If you like walking, catch the train to Ilkley and try this one.
YORKSHIRE SEASIDERS YOMP.
Route: Ilkley to Shipley. Approx 10 miles. 4-5 hours.
Mostly along the route of the Dales Way Link. (Medium difficulty).
AGENDA & ROUTE:
MEET: Ilkley Station Forecourt @10.30 AM.
Walk to Local Pub, for a quick pint to see us on our way.
Leave pub at 11.00 and head towards White Wells, Climbing towards Ilkley Moor.
Continue through Rocky Valley and then climb to top of Moor, via Ilkley Crags,
this is probably the hardest part of the walk, so a rest for 5 mins or so may be required.
Enjoy the view of the Wharfe Valley and Ilkley itself.
Follow path via Gills Head towards Burley Moor and Bingley Moor. A little up and down but climbing gently and enjoy the views towards the East, North East of the County, the South, the West towards Pendle Hill etc. This part of the walk is done on a laid out board walk with a small stream to cross at Gills Head and eventually takes you past the border stone between Ilkley Moor and Burley Moor.
After a hundred yards or so you will come across a small stone circle, known as the Twelve Apostles, ideal for a short stop to look at the views and take pictures if required.
The track now slowly starts to descend towards Bingley Moor and a marked stone appears on your right to confirm to you that you are on the correct route to Eldwick, Saltaire and Bingley. Several paths converge here, but we continue straight ahead.
We continue through the gate in the wall onto Bingley Moor and soon encounter the Yellow Bog (local name), if the weather has been inclement, this bog can be very wet and in parts deep, but is not impossible to tackle so long as care is taken, It is a well-worn path.
We pass another ancient milestone which inform us that Ilkey is three and a quarter miles.
Eventually passing through another stone wall we keep the fence to our left and walk down a rather steep path towards the Otley Road and Dick Hudson’s PH.
Care should be taken crossing this ‘race track’ and enter the pub garden through a gate in the wall onto the car park at the rear of the pub.
Dick Hudson’s is a well-known and excellent ‘watering hole’, where decent beer and food is served ETA 12.30 – 13.00. There is a nice beer garden and good views.
After this break, we set off on the most dangerous part of the route
, crossing Eldwick Road/Otley Road junction and going single file along Otley Road, past Crag Farm, for around 300 Yards till we reach a stile into a field on our right, just before Eldwick Crag Farm.
Head diagonally across to a wall on the right and follow the wall, keeping it to your right until you reach the field corner and a stile on the right.
Do not cross the stile, but turn left following the wall to your right until you find another stile (NB this can be a very wet section). Cross the stile and turn right following the track past two houses for around 200 yards.
Pass through a gate on your left, and head for a wooden electricity pole in the field where you bear slightly to the left and head for the gate at the exit to the field, using the adjacent stile. Continue straight ahead, keeping the stone wall to your right, to a further gate and once again using the stile exit the field. Turn sharp right and follow the grass track climbing a further stile around the half way mark towards the Golcar farm complex. Follow the track keeping the farm buildings to your right,
NB this route is permissive to avoid the track through the farmyard.
It is, at the right time of the year, to see peregrines nesting and circling in this area.to your left.
There is a bridleway gate at the end of the track which you pass through and follow the rough farm track towards Glovershaw Lane. Once again
be careful of fast moving traffic as you cross the road to a small stile in the wall, opposite, where you turn right and follow the pathway past Glovershaw Farm.
The path follows the route of Glovershaw Beck and a couple of small footbridges are crossed on the way down. Ending in the footpath diverging to the left and the Beck to the right. There is now a fairly steep incline to reach the top of Shipley Glen with an old quarry site to the right. Pass two concrete Bollards to emerge onto the Glen and rest a while before proceeding and take in the views. There is a rather steep and rocky incline to go down into the Glen itself and Trench Woods and an old mill reservoir appears on the right at the foot of the decent. From Here follow the main track until an incline appears on the left which leads to the Glen Public House. Great Beer & again good food, Beer Garden and a Café opposite if Icecream/ Tea/homemade cake is your preference.
Exit the pub/cafe after a suitable break at the rear and follow the downward path, turning left at the fork. This brings you out at the Bus turning point and a small estate. Continue straight on and turn left before the River Bridge, a route which takes you along the side of the river, through Roberts Park and then over the iron bridge opposite Salts Mill. the Boathouse PH is to your right.
Follow the canal tow path towards Leeds between the buildings of Salts Mill passing a small group of old cottages on the canal known as Jane Hill’s. Exit the canal at an iron footbridge approximately ½ mile and follow the passage to the main road, turning right, then
head for the controlled crossing. The Fox Public House is approx. 25 yards up the hill on the left. Small, but an excellent selection of beers and lagers.
Shipley Station is to the rear of the Fox with trains running to Leeds, (Platforms 1 & 3), Bradford, (Platforms 4&5), Ilkley (Platform 3), Skipton and beyond, plus all stops between, Morecambe or Carlisle (Platforms 2. Platform 5 for Skipton only)
DISCLAIMER: You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of others whilst using this route, which is a guide only. Please be sensible and follow the country code.
Yorkshire Seasiders provide this for information for those interested in walking the route and cannot be held responsible for any misfortunes of injuries occurring during the partaking of the walk. Whilst Public Houses are mentioned in the text, be drink aware. Correct at time of writing.
…….would be a great place for a pub crawl but I’ve never had a single pint there in my 3/4 visits as been driving etc 
you've got to face reality though
