Ilkley and Ilkley Moor

Ilkley College was originally built in 1865 as Wells House Hydropathic Hotel; this architecturally outstanding building and park now houses the Ilkley Campus of Bradford and Ilkley Community College.

Further on the route is the narrow wooded valley of Heber's Ghyll (see my walk) with ornamental paths and bridges landscaped in typical late Victorian style. Taking its name from an old Ilkley family (the Hebers of nearby Hollin Hall), the ghyll is noted for its ferns, oak and birch woods, and a series of waterfalls.

On the moor itself is the Swastika Stone. The mysterious carving on this moorland boulder is in fact a "fylfot" — an ancient Indo-European symbol of eternal life. The carving has a modern replica alongside it, while the original, protected within iron railings, probably dates from some 2,500 to 3,000 years ago.

Ilkley Moor is particularly rich in archaeological remains, including literally scores of mysterious cup-and-ring-marked stones and ancient stone circles. Furthermore, its northern edge provides a marvellous viewpoint across and into the centre of Wharfedale and the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Further east along the moor edge is White Wells, built as a small bathhouse in the 1760s by Squire Middleton of Ilkley. Situated over Ilkley Moor's most famous spring, it only took a few years before wealthy, gouty invalids were coming from all over England to be carried by donkey from their Ilkley lodgings to be plunged into the clear, icy waters. The wells have been beautifully restored and are open to the public, complemented by a small museum and tea rooms.

Below White Wells are the Tarns, landscaped from moorland pools to enhance their picturesque effect. Much of the traditional moorland heather and bilberry — richly purple in late summer — had been lost through overgrazing and trampling, but in recent years steps have been taken to restore the colourful display to its natural peak.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.