Connect Otley with Slow Ways

We’re creating a network of walking routes that connect all of Britain’s towns, cities and national parks

more walks and reviews are needed to fully connect Otley to the verified network. Can you give a hike and help?

Give a hike!

Otley

West Yorkshire


Slow Ways linking Otley and Guiseley, Ilkley, Pool in Wharfedale, Stainburn, Yeadon

England / West Yorkshire / Otley

Otley’s five Slow Ways are 65% checked

Drawn: 5/5
reviewed: 5/5
verified: 4/5
and surveyed: 3/5

Help connect Otley

Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.

Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.

Give a hike and help get a for every one of Otley’s Slow Ways.

Walk to Otley from further afield

Slow Way Route To do
Guiseley—Otley
Guiotl one Survey me Distance 5km/3mi Ascent 208m Descent 136m
Ilkley—Otley
Ilkotl one Enjoy me Distance 11km/7mi Ascent 304m Descent 270m
Otley—Pool in Wharfedale
Otlpoo one Review me Distance 6km/3mi Ascent 80m Descent 89m
Otley—Stainburn
Otlsta one

Double check Distance 11km/7mi Ascent 131m Descent 76m
Otley—Stainburn
Otlsta two Enjoy me Distance 8km/5mi Ascent 124m Descent 67m
Otley—Yeadon
Otlyea one Enjoy me Distance 5km/3mi Ascent 113m Descent 237m

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Otley and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Collective progress

83% of Otley’s five route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified

6/6

drawn

6/6

reviewed

4/6

surveyed

4/6

verified

7 people have contributed to Otley’s Slow Ways

2 people have pledged to walk and review a route

4 people have surveyed a route in Otley

46km out of 46km have been walked and reviewed

126km of reviews have been shared in Otley

Latest Updates

It then follows good farm tracks and well signed footpaths to Riffa woodland (accessed via a simple stream crossing), before threading up a v old and attractive trackway to Stainburn, with more views of Almscliffe Crag....

Sarah

Walk this route

Some sections are steep and some navigation skill will be required in bad weather....

Ross

Walk this route

It falls into two parts: Otley to Burley, which gently tracks along the path of an old railway line; and Burley to Ilkley, where it climbs up to the moors and then follows moorland paths. If somone local knows of a path across the moor between Burley and Ilkley that avoids steep narrow rocky paths when dropping down towards Ilkley, that would make a great alternative route too....

Jane Taylor

Walk this route

Starting and finishing along residential roads, with a good swathe of footpaths linking with a section of disused railway....

Sarah

Walk this route

Great route making really good use of the disused railway to cut across from Otley to Burley (a route not many locals know) before reaching up on the Moor with the reward of fantastic views (on a good day..!) along Wharfedale, towards Nidderdale and further east and south. The going is very steady on foot (unsuitable on wheels), although there are some sections liable for mud. The paths on the Moor are less maintained and can be shallow puddles at times, but nothing a pair of boots can't handle....

Sarah

Walk this route

The walk over to Guiseley then also includes a good view of the runway of Leeds Bradford Airport....

Sarah

Walk this route
Ilkley—Otley

Natalie Greenwood pledged to walk Ilkotl one

Walk this route

From the top of the Chevin, giving fantastic views to the North the route is then steep, down steps and paths into Otley....

Ross

Walk this route

Taking in the top the The Chevin with extensive views over both Airedale to the south and Wharfedale to the north. The climb down through The Chevin Forest Park can be slippery in wet weather...

John Binks

Walk this route

Liz Cox surveyed Otlyea one

Walk this route
Otley

Liz Cox surveyed Otley

View facilities

It is well signposted and on clear paths, through a mixture of gravel paths, pastureland and a steep descent through the woodland down the Chevin into Otley....

Liz Cox

Walk this route

This route can feel a little daunting when you start to ascend the Otley Chevin 'Stairway to Heaven' which can take on a sort of hypnotic quality with each step and you are rewarded with fine views at the top from Surprise View. However coming down is a bit of a dream. Not one for wheelchairs or pushchairs, but uses established paths and a bit of road walking in Guiseley....

Jefferson1776

Walk this route

This route like Ilkgui also skirts along Ilkley Moor on the Dales Way/Ebor Way so you need to keep Moor Road in sight when on Ilkley Moor. The route also flirts with Burley in Wharfedale (another train station which is handy) and provides an excellent opportunity to play trains as you follow disused railway lines to the edge of Otley, Another safe route but not really suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs when on Ilkley Moor....

Jefferson1776

Walk this route

Jefferson1776 took this photo on Ilkotl one

Walk this route

Yes, roads are narrow and busy in this area. Route should be removed....

Ross

Walk this route

Four stars as not fully accessible due to stiles and a stepping stone crossing. Care required crossing a single car width bridge with no doorways....

Ross

Walk this route

desoconnor surveyed Otlsta two

Walk this route

If walking from Otley to Stainburn I recommend carrying on up the hill from Stainburn to St Mary's church....

desoconnor

Walk this route
Otley

Ross surveyed Otley

View facilities
Otley

desoconnor surveyed Otley

View facilities

The dogleg into Pool is totally pointless and presumably only added to link up with a Pool to Stainburn route. I'd remove this route as it is potentially dangerous and likely to get people runover....

desoconnor

Walk this route
Otley—Stainburn

desoconnor added Otlsta two, a new walk from Otley to Stainburn

Walk this route

There's a good cafe and public toilets at the White House, half way down Otley Chevin....

desoconnor

Walk this route
Guiseley—Otley

Slow Ways added Guiotl one, a new walk from Guiseley to Otley

Walk this route
Ilkley—Otley

Slow Ways added Ilkotl one, a new walk from Ilkley to Otley

Walk this route
Otley—Pool in Wharfedale

Slow Ways added Otlpoo one, a new walk from Otley to Pool in Wharfedale

Walk this route
Otley—Stainburn

Slow Ways added Otlsta one, a new walk from Otley to Stainburn

Walk this route
Otley—Yeadon

Slow Ways added Otlyea one, a new walk from Otley to Yeadon

Walk this route
1

Otley, Thu 28 March

Light rain

Otley’s Slow Ways starting point

Grid ref

SE2019245525

Lat / Lon

53.90551° / -1.69415°

Easting / Northing

420,192E / 445,525N

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Otley and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Facilities

Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Otley's meeting point

Public toilet

Wheelchair accessible toilet

Supermarket or convenience shop

Restaurant, cafe or pub

Accommodation

Accommodation for under £50 a night

Campsite

Bothy

Free wifi

Mobility scooter hire

Off-road wheelchair hire

Disabled Parking

Train station

Bus stop

Ferry

Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town

Help us improve this information by signing up or logging in and carrying out a quick survey of Otley