Ilkley Moor (despite the silly song) and the adjacent moors with other names was a stunning revelation of quiet, high moorland with fascinating natural rock sculptures and lovely views down into Wharfdale. Ski-ilk sarts from Skipton with a pleasant rough moorland section and good views. In between the two open access moorland sections is a length of remote farmland which was reasonably easily accessible, followed by a short steep climb onto the main moor, from the top of which it was downhill all the long way, insistently into ILkley....

Dave Taylor

A gentle stroll along the dead level (except a set of steps) Leeds-Liverpool canal towpath, travelled in days of yore by commercial barges on a similar Lancashire - Yorkshire route to us. Just sufficient interest along the main length and then it entered Skipton through the older part of town - by the back door....

Dave Taylor

This route follows the Liverpool Leeds canal all the way to Skipton....

Helen Lord

A busy start from Skipton bus station but very easy to get on the Slow Ways route and the traffic soon quietens as you climb up out of the town on a pleasant residential road towards moorland....

Sue B

The route takes the walker over a succession of moors culminating in the iconic Ilkley Moor with neolithic cup and ring marks and a swastika carving to give the walk even more interest. Great views throughout with a fabulous last mile above Ilkley passing through the Roman bath house where you can take a dip in the plunge pool for the price of a cup of tea at the cafe. Ilkley is a stunning town with a lot of life and the Best Western was an excellent value for money stop....

Michael

As we walked further uphill out of the town, gradually the sounds of the town receded until all was peaceful. Although it was very hot, the last part of the walk took us past prehistoric and ring stones, including the sepulchre stone and the swastika stone....

Helen Lord

Just follow the canal on an easy, well maintained, stone tow path....

Sue B

A perfectly fine if unexciting walk along the Leeds Liverpool Canal to Skipton. Obviously route finding is no problem once the canal is located in Gargrave and the tow path condition is excellent throughout. The tranquility of the walk is interrupted by significant traffic noise from the A65 making this walk rather a chore than a pleasure although the canal basin at Skipton provides much interest for the walkers....

Michael

The biggest challenge was the amount of water on some sections, particularly where the line goes through a cutting in the middle of the Elslack to Carleton section. There was one section along a concrete road, and another section where it was necessary to cross a couple of fields, but mostly the route is extremely easy to navigate. Unfortunately, the viaduct over the River Aire has been removed, so it was necessary to walk a bit of road to Carleton, then cross some fields to a subway under the busy A629. There are lots of facilities at either end of the route, and pubs at Elslack and at Carleton, but nothing in the middle section....

Mary Oz

Instead of crossing the swing bridge, continue along the towpath until the next bridge, then turn right alongside the grounds of Kildwick church, right again at the Parish Rooms, currently a highly recommended cafe, to join the road, then follow the route as published...

Andrew Simmons

Once the road is reached, turn right to follow the lane, cross over the River Aire, then turn left to follow it for a short distance, before crossing the railway line. From here, turn left to follow a twisty road for about half a mile, which has no footpath....

Andrew Simmons

This easy to follow route along the Leeds-Liverpool canal towpath, is largely level and in good condition underfoot in most places. It can also be walked one-way as there are bus and train connections between Gargrave and Skipton. I would echo comments of other reviewers about the traffic noise....

Andrew Simmons

It is not well maintained in places and finding the correct route can be awkward in places. Walking the road section is not pleasant as it has poor sight lines, meaning traffic cannot see you easily. Overall, the route 'Garski two', which follows the canal towpath is much more enjoyable....

Andrew Simmons

This is a very pleasant walk on which you will encounter gates, kissing gates, steps, steep climbs, stepping stones, a ford and uneven stony ground. It was one of the muddiest parts and included a very narrow kissing gate, steps, steep climbs (slippy), stepping stones, and a ford. Addingham was a pleasant village and the walk along the Dales Way that followed was likewise, especially the section through Low Mill village....

Stearsb

I took pictures but the ones found in Mary Oz's review were better so I suggest you check those out....

Stearsb

The walk from Skipton started along a town road, reputedly of Roman origins, and featured the lovely Old Toll House, which is Grade II listed. We reached a tarmacked farm road which went right past the wind turbine, and then continued as a country road. After a couple of fields and a paddock (containing horses and surrounded by an electric fence), we had a short section of road, then joined the Millennium Way, along a doubly fenced field edge next to a stream....

Mary Oz

*This field looked as if it may contain crops in the future which left me wondering how reliable this Right of Way will be. I reached a tarmacked farm road which went right past the wind turbine. The public footpath past the house named, ahem, Cocklick Laithe, a little further on, looked private and a dog came running out barking at my heels, and I was relieved to reach the gate into the next field. Just after this you need to use a gate onto a path between a fence and a hedge, then a small bridge and a wooden stile. The footpath at Bracken Hill Farm also looked private, but there was a stile which led into a steeply descending field, with nice views into Silsden....

Mary Oz

Heading along the road south from Skipton bus station, access to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath is gained immediately after crossing the canal. (An alternative to this, is to leave the bus station opposite the road end, over a footbridge over the canal, where you can then gain access to the towpath.) The route follows the towpath for four miles, all the way to Kildwick....

Mary Oz

This route is almost entirely canal towpath, with a good surface of compacted gravel....

Mary Oz

- the footpath between the industrial estate and Carleton is closed between 25/10/21 and April 2022, or December 2021 to April 2022 depending on which sign you believe....

Carol

There's a lack of signage, and it's quite difficult to follow at times, there's a busy road to cross as you near Skipton and then a short stretch along another busy road (no walkable verge). After you leave that first field, keep an eye out for a large stile on your right. After you go under the railway line, the ordnance survey map shows the footpath the other side of the wall at the top, but don't cross the wall, follow the sign (hooray there is one here!) and you will end up in the right place....

Carol

I'd downloaded the .gpx file into OS maps and the live positioning was useful in a couple of areas....

[email protected]

I thoroughly recommend this walk and plan to repeat it, however, you do need to be agile to get over some of the stiles and be competent following a map/gps device. I did write a more descriptive review but the page timed me out and deleted it......

Carol