Ilkley Rocks Part 1
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 4.93 mi
- Elevation gain
- 892 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 823 ft
- Max elevation
- 1,107 ft
- TrailRank
- 33
- Min elevation
- 265 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Moving time
- 2 hours 5 minutes
- Time
- 3 hours 2 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1398
- Uploaded
- August 22, 2023
- Recorded
- August 2023
near Ben Rhydding, England (United Kingdom)
Viewed 22 times, downloaded 0 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
This is a semi-circular tour; I started it from near Ben Rhydding railway station and completed it at the bus station (adjacent to the train station) in Ilkley. My aim was to see a number of the more famous rocks on the moor.
From the bus stop (reached by X84 from Leeds) I walked up Wheatley Lane and then turned on to Ben Rhydding Drive; eventually this road becomes a track to the moor. I turned right on to Moor Road and opposite a small car-park (free) took a path leading up on to the moor. It is a continuous climb from the bus stop to Moor Road and then another climb through the bracken up on to the moor.
The first rock that I came to was the Pancake Rock (SE 13403 46226) and unmistakable in its shape. I carried on along the broad track westwards and came to the Haystack Rock (SE130 463), another rock that you can’t miss. What I did miss though was the Planets Stone (SE12961 46396) a little further to the west. The Haystack Rock is at the junction of two paths.
From the Haystack I made my way to the Idol Rock (SE 13296 45898). Unfortunately, this has had some modern carvings made on its rear. By the side of the path on the left as I returned to the Haystack Rock, I saw a small cup-marked stone: this is the Idol Stone
From the Haystack and I followed the broad path westwards toward Ilkley. I had some trouble at Beckstone Beck where I must have missed the crossing of the beck with the result that I needed to climb in and out of the beck. Fortunately, at this point it is narrow and enclosed by bricks, which make a channel for the beck.
I climbed up the path on the other side and then made my way to a huge pile of stones – great panoramic views from this spot.
There were some steep descents in the wood for me to negotiate on my way and they continued after the wood. Eventually, I reached White Wells, where there were proper steps. The path led to the Paddling Pool, then West View and so on down Wells Road at the end of which I turned right on to Station Road.
I was fortunate to have the sun shining lighting up the heather.
From the bus stop (reached by X84 from Leeds) I walked up Wheatley Lane and then turned on to Ben Rhydding Drive; eventually this road becomes a track to the moor. I turned right on to Moor Road and opposite a small car-park (free) took a path leading up on to the moor. It is a continuous climb from the bus stop to Moor Road and then another climb through the bracken up on to the moor.
The first rock that I came to was the Pancake Rock (SE 13403 46226) and unmistakable in its shape. I carried on along the broad track westwards and came to the Haystack Rock (SE130 463), another rock that you can’t miss. What I did miss though was the Planets Stone (SE12961 46396) a little further to the west. The Haystack Rock is at the junction of two paths.
From the Haystack I made my way to the Idol Rock (SE 13296 45898). Unfortunately, this has had some modern carvings made on its rear. By the side of the path on the left as I returned to the Haystack Rock, I saw a small cup-marked stone: this is the Idol Stone
From the Haystack and I followed the broad path westwards toward Ilkley. I had some trouble at Beckstone Beck where I must have missed the crossing of the beck with the result that I needed to climb in and out of the beck. Fortunately, at this point it is narrow and enclosed by bricks, which make a channel for the beck.
I climbed up the path on the other side and then made my way to a huge pile of stones – great panoramic views from this spot.
There were some steep descents in the wood for me to negotiate on my way and they continued after the wood. Eventually, I reached White Wells, where there were proper steps. The path led to the Paddling Pool, then West View and so on down Wells Road at the end of which I turned right on to Station Road.
I was fortunate to have the sun shining lighting up the heather.
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