Walk 3215 - Steeton to Ilkley without a car

  
Click thumbnails for larger images.

This walk traverses the ridge between Airedale and Wharfedale, passing through pleasant pastoral scenery before finishing on a high route offering expansive views of the southern edge of the Dales. Its moorland nature belies the fact that it nevertheless lies entirely within the Bradford metropolitan district and is consequently easily reached by public transport.

The walk starts at Steeton & Silsden railway station on the Airedale line. Go down the road outside the station to the roundabout at the junction with the A629. Cross straight over and continue along the A6034 towards Silsden for 200m, going right at a finger post just after crossing the River Aire. The path crosses several fields before passing through the garden of a large house to arrive at a quiet lane at GR050447.

Turn left up the lane and where it bears left after 300m, keep straight on at a stile following the field boundary to shortly arrive at the Leeds and Liverpool canal. Go right along the towpath for 300m before crossing the canal on a swing bridge to follow a track through Howden Park Farm to a road. Ahead, Rombalds Moor promises more demanding terrain than that encountered so far.

Go left along the road and then immediately right over a stile as the route climbs diagonally across a field, crossing a stile to arrive at a lane. Turn right along the lane and where it ends at a house, go left along a path into Silsden golf course, taking care to follow the green and white route markers. The route leaves the golf course through two gates to reach a quiet road at the hamlet of High Brunthwaite (GR054461).

Turn right up the road and ignoring the first finger post on the left after 200m, continue along the road for a further 50m to a set of partially hidden steps on the left. Climb the steps and a stile and follow the left hand wall up the hill to a stile. About 30m beyond the stile, cross the wall and continue along the other side to a lane. Behind you, views open out over the Aire valley while the moor ahead offers the prospect of pleasures to come.

Continue left up the lane to North End farm. Go through the yard in front of the house to a gate before climbing through a small enclosure to a stile. Don’t cross the stile, but instead turn left and follow the wall across two fields to arrive at Lightbank Lane (GR062467). Go left along the lane for 350m to a stile in the right hand wall where a track can be seen climbing on to the moor. You’ll be relieved to know that this is the final climb on the walk of any significance! On reaching the top at Nab End, stop to enjoy the view for a few moments. A 180 degree panorama opens up over Airedale round towards Skipton and into Wharfedale with Barden Fell and Simons Seat prominent.

From here, the route follows the northern edge of Rombalds and Ilkley Moor to the finish and offers extensive views over Addingham and Ilkley and towards the Southern Dales. Follow the wall on your right, going through a wall stile after 800m to gently climb towards a seat at the viewpoint at Windgate Nick. Keep straight on along the path as it follows the edge above Wharfedale, passing the ancient swastika stone (GR096469) to arrive after 4km at a road on the edge of Ilkley.

Go down the road for 250m, continuing on to a footpath opposite at the first road junction. The path crosses two more roads as it descends into the town to arrive at the top of Parish Ghyll Road. Continue descending to the bottom of the road and turn right into The Grove, Ilkley’s main street from where both the bus and railway stations are just 300m away.

The availability of frequent bus and train services from Leeds, Bradford and other centres to both the start and finish points makes this walk very accessible for those without their own transport. In addition, bus 762 links the start and finish every thirty minutes (hourly on Sunday). Full details can be found at the Metro website www.wymetro.com.

OS Map showing start

Ordnance Survey Map showing starting point of walk - Click Here

Suggested Maps

It is recommended you take a map with you when following a walk route. The preferred scale is 1:25000 used by the Explorer series.

	OS Explorer	1:25,000	Sheet OL21
	OS Explorer	1:25,000	Sheet 297
	OS Landranger	1:50,000	Sheet 104

Note : If two maps are listed at the same scale then either (a) both are required for full coverage of the route or (b) the route is covered on both maps.

Wharfe View B&B, Burnsall
Bed & Breakfast - 10.3 miles / 16.4 km away

Bridge End Farm, Grassington
Guest House - 12.0 miles / 19.2 km away

Rose Cottage, Shibden Fold, Shibden, Halifax
Guest House - 12.4 miles / 19.8 km away

Stayin the Yorkshire Dales, Skipton
Where to Stay Directory - 13.5 miles / 21.5 km away

River House, Malham, near Skipton
Guest House - 14.1 miles / 22.6 km away

Beck Hall B&B, Malham`
Bed & Breakfast - 14.3 miles / 22.8 km away

Cherry Tree Cottages, Barkisland, Halifax
Self Catering - 15.0 miles / 24.1 km away

The Old Station Inn, Giggleswick, Settle
Hotel - 18.7 miles / 29.9 km away

Tyas Cottage, Slaithwaite
Self Catering - 18.9 miles / 30.2 km away

Wood View Guest House, Austwick
Bed & Breakfast - 22.4 miles / 35.8 km away

Self Catering Directory
A wide range of properties throughout UK & Europe

NOTE - all distances are "as the crow flies"

'