| On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at |
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Date : 4th October 2009
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Leader : David Hill |
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Report by : Phil Bedson |
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Photos © : Phil Bedson |
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| A full rainbow over Ilkley Moor | |
Ilkley was the destination for 8 members of Hyndburn Group. With a mixed forecast it was great to setting off under a blue sky and warm autumn sun. Parking at the top of the town, on the edge of Ilkley Moor, we set off in an eastwards direction keeping to the low path. We skirted around a large pond and started on a gentle sloping path which wound its way through these lower slopes of the moor. The views back to Ilkley and down into the valley were clear and we were surprised at just how much height had been gained. We continued along the clear path and upon reaching a wall end we had a drink stop. It was also around this time one of our group had a little impromptu lesson in map-reading from David Hill, our leader for the day.
Upon resuming the walk our ’trainee’ was ably leading the way under supervision and it wasn’t long before a marker post indicated a sharp right turn which heralded the start of an upwards incline. As we reached the top a shower of rain was starting to fall and as we stopped to get the waterproofs on a rainbow was forming down in the valley from which we had initially ascended. Our trainee also used this pause to retake a backseat in the leadership role.
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left:
Ascending the moor |
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right: Ilkley Moor in all it's glory |
Moorland walking can be a little bit tedious at times, especially in the rain, though just fifteen minutes later the shower had stopped, the sun and blue skies returned and waterproofs were returned to the rucksacks. Almost immediately a problem arose in the form of the path disappearing beneath a quagmire which seemed to have swallowed up the moorland either side too. After a little bit of exploration and prodding with sticks the group eventually found a way around, even if six went to the left whilst two decided the right hand side was the better option. We met up on the other side and continued on our way amazed that no-one had succumbed to the depths when a smaller, less innocuous looking soft spot, caught one of us out. Yes, after most had safely hopped over, one of the group went one knee deep in practically the same spot everyone had negotiated without incident. With only their ego wounded however we continued on our way only for, within minutes, yet another person was felled by a hole in the ground cleverly concealed by nature in the form of long grass. Another ego was the only casualty however and, upon reaching a wall stile, we paused for a breather. The clear path from here was slightly downhill and it wasn’t long before a busy country road heralded the end of the moor. Did someone say moorland walking is tedious??
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Tedious moorland path |
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right: A line of walkers |
Crossing the road we continued on a downward field path before striking off to our right. After crossing a dip, and a footbridge, we ascended up to some steps that led to a gap stile onto a track almost at its junction with a small lane. We joined this lane and followed it until we reached a farm and it was here that our leader called time for lunch.
With full bellies we resumed the walk and were soon walking upon a strange soft surfaced track which, we were reliably informed, was a gallop for racehorses. Sure enough, upon close inspection the odd hoof print could be seen. At a more serene pace than galloping we continued on and, leaving the track we strode out across a field and headed for a stile which our leader had spotted from afar due to its white marking. Upon reaching the white carrier bag caught on a fence pole a quick glance around spotted a real way marker a little way uphill and from here the stile was plain to see. The rain, which had recently started up again, was apparently partly to blame for this mistaken identity. A couple of fields and a stile into a farmyard then led us onto a rowan tree lined lane which was duly followed to its juncture with the road. The rain had stopped again.
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left:
Along the gallops |
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right: Rowan berries |
Road walking was the only way forward as we followed this route for the next half a mile up to a pub called ’Dick Hudsons’ which looked quite busy with the Sunday lunch crowd. Shortly thereafter we took a kissing gate back onto the lower slopes of the moor to begin the final trek back over to Ilkley. As we ascended we noticed a way marker which proudly proclaimed ‘Ilkley 3 miles’ and, trudging on, it seemed but a moment when we reached one that said ‘Ilkley 2 miles’. Just a short distance further on we arrived at the stone circle known as the Twelve Apostles and we duly declared it a good place for a break as our leader also duly declared “It’s all downhill from here”.
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At least we knew we were going in the right direction! |
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right: Twelve Apostles |
Sure enough it was all downhill. We found ourselves walking along paths made from old railway sleepers put down to keep erosion at bay and our feet dry. It made for a good pace and before long we arrived at the errant white building known as Whitewells. Situated on the edge of the moor above Ilkley all becomes clear why it is there upon entering the building. Originally a Roman well (the Romans were prominent in Ilkley) it was ‘refurbished’ by the Victorians as a spa and, in the latter part of the 19thC, people would come up to bathe in the waters. After the brief stop for viewing the bathhouse the trail downhill took us ten short minutes to arrive back at our starting point.
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| The descent back into Ilkley | |
