New Year's Day 1st January 10.30am - a Wharfedale Vineyard tradition is to take a walk on Ilkley Moor. In 2010 we will have a new option to take an extended route.
Wear strong footwear and extra warm clothes – the forecast is for it to get extremely cold up there.
Look at the
new map and meet at the car park on Wells Road, Ilkley. It is a short walk up to White Wells cottage. If you arrive late, meet us at the cottage.
In the 19th Century Ilkley became a very popular spa town. Visitors flocked to take the waters and bathe in the cold water baths. The first was at White Wells, where you can still jump into the chilly waters - always at 3°C - if the inclination takes you! Brave ones can bring swimsuits and towels for the traditional New Years Day plunge. More history. Interactive 360 panoramic view.
Bring picnic snacks, and/or money to buy refreshments (e.g. hot chocolate) at the Old Spa Baths tea shop.
Weather permitting we will go for a walk. There are several options
- Little ones or buggies can simply walk back down the hill.
- For most people it will be enough to do the traditional 2.3-mile circuit (route in blue described below) that includes the Rocky Valley and the Cow and Calf rock formations, plus the Cow and Calf pub as an optional detour.
- For those seeking an extra challenge this year, the red route departs from the others at the Rocky Valley, and adds an extra 3.3 miles, making a total of 5.7 miles. We will visit the Twelve Apostles stone circle, a small semi-circular reservoir and the wobbly Pancake Stone. Given the cold weather and the distance this will really only be suitable for those willing to walk at a brisk adult pace. We will rendevous with the others at the Cow and Calf pub.
In previous years, the walking party has split at the Cow and Calf pub, with some stopping for lunch there. Please note that the pub is usually extremely crowded on New Years Day, so there might be a bit of a wait.
Here is a map showing the standard route and the extended route some of us will try this year.
Here are some photos from previous years, courtesy of Debbie Whitley:
Walking route:
White Wells, Rocky Valley, Cow and Calf Rocks and the Tarn: Allow 2 hours for the 3 mile (5km) walk. From the cattle grid on Wells Road, go past the paddling pool up the steep hillside to the white buildings of White Wells. Follow the track behind White Wells that goes through Rocky Valley - bearing left at the steps. Cross Backstone Beck over some rock slabs and across (half left) to the top of the Cow and Calf Rocks. Keeping height, turn left along the edge to a wooden stile among the pines, then descend to a lower path and a wooden bridge, which takes you to the tarn. The tarred path from the tarn leads back to Wells Road.
