26th October 2024 - Ilkley Moor
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.6 miles
Total ascent: 1888 ft
OS map used: 297 - Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Ilkley-Wells Road-Millennium Way-Windgate Nick-Nab End-Lightbank Lane-Doubler Stones-Addingham High Moor-West Buck Stones-East Buck Stones-Ilkley Moor-Lanshaw Lad-Twelve Apostles Stone Circle-Burley Moor-Ilkley Crags-White Wells-Ilkley
There's going to be some fine autumn weather this weekend, today having the best, and to make the most of it I decided to head to Ilkley and do a walk that would traverse 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. It's one that I've done before, in July 2023, on what was a lovely summer's day. I set off from Ilkley with a lot of blue skies, but with a bit of low cloud over the moors. This increased through the morning so that it became quite grey for time. Fortunately it didn't last long, and the afternoon had some lovely autumn weather with sunny spells and gentle breezes for taking in the great views from the moors.
After parking in the Darwin Memorial Gardens car park on Wells Road I walked west up Wells Roads before turning left onto the lane of Keighley Road up onto Ilkley Moor. I soon left this though for the trail of the Millennium Way. I followed this west across the hillside, past the Swastika Stone and the Noon Stone to Windgate NIck. The trail was left behind here for a footpath down Nab End to Lightbank Lane. I followed the road south and at a sharp right-hand bend left it for a bridleway east across the moor along a driveway to a bungalow. I then took a public footpath north and uphill to the Doubler Stones. After taking a break here I continued north on the footpath to reach the wall on Addingham High Moor. Once through I turned right and followed a path up to the trig point on Addingham High Moor, then on along the forest boundary to the West and East Buck Stones (where I stopped for lunch), and past Whetstone Gate to eventually arrive at the trig point on the top of 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, across Backstone Beck, and then 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: 1888 ft
OS map used: 297 - Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Ilkley-Wells Road-Millennium Way-Windgate Nick-Nab End-Lightbank Lane-Doubler Stones-Addingham High Moor-West Buck Stones-East Buck Stones-Ilkley Moor-Lanshaw Lad-Twelve Apostles Stone Circle-Burley Moor-Ilkley Crags-White Wells-Ilkley
There's going to be some fine autumn weather this weekend, today having the best, and to make the most of it I decided to head to Ilkley and do a walk that would traverse 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. It's one that I've done before, in July 2023, on what was a lovely summer's day. I set off from Ilkley with a lot of blue skies, but with a bit of low cloud over the moors. This increased through the morning so that it became quite grey for time. Fortunately it didn't last long, and the afternoon had some lovely autumn weather with sunny spells and gentle breezes for taking in the great views from the moors.
After parking in the Darwin Memorial Gardens car park on Wells Road I walked west up Wells Roads before turning left onto the lane of Keighley Road up onto Ilkley Moor. I soon left this though for the trail of the Millennium Way. I followed this west across the hillside, past the Swastika Stone and the Noon Stone to Windgate NIck. The trail was left behind here for a footpath down Nab End to Lightbank Lane. I followed the road south and at a sharp right-hand bend left it for a bridleway east across the moor along a driveway to a bungalow. I then took a public footpath north and uphill to the Doubler Stones. After taking a break here I continued north on the footpath to reach the wall on Addingham High Moor. Once through I turned right and followed a path up to the trig point on Addingham High Moor, then on along the forest boundary to the West and East Buck Stones (where I stopped for lunch), and past Whetstone Gate to eventually arrive at the trig point on the top of 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, across Backstone Beck, and then 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
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I leave Ilkley behind by taking the Millennium Way west along the side of Ilkley Moor
Looking up Wharfedale to Barden Moor and Barden Fell from Woodhouse Crag..
..and across Ilkley to Denton Moor and Askwith Moor
Heading west to Piper's Crag..
Addingham and Wharfedale from Piper's Crag
Looking back to Ilkley as I pass the Noon Stone
Addingham High Moor
Approaching Windgate Nick
Looking across to Rivock Edge above Airedale
From Windgate Nick I take the footpath by White Crag Plantation to Nab End
Looking across Airedale to Steeton Moor, Steeton, Keighley Moor, Earl Crag, Silsden, and Silsden Moor from Nab End
Having descended from Nab End I walk south along Lightbank Lane
On the bridleway to Black Pots. The Doubler Stones are on the hillside just ahead.
At the Doubler Stones, a good place to stop for a break. A hard cap of gritstone has protected softer sandstone underneath from erosion..
Taking in the view across Airedale from the Doubler Stones
From the Doubler Stones I head up onto Addingham High Moor, and then up to the trig point on Addingham High Moor...
Looking across Wharfedale to Beamsley Beacon, Round Hill, and Denton Moor from Addingham High Moor
and up Wharfedale to Barden Moor and Barden Fell
At the trig point on Addingham High Moor
Addingham High Moor, an expanse of heather
Heading for West Buck Stones..
On West Buck Stones. Looking across Addingham High Moor and up Wharfedale to Barden Moor, and Barden Fell.
Ickornshaw Moor, Earl Crag, Pendle Hill and the moors around Lothersdale in the distance
On East Buck Stones
There's a great view looking up Wharfedale to Barden Moor and Barden Fell, and I can just make out Buckden Pike and Great Whernside in the distance between them...
Ickornshaw Moor, Earl Crag, Pendle Hill and the moors around Lothersdale in the distance from East Buck Stones
From East Buck Stones I follow a path east across the moor..
..to Cowper's Cross
Heading across Ilkley Moor to the Thimble Stones
Looking through the Thimble Stones across Ilkley Moor..
Autumnal colours for taking in the view across Wharfedale
"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
At the boundary stone of Lanshaw Lad
Following the track east to Burley Moor and past High Lanshaw Dam...
Looking north across Wharfedale to Round Hill, Denton Moor, and Askwith Moor
Passing the shooting hut on Burley Moor
Heading east across Burley Moor
Lower Lanshaw Dam
The visibility is pretty good today. I think the tall buildings in the distance that I can make out are those in Leeds city centre.
The round hump of Baildon Moor to the south
Reaching the eastern end of Burley Moor with The Chevin and the village of Menston below
Following the track north along the edge of access land to Barks Crag..
Looking across to The Chevin from Barks Crag
From Barks Crag I take the path northwest along the edge of the moor
Burley-in-Wharfedale, Otley, and The Chevin
Making my way along the edge of the moor to Ilkley Crags..
Taking in the great view of Ilkley and Wharfedale from Ilkley Crags..
A final shot of Ilkley from above White Wells as I make my way down to the Darwin Memorial Gardens car park on Wells Road