Connect Ilkley with Slow Ways

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Ilkley

West Yorkshire


Slow Ways linking Ilkley and Baildon, East Morton, Grassington, Guiseley, Keighley, Otley, Pateley Bridge, Silsden, Skipton, Stainburn, Sun Inn, Norwood

England / West Yorkshire / Ilkley

Ilkley’s eleven Slow Ways are 73% checked

Drawn: 10/11
reviewed: 11/11
verified: 6/11
and surveyed: 4/11

Help connect Ilkley

Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.

Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.

Give a hike and help get a for every one of Ilkley’s Slow Ways.

Walk to Ilkley from further afield

Slow Way Route To do
East Morton—Ilkley
Easilk one

Double check Distance 16km/10mi Ascent 396m Descent 448m
East Morton—Ilkley
Easilk two

Double check Distance 8km/5mi Ascent 244m Descent 297m
East Morton—Ilkley
Easilk three Enjoy me Distance 8km/5mi Ascent 263m Descent 316m
Grassington—Ilkley
Grailk one Enjoy me Distance 27km/17mi Ascent 433m Descent 328m
Grassington—Ilkley
Grailk two Pioneer me Distance 27km/17mi Ascent 850m Descent 746m
Grassington—Ilkley
Grailk three Pioneer me Distance 27km/17mi Ascent 595m Descent 490m
Ilkley—Baildon
Ilkbai one

Double check Distance 10km/6mi Ascent 264m Descent 326m
Ilkley—Baildon
Ilkbai two Pioneer me Distance 10km/6mi Ascent 274m Descent 335m
Ilkley—Guiseley
Ilkgui one Survey me Distance 11km/7mi Ascent 267m Descent 305m
Ilkley—Otley
Ilkotl one Enjoy me Distance 11km/7mi Ascent 304m Descent 270m
Ilkley—Pateley Bridge
Ilkpat one Verify me Distance 24km/15mi Ascent 651m Descent 630m
Ilkley—Stainburn
Ilksta one Review me Distance 17km/11mi Ascent 371m Descent 344m
Ilkley—Sun Inn, Norwood
Ilksun one

Double check Distance 15km/9mi Ascent 344m Descent 252m
Ilkley—Sun Inn, Norwood
Ilksun two Survey me Distance 15km/9mi Ascent - Descent -
Ilkley—Sun Inn, Norwood
Ilksun three Review me Distance 15km/9mi Ascent 370m Descent 279m
Keighley—Ilkley
Keiilk one Enjoy me Distance 10km/6mi Ascent 321m Descent 308m
Silsden—Ilkley
Sililk zero Draw me Distance 0km/0mi Ascent - Descent -
Silsden—Ilkley
Sililk one

Double check Distance 10km/7mi Ascent - Descent -
Silsden—Ilkley
Sililk two Review me Distance 11km/7mi Ascent - Descent -
Skipton—Ilkley
Skiilk one Review me Distance 16km/10mi Ascent 295m Descent 305m
Skipton—Ilkley
Skiilk two Verify me Distance 17km/10mi Ascent 489m Descent 500m

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

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This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Collective progress

58% of Ilkley’s eleven route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified

21/21

drawn

17/21

reviewed

5/21

surveyed

6/21

verified

15 people have contributed to Ilkley’s Slow Ways

4 people have pledged to walk and review a route

7 people have surveyed a route in Ilkley

240km out of 304km have been walked and reviewed

479km of reviews have been shared in Ilkley

Latest Updates

Some of the moorland sections are less well marked or obvious, so careful navigation is needed, and after heavy period of rain quite a lot of the more used paths were particularly muddy....

Sarah

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Some sections are steep and some navigation skill will be required in bad weather....

Ross

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Updated to use the established track over the moor as Ilksun one routes across an area where there is no visible track....

Ross

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Ilkley—Sun Inn, Norwood

Ross added Ilksun three, a new walk from Ilkley to Sun Inn, Norwood

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Given it was November, the light ran out between Addingham and Ilkley having set off around 11, but even so the paths were easy to follow by headlamp....

Sarah

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It falls into two parts: Otley to Burley, which gently tracks along the path of an old railway line; and Burley to Ilkley, where it climbs up to the moors and then follows moorland paths. If somone local knows of a path across the moor between Burley and Ilkley that avoids steep narrow rocky paths when dropping down towards Ilkley, that would make a great alternative route too....

Jane Taylor

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Great route making really good use of the disused railway to cut across from Otley to Burley (a route not many locals know) before reaching up on the Moor with the reward of fantastic views (on a good day..!) along Wharfedale, towards Nidderdale and further east and south. The going is very steady on foot (unsuitable on wheels), although there are some sections liable for mud. The paths on the Moor are less maintained and can be shallow puddles at times, but nothing a pair of boots can't handle....

Sarah

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I'd walked the path from Timble Ings across Askwith Moor before and knew it was straightforward to follow (not the case for all paths on that moor!) Soon the view down to Ilkley opens up and you can see a good swathe of Wharfedale as you start to descend to Denton. I don't think the route should be altered as this is such a delightful addition to it, but in the case of the crossing not being possible, one needs to follow Denton Road east and cross at the footbridge nearer Olicanians CC....

Sarah

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Leaving Ilkley, the route headed fairly steeply up the pavement of a tree-lined housing road. There were quite a lot of footpaths over the moorland, but this route stuck to the slightly lower one that climbs only gradually. Eventually the other side of the ridge appeared, and I could see Keighley and half of the Ilkley to Keighley Slow Ways route that had I walked a few months ago. Both ends of the route had good ranges of shops, cafés and pubs, but the bulk of the route was remote from any facilities....

Mary Oz

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Mary Oz surveyed Sililk two

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Silsden—Ilkley

Mary Oz added Sililk two, a new walk from Silsden to Ilkley

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The main part of the route along the Dales High Way was lovely, and all was fine until, as I descended into Silsden, on the footpath down from North End Farm, the footpath access to the road at High Brunthwaite appeared to have been blocked by the farmer, with ramshackle fencing with no gate or stile. I have uploaded an alternative route....

Mary Oz

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Searching for the path highlighted that there are overgrown drainage ditches and holes in the area that could lead to injuries if not negotiated very carefully. Re-routing to use the dales way link in this section provided a safer and enjoyable alternative....

Ross

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There is quite a climb up to Ilkley moor but it rewards with great views. The path is unmarked in places and there were cows in one field....

Ross

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Ilkley—Otley

Natalie Greenwood pledged to walk Ilkotl one

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Skipton—Ilkley

andrea swearman pledged to walk Skiilk two

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I'm not sure about this route it is long and quite taxing, it passes through some wonderful countryside but it is very dull. The initial section to Ben Rhydding was quite dull being along a busy road....

Stearsb

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Leaving Ilkley, the route is marked as going up Wells Promenade, but I found there was a lovely little landscaped, riverside path in the trees between Wells Promenade and Wells Walk. The route continued steeply uphill along Keighley Road, which had no pavement or verge but was very quiet. Staying on the road looked like a less steep, just as quick, alternative. From here to the sort of crossroads at Whetstone Gate, the road surface was gravel. The road is now called Ilkley Road and there were amazing views to the south and east, while you can see the straight road stretching out for miles ahead - great if you're going downhill....

Mary Oz

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Mary Oz surveyed Keiilk one

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At 1.5 miles from Ilkley you have to leave the nice paved path next to a cairn, and very soon cross a tiny bridge made of two sleepers. At 1.8 miles from Ilkley I crossed another paved route. At 2.0 miles, at Ashlar Chair, the route merged with a line of yellow posts, and as I crossed from Ilkley Moor/Burley Moor to Bingley Moor, I could see the other side of the ridge. At 2.9 miles, I had to be careful to follow the path not the shaved track used by grouse shooters....

Mary Oz

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Mary Oz surveyed Easilk three

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This is a very pleasant walk on which you will encounter gates, kissing gates, steps, steep climbs, stepping stones, a ford and uneven stony ground. It was one of the muddiest parts and included a very narrow kissing gate, steps, steep climbs (slippy), stepping stones, and a ford. Addingham was a pleasant village and the walk along the Dales Way that followed was likewise, especially the section through Low Mill village....

Stearsb

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Navigation skills required to keep to the path. Only four starts because it includes stiles and steps...

Ross

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Good mix of country lanes, moorland and fields....

Michelle

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Lovely walk over Baildon moor over to Ilkley....

Jonathan Dolby

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It’s a lovely walk alongside the river, with only limited ascent (but some slippery paths) around Bolton Abbey, and lots of lovely bridges to look at. Toilets and a cafe available in Bolton Abbey grounds....

Liz

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paul.scholey surveyed Grailk one

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The first half of the walk as far as Bolton Abbey is enjoyable, however has a reasonable amount of road walking or remains on footpaths close to busy roads which spoils the enjoyment somewhat....

paul.scholey

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Ilkley—Sun Inn, Norwood

danravenellison added Ilksun two, a new walk from Ilkley to Sun Inn, Norwood

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The only reason I have not given it 4 stars is because it's not fully accessible... but if I could give it an x-factor star for being great fun and beautiful I would!...

pilea

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You can expect woods, a reservoir, quiet lanes, moorland, stepping stones, riverside paths and good views....

danravenellison

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There's some walking down quiet lanes, but that was welcome after lots of walking on uneven ground earlier in our day....

pilea

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It would be great if someone could suggest another route option that is both easier and more accessible....

danravenellison

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I'll be sharing the route we took and enjoyed as an additional route option, but someone who knows the area well will have additional route options to suggest.....

danravenellison

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Silsden—Ilkley

Slow Ways Darren added Sililk one, a new walk from Silsden to Ilkley

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Silsden—Ilkley

Slow Ways added Sililk zero, a new walk from Silsden to Ilkley

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This route mainly follows roads and gravel tracks and I had hoped that it's redeeming feature would be that I could declare it wheelchair friendly, however that is not the case. After the climb, the path turns left and it's a fairly level route until you get to the road....

Carol

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However, it's not a route for those with mobility issues due to the rocky terrain, a set of steps and, near East Morton, a number of stiles. As you arrive at the road, you may decide to walk down the road to East Morton....

Carol

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It *is* a long route, it's listed as 15 miles, but I recorded it on the OS Maps app and it reported 15.85 miles....

Carol

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I'd downloaded the .gpx file into OS maps and the live positioning was useful in a couple of areas....

[email protected]

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Generally good route but some unnecessary road walking on busy roads without pavements. Easily bypassed on existing footpaths though-check an OS map....

robliz

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This route like Ilkgui also skirts along Ilkley Moor on the Dales Way/Ebor Way so you need to keep Moor Road in sight when on Ilkley Moor. The route also flirts with Burley in Wharfedale (another train station which is handy) and provides an excellent opportunity to play trains as you follow disused railway lines to the edge of Otley, Another safe route but not really suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs when on Ilkley Moor....

Jefferson1776

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Jefferson1776 took this photo on Ilkotl one

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The short road walk in Guiseley is not beautiful, but look out for the clock tower in Netherfield Road car park which is all that is left of the Crompton Parkinson Factory (demolished 2006)....

Jefferson1776

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Most of this route walks along a road which is busy and dangerous to walk along (no verge). It should be deleted....

Carol

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East Morton—Ilkley

Carol added Easilk two, a new walk from East Morton to Ilkley

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East Morton—Ilkley

Carol added Easilk three, a new walk from East Morton to Ilkley

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I thoroughly recommend this walk and plan to repeat it, however, you do need to be agile to get over some of the stiles and be competent following a map/gps device. I did write a more descriptive review but the page timed me out and deleted it......

Carol

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Ilkley

Ross surveyed Ilkley

View facilities
Ilkley

timratcliffe surveyed Ilkley

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Ilkley

Piggles surveyed Ilkley

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Ilkley

Sarah Haines surveyed Ilkley

View facilities
East Morton—Ilkley

Slow Ways added Easilk one, a new walk from East Morton to Ilkley

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Grassington—Ilkley

Slow Ways added Grailk one, a new walk from Grassington to Ilkley

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Grassington—Ilkley

Slow Ways added Grailk two, a new walk from Grassington to Ilkley

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Grassington—Ilkley

Slow Ways added Grailk three, a new walk from Grassington to Ilkley

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Ilkley—Baildon

Slow Ways added Ilkbai one, a new walk from Ilkley to Baildon

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Ilkley—Baildon

Slow Ways added Ilkbai two, a new walk from Ilkley to Baildon

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Ilkley—Guiseley

Slow Ways added Ilkgui one, a new walk from Ilkley to Guiseley

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Ilkley—Otley

Slow Ways added Ilkotl one, a new walk from Ilkley to Otley

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Ilkley—Pateley Bridge

Slow Ways added Ilkpat one, a new walk from Ilkley to Pateley Bridge

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Ilkley—Stainburn

Slow Ways added Ilksta one, a new walk from Ilkley to Stainburn

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Ilkley—Sun Inn, Norwood

Slow Ways added Ilksun one, a new walk from Ilkley to Sun Inn, Norwood

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Keighley—Ilkley

Slow Ways added Keiilk one, a new walk from Keighley to Ilkley

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Skipton—Ilkley

Slow Ways added Skiilk one, a new walk from Skipton to Ilkley

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Skipton—Ilkley

Slow Ways added Skiilk two, a new walk from Skipton to Ilkley

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1

Ilkley, Sat 27 April

10°

Cloudy

Ilkley’s Slow Ways starting point

Grid ref

SE1182247626

Lat / Lon

53.92465° / -1.82147°

Easting / Northing

411,822E / 447,626N

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Ilkley and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Facilities

Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Ilkley's meeting point

Public toilet

Wheelchair accessible toilet

Supermarket or convenience shop

Restaurant, cafe or pub

Accommodation

Accommodation for under £50 a night

Campsite

Bothy

Free wifi

Mobility scooter hire

Off-road wheelchair hire

Disabled Parking

Train station

Bus stop

Ferry

Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town

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