Distance: 10.3 miles
Ascent: 1128 ft
Walking: Andrew, Tim & Mark
Weather: Cloudy with sunny intervals, warm
OS Map: 297 Lower Wharfedale and the Washburn Valley
Parking: Grange Road, Burley-in-Wharfedale LS29 7HD
Pork pies: Wilson's Butchers, Morley
Photography: Andrew using Nikon D610 / Nikon 24-70 mm f2.8
This is a moderate walk with some steep climbs and descents over open moorland with spectacular views over Wharfedale.
Setting off from Burley Library, we headed a short distance up Station Road before joining Hag Farm Road through a small wood and out into farmland, where the steep climb up to the affluent village of Burley Woodhead. From there, the climb continued up onto Burley Moor, part of Rombald's Moor.
According to local folklore, Rombald was a giant who created the Cow & Calf Rocks above Ilkley when he accidentally broke the smaller Calf from the Cow as he strode across the valley. As we climbed, I had to keep reminding myself to look back at the stunning views across to Otley Chevin and beyond. We were surprised at the number of planes taking off from Leeds Bradford Airport, given the Covid 19 restrictions that were in place.
The climb became more gentle as we reached Ilkley Moor and the hills of the Yorkshire Dales came into view, along with the large golf ball structures at RAF Menwith Hill, near Harrogate. We passed some 200 year old graffiti (the neat seriffed typeface suggests that it really is that old) - It seems they had cordless angle grinders in 1785. Who knew?
We finally reached the trig point at the summit of Ilkley Moor, just over 1300 ft above sea level, a very suitable place to stop for a pork pie, before setting off on the return leg of the walk via The Twelve Apostles, a small prehistoric stone circle.
The final stretch involved some fairly steep descents which took their toll on my feet but it was worth it.
