~Ilkley Moor~
28th May 2011
A huge mass of high level ground keeps Wharfedale apart from Airedale; Ilkley out of sight from Keighley. The map tends to suggest the mass is a combination of many moors -Rombalds, Bingley, Hawksworth, Addingham and Ilkley. I met up with local guide, David Dimmock and allowed him to lead the way from Silsden onto the moors.
The Calf
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
Start Point
Josie Dimmock kindly gave us a lift up to the start point on the sharp bend at the top of the road out of Silsden, heading for Addingham. We had watched one shower pass and now, at 10:20, we were optimistic of fine weather.
Silsden
Silsden's residential sector. Put a cross where you think the Dimmocks live. Nearest the house wins a small prize. We are heading up to Lightbank Lane for an ascent of Nab End.
Windblown Hawthorn
The tv mast in the background will feature later on the walk.
Memorial
There are two memorials in this area to the crews of two wartime aircraft which crashed on the moor. Dave indicated that this would be quite a long walk. Longer walks are possible for me when the cumulative ascent is not too great. Otherwise I get too tired and start complaining.
Boundary Stone
G and N are the two domains on either side of the stone. I'm not sure what they stand for. Addingham is further away.
Ilkley Lawn Tennis Club
The tennis club holds important tournaments. The River Wharfe is down there and further away is Myddleton Lodge.
The Neb Stone
Part of Ilkley
Ilkley is a long town and this shows the up river, west side.
Cow and Calf
We are dropping down to the features known as The Cow and Calf. It's been quite windy, so we're looking for a sheltered spot for our butty stop. A lot more folk at this end of the moor.
Rocky Valley, Ilkley Moor
The Calf
The Cow being the big lump to the left of the detached "Calf". We are now at the a long way from our start point.
Spot The Bird
Curlew
Dave is the wildlife expert. He thought the Curlews were intentionally distracting us and taking us away from their nest.
Dave looks for his wallet. We head into the wind and across the moor, looking for Keighley Road - a route over the moor from Ilkley.
Menwith Hill
The listening station from Keighley Road. Dave and I were not talking to each other at this point. It wasn't something he'd said, the strong wind and associated noise made conversation difficult.
Cowper's Cross
Internet research suggests that this is possibly not the original stonework. Adjacent to the moorland track, soon to become the tarmaced Ilkley Road, rising up from Keighley in Airedale.
The Long, Unwinding Road
Silsden Road
The long Ilkley Road joins Silsden Road and we have to stay on tarmac until we see the path to the tv mast. We pass a sign saying "Silsden 3 miles"; a mile or so further on a demoralising roadsign says "Silsden 3 miles".
Forest View
Dave's route takes us through a corner of Low Moor Wood and out the other side heading for Black Pots Farm.
Black Pots Farm
Our route meanders around to Black Pots Farm, with Rombalds Moor in the background.
Farm Tracks
The Doubler Stones
Moor View
After Black Pots Farm, we followed the track to arrive at Far Ghyll Grange Farm. Then it was off to find the way down to the canal with a waterfall on the way.
Waterfall
Swing Bridge, Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Dave and I sat on a bench and he called Josie for a lift from Silsden centre back to home. Very handy. It's been a long walk over new (for me) and varied landscapes.
Silsden Canal View
Walkers: Dave Dimmock & Me.
Time taken: 8hrs 10mins over a distance of about 19 miles.
Route: Silsden, Rombalds Moor, Ilkley Moor, Cow and Calf Rocks, vast moorland, Keighley Road, Cowper's Cross, Ilkley Road, Silsden Road, Low Moor Wood, Black Pots Farm, Far Ghyll Grang Farm, Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Silsden.
Weather and conditions: Cloudy, to sunny intervals, no showers or rain. Rather breezy on the tops.
Greetings Count: Quite quiet apart from the busy end of Ilkley Moor, where visitors can park very close to the Cow and Calf.
Richard's Refreshment Review: Brews before and after at the Dimmocks, first rate.
Take me back to the start ....