Keiilk one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

This was essentially a morning's walk for me on Christmas Eve, leaving Keighley along busy roads to Riddlesden. I wasn't expecting the climb through Riddlesden to amount to much, but it was really interesting, made up of stone-cobbled paths and stone steps, passing between houses and running alongside a little stream, with plenty of trees alongside. The higher part ran through a field, but it wasn't too wet or muddy. After passing farms, there was a long road walk onto Ilkley Moor, but the traffic was light and while the roadside verges aren't suitable for walking, at least they had little benches every so often. Some years ago I cycled over Ilkley Moor along this road, but anyone starting from Keighley with a bike would have to start with a different approach. I ran into mist as the road climbed, so there were no views. The descent to Ilkley started with a potholed dirt road, where I made a short detour to inspect Cowper's Cross. Part of the road can be short-cut by going down a signposted path. Closer to Ilkley, another path can be used to avoid some road-walking. The final stretch down to the town centre is best done by walking through Mill Ghyll, which has a delightful network of tarmac paths and little footbridges. I enjoyed it, but I wish the weather had been better. I caught a bus from the little bus station alongside the railway station.

An enjoyable route with good facilities at both ends. There is quite a climb up to Ilkley moor but it rewards with great views. The path is unmarked in places and there were cows in one field.

Leaving Ilkley, the route is marked as going up Wells Promenade, but I found there was a lovely little landscaped, riverside path in the trees between Wells Promenade and Wells Walk. The route continued steeply uphill along Keighley Road, which had no pavement or verge but was very quiet. (It goes almost nowhere!)
The short cut at Spicey Gill was well used, but pretty steep and rubbly. I imagine it could be muddy and slippery in wet weather. Staying on the road looked like a less steep, just as quick, alternative. The views back over Ilkley were great. Crossing the moors I saw and/or heard meadow pipits, curlew, lapwings, skylarks, swift and buzzard.
From here to the sort of crossroads at Whetstone Gate, the road surface was gravel. Other than that, it was tarmac. Along the gravel section I passed Cowper’s Cross, just off the track.
There were several cars at Whetstone Gate. The road here goes almost nowhere, but I guess it provides an easy way for people to get high up onto the moors with no effort, just fumes, so it may be a wee bit busier at weekends.
The road is now called Ilkley Road and there were amazing views to the south and east, while you can see the straight road stretching out for miles ahead - great if you're going downhill! There were several benches dotted along the road, for those going uphill. Gradually, the view disappeared as I descended past Bradup Farm with its horses.
The off-road detour around Heights Farm was a nice change from tarmac. It passed some lovely but derelict barns and houses. The footpath looked used, but not very, and had quite long grass, and a couple of stiles and gates which were a bit dilapidated.
I emerged close to the Willow Tree pub, which apparently doesn’t do food. From here there was a series of steep cobbled and stepped footpaths down through Ribblesden to the canal. These may be slippery if wet, but they are made of gritstone which has some grip.
Crossing the swing bridge over the canal brought me to the busy edge of Keighley. The roads got busier and busier as I made my way past the railway station and bus station to the end point. The only nice bit along this section was the Cavendish Street row of shops with their glass canopy. Personally I prefer the Airedale Greenway route (see KeiEas Two) into Keighley, but even that involves some industrial estate.

Good mix of country lanes, moorland and fields.
Popular walking route which is reasonably safe. Some traffic and sheep.
There are kissing gates and styles. The road through Ilkley is uneven.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.