There’s some sense behind the well-known Yorkshire song “On Ilkley Moor Baht ‘At”. It can be cold, remote and forlorn in bad weather. But, on the right day, Ilkley Moor is a marvellous place for a walk. Sunday 6 March was just such a day – cold and crisp but with blue skies and a bright sun.
We accessed the Moor from the southern edge, via an entrance by a farm just above East Morton on the Otley Road. The public footpath was clearly marked from the beginning, and was along an unmade road, designed for farm vehicles. After about a 3/5 mile, the footpath splits off to the right. There is a sign but we managed to miss it and ended up on a “private road“, though not sure if that sign has any legal significance since the passing of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
We didn’t go far as we had our two-year-old grandson with us, but really enjoyed the stunning views across the moors and down the Aire Valley and across to the Worth Valley. The towns of Bingley and Keighley, and the village of Haworth were all visible, and the vista brought to mind visions of Cathy and Heathcliff, as Haworth is the location of the Brontë Parsonage where Emily Brontë and her sisters Anne and Charlotte wrote their most important works.
We also enjoyed the wildlife (including plenty of red grouse) and the chance to stretch our legs. We turned back after a mile or so and retraced our steps, enjoying the scenery from a different perspective on the way back. As we neared the end of the footpath there was a small copse of trees on the left which was a haven for chaffinches, singing away at the tops of their voices, full of the joys of spring.
We returned to the car having had a leisurely but bracing walk – and the grandson enjoyed it too.
Chris Jones
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