Historic Ilkley in West Yorkshire
Home of Ilkley Moor, the Cow and Calf rocks and a Roman Fort
Ilkley is a spa town with a long history. Famous as the location of an important roman fort, the town is now best known for its proximity to the stunning Ilkley moors.
Ilkley is the ideal base for a Yorkshire holiday. The town has a direct rail link to Leeds and is on the main route to the Yorkshire dales. Leeds/Bradford airport is less than ten miles away.
Tourist Attractions in Ilkley
Many people visit Ilkley to enjoy the spectacular scenery and the moors surrounding the town are ideal for outdoor activities including climbing, mountain biking, fell running and rambling. The cow and calf rocks are the centerpiece of the moor and the Cow and Calf hotel, which serves food and drinks, has an outstanding view of the moors and the town below. The popular Yorkshire anthem ‘On Ilkley Moor Baht'at’ was inspired by the moorland scenery.
The Ilkley Toy Museum is just one of the attractions catering for families. Ilkley’s riverside park has an extensive playground beside the River Wharfe, with a pub and ice-cream stall in easy walking distance. Ilkley is the starting point for the famous Dales Way trail, an eighty-mile walk from Ilkley to Bowness on Windermere.
The Ilkley lido is an outdoor leisure pool, open between May and September. The lido is part of a leisure complex offering outdoor and indoor swimming, tennis, putting and bowls.
The town is home to dozens of shops, boasting one-off boutiques and gift shops alongside well-known high street names. Particularly popular are Ilkley’s Victorian shopping arcade and The Grove, a tree lined promenade where some of the town’s most exclusive shops can be found.
Historic Attractions in Ilkley
Ilkley first became famous as a spa town, with visitors travelling from around the country to sample the waters in the town, particularly during the nineteenth century. A legacy from these days is the White Wells, a stone house set high above the town on the moors. There is a café and the chance to see the wells, which were famed for their health and healing properties.
The Manor House museum allows visitors to explore the town’s history, from its beginnings as a roman fort, through to the modern town it is today. Behind the museum are the remains of the fort, with a plaque explaining how the buildings would have looked during roman times.
Ilkley offers the perfect base for a holiday in Yorkshire. It has stunning countryside, modern facilities, an intriguing past and a friendly Yorkshire welcome.
Factfile
Ilkley is located in West Yorkshire, in the north of England. The nearest airport is Leeds/Bradford: Tel 0871 288 2288. Ilkley has its own railway station, with direct links to Leeds and Bradford: Tel 08457 48 49 50.
Ilkley Tourist information, Ilkley Tourist information Centre,Station Rd,Ilkley, LS29 8HB. Tel: 01943 602319
