Trip 12: Ilkley RFC. July 2024
It is a long drive here and there were several holdups on the way. The final 500 yds crossed the bridge over the river Wharfe, no one wanted to move over for us so I just pushed on. My drivers wing mirror had a small argument with a BMW wing mirror but the driver looked miserable before, she did not stop but we have no damage and we were rolling at less than walking pace anyway.
We setup fairly quickly. I got the new wind break all set up in 6 minutes. The first time we have used it so Sue timed me. I am told 4.5 minutes is the target from bag to last peg.
After lunch we sat in the sun and read until 16.00 when I suggested a short walk. There were a lot of families in the park and the kids were swimming in the river.
We crossed the bridge and followed the river through the park, at the Riverside Inn we stopped for a drink. We sat outside and people watched and listened to the locals. After a very good beer we walked to look at another nearby pub but it looked closed so we crossed the river and followed it back to our starting point and headed to the rugby club and Iona.
Tea tonight was Lidl’s version of KFC cooker in the oven while I did sauté potatoes on the gas bbq.
The Ilkley rugby club had a practice night so I watched that while Sue watched the Olympic Swimming races on TV.
Day 2:
Today we decided to walk up to the moor. The first part is through the town and follows the road upto the Victorian paddling pool. We then followed the footpath to the Ilkley Tarn where the Victorians would promenade around the lake.
The next path took us up and up the steep side of the moor until we reached the Cow & Calf cafe, which was closed but there was an ice cream van so we indulged in a local Ice Cream each.
The Cow & Calf are two big rock outcrops that seem to be a major attraction, there is also the Cow & Calf pub but we gave it a miss today.
We left the Cow &Calf and made our way up the steep climb to the top of the ridge where there is still a cairn made of stones. Sue added to the rock pile.
We continued to follow the path across the moor and we found one of the stones, there are number of these across Yorkshire with two being on Ilkley moor. They all have a poem carved into them.
It soon became apparent that we were heading away from Ilkley so we followed a sheep trail towards the town and we eventually found another footpath which took us to Willy Hall’s Spout. Here there was a bath house for the townsfolk. Although now closed it appeared that someone was living there because a gentleman arrived carrying groceries and he was let inside.
The path now headed down to a carpark and then onto the road back down into the town. We headed for the riverside park where we sat on the grass bank , ate our sandwiches and people watched, the play area was buzzing today.
We now headed for the Riverside Inn for a beer and it is also a great place to sit outside. After a beer we headed back to the campsite first stopping by the bridge over the river where people were swimming and having picnics on the banks.
Home after four hours, 15500 steps and just on 7 miles, although walking up those hills must have been worth more.
We had a bbq tonight and then watched the Olympics in the van.
Day 3:
Last night we had a lot of rain and this morning it is overcast with mist. The forecast is brighter weather by lunchtime.
We went for a walk to the woods above the Lido, the path was muddy in places after last nights rain. The paths through the wood were quite well marked in most places , which helped because the map app could not get a satellite signal under the trees.
We left the woods after an hour and followed the river back into Ilkley. We headed for the park to eat lunch, here we found a gypsy camp had been set up, complete with a bowtop and three horses tethered on the grass.
We sat on the bank and ate lunch while watching the horses having bridles put on and then ridden into the river. The children riding bareback had no fear and cannot have been more than 12 years old.
We spent the rest of the afternoon at the campsite reading before tea. Tonight we had fillet of fish in buns and sea bream parcels.
Day 4:
Today we stayed around the van then we walked into town. Sue went shopping and I sat on a bench waiting for someone to come and sit and talk to me but no one did. There was a guy with a saxophone playing tunes including a couple by Led Zeppelin.
Sue came back empty handed so we walked across the park where the Gypsy/ Romany encampment had grown slightly. We continued to the Riverside Inn for a beer.
When we started home the gypsies had got three horses in the river and were playing about. At the park on the other side of the road bridge the beach area was filling up.
We spent the afternoon reading before Sue started cooking a curry on the CampinGaz bbq.
The sky was now getting dark so as soon as we had eaten we packed everything away and then it started to rain. We retired inside to watch the Olympics.
Home tomorrow after 4 great days in Ilkley. Next stop Bridlington.
Iona’s Travels 