Stepping Stones to Calvary

This is a circular tour of part of Ilkley north of the River Wharfe with lots both to see and do.
Ilkley can be reached by rail or bus; if you are coming by car, I suggest parking at the top end of Middleton Avenue, where the parking is free and it will be close to the end of the tour.
The tour starts on the south side of the Wharfe and follows the river bank; the going here is easy. The first point of interest is the suspension bridge. If you have no sense of balance you are best off crossing the river here. However, if you feel brave you can carry on to the Stepping Stones to cross the river. I used them, but had my trekking pole to help me get from one stone to another. I think there are about thirty of them and they are not all of the same size or height.
After the Stepping Stones, take the first road on the left (Carters Lane) and then take a footpath on the right off it, which will go through some farm buildings later. Then cross a field to follow the cart track around the edge of West Park Wood; there are paths through the wood, but these are private. There are nice views of the town from here.
The cart track takes you to the road to Denton where you will see what used to be a fountain opposite what was the old School House. Then take the signposted footpath off Denton Road.
After a little copse with a footbridge and azaleas, cross diagonally to the left the next field. You will then go through another wood and emerge on a track with a boundary wall to your left. Cross another road and pick up the footpath after climbing a ferociously high wall stile. Keep the boundary wall on your left as you go across the next fields.
The exit from the last field is in the top corner. There are lovely views of the town and the moors from here. Then take the marked footpath going diagonally back towards Ilkley at the crossroads. Take the first footpath on your right and this will bring you to Calvary, a religious monument from 1870 where there are the Stations of the Cross.
A path through some woods will ring you to a copy of an old Roman Altar, which will be on your right as you leave the woods. At the end of the lane go across past some houses on your right and reach a road junction. If you turn left here, you will find on your left a very old stone signpost in the bushes.
Go down Langbar Road and take the footpath on your left that leads to Coppy Wood, where the path in the wood splits, take the right hand fork. Coppy Wood becomes Middleton Wood where you can leave it on Curly Hill and make your way back to Middleton Avenue and so on to the car or the bus and rail stations.
There are twelve stiles and two wall stiles.
There is a pleasant variety of terrain: riverside path, woodland and fields with fine views across the countryside. If you do it in late April or early May, you will have the added bonus of seeing bluebells in the woods.