one of those days when the clouds fill in for the afternoon and then die away as evening approaches. Despite that and the cool breeze it was an enjoyable walk especially with all the heather in bloom.

From the Darwin Memorial Gardens car park on Wells Road I walked up the road for a short distance before taking the Millennium Way path that runs across the northern edge of Ilkley Moor. When it reached its high point on Addingham High Moor I left it behind and made my way up to the trig point. I then continued across Rombalds Moor past the Buck Stones and the Wireless Station at Whetstone Gate to reach the trig point on the top of Ilkley Moor. I paid the boundary stone of Lanshaw Lad and the Twelve Apostles stone circle a visit before heading down to Ilkley Crags and then the Cow and Calf Rocks. It was then just a case of making my way through the network of paths back to Ilkley (with a diversion for a cup of tea at the hillside cafe of White Wells).

Route map
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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

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Onto the Millennium Way
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The Swastika Stone at the top of Woodhouse Crag. It's been fenced off to protect it.
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The view north up Wharfedale from the site of the Swastika Stone
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I do like the mix of heather and gritstone boulders
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I'll continue following this path along the edge of the moor to the high point ahead
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The heather is certainly having a good year
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Having left the Millennium Way path I'm making my way up onto Addingham High Moor and the trig point on its top. There's a gate where the walls join up ahead.
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Lots of heathery moors
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The view from the top of Addingham High Moor. Looking west, the highest hill on the left is Boulsworth Hill, then there's the sharp drop of Earl Crag and the distinctive profile of Pendle Hill.
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To the north Wharfedale and the hills at its head, Buckden Pike and Great Whernside
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Now at East Buck Stones
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More boulders and heather
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On past the Wireless Station and there's a flagged path to carry me across the top of Ilkley Moor
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At the high point of the walk, the trig point atop Ilkley Moor
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Boulsworth Hill and Pendle Hill to the west
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Looking north to the hills around Wharfedale
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Wide open spaces
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The major conurbations of West Yorkshire to the south plus there's a reminder every now and then that Leeds-Bradford airport isn't too far away
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The Lanshaw Lad boundary stone
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The Twelve Apostles stone circle
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Onto the path that will take me to the top of Ilkley Crags
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On the top of Ilkley Crags. Ilkley and Wharfedale below with..
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..Middleton Moor on the other side of the valley
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Heading down to the Cow and Calf Rocks
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The detached block is The Calf with crag above being The Cow
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The Calf. It doesn't look that big until you stand next to it.
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There's a footbridge over Backstone Beck below as I make my way back to Ilkley through an interesting mix of terrain. Boulders, heather and lots of bracken.
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A final shot of Ilkley from the White Wells Cafe

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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2022                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
  • About this site
  • Walking Diaries
    • Walking Diary 2022
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    • Walking Diary 2018
    • Walking Diary 2017
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    • Walking Diary 2015
    • Walking Diary 2014
    • Walking Diary 2013
    • Walking Diary 2012
    • Walking Diary 2011
    • Walking Diary 2010
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  • Lake District Walks
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