Having walked Slow Ways from Otley to Yeadon and Yeadon to Guiseley at the end of the year, the plan was to finish the day with the Slow Way from Guiseley back to Otley. A farm access road is followed beside a quarry, then it's important to watch carefully to spot a stone step stile onto a footpath....

Paddy Dillon

Climbing the wooded slope of The Chevin wasn't too difficult, as this route avoids the direct climb up hundreds of steps, in favour of a gentler climb....

Paddy Dillon

The route up the Chevin is steep, as others have said, but the views are a good reward and the bridleway on to Yeadon is easy walking. Can get muddy in places due to high footfall....

Sarah

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

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

Ross

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

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

Sarah

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

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

Sarah

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

Ross

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

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

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

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

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

Ross

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

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

desoconnor

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

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

desoconnor