Why we love… ILKLEY

Absolutely Yorkshire explores the countryside town that’s full of adventure

Ilkley is a town that lies on the South Bank of the River Wharfe in the county of West Yorkshire close to Leeds and Bradford. Being on the southern end of the Yorkshire Dales, it is surrounded by acres of charming countryside. Contrasting with its harmonious nature, Ilkley is known for being a well-established climbing destination, as well as thriving in multiple sports, such as tennis and cycling.

Its Victorian architecture, wide streets and floral displays are what make the spa heritage town so unique, with it being a previous winner of Britain in Bloom. To top it o , Ilkley is also home to one of only five Betty’s tea rooms in the UK. Here are more reasons why Ilkley is worth a visit.

At one with nature

Ilkley is the ideal place to relax, enjoy nature and explore history. Just by Ilkley Park

Riverside Gardens is where you will find one of the town’s oldest buildings, Ilkley Manor House. Considered to be one of Ilkley’s treasures, the Manor House is home to a local heritage museum and an art gallery.

Just a 10 minute walk from the Manor House is Ilkley Toy Museum, which is a wonderful place to take a journey back to your childhood and explore the enchanting history of toys throughout the ages.

As well as being home to many historic sights, Ilkley hosts an abundance of events throughout the year. The town is the destination for one of the longestrunning literature festivals in the North, which this year will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. Hosted every October, it is a celebration of all things reading and writing. Ikley’s plethora of personality meant that it was used as a location for films such as A Private Function, Calendar Girls and Miss You Already.

Climb your way to the top

One of the area’s most cherished gems is Ilkley Moor, the perfect place to visit on a clear evening, just as the sun is setting. Also sitting proudly in the North is Ilkley Quarry, also known as the Cow and Calf. The Cow and Calf is a widely popular destination for generations of climbers, with the most known climbing routes being the Milky Way and The New Statesman. If you’re not a climber, Ilkley Moor still makes for a great place to take a stroll and get back in touch with nature.

Where to walk

As well as Ilkley Moor, the town is full of places to take a relaxing stroll. Being very popular at this time of year, Middleton Woods is a great choice. Famous for its vibrant bluebells, it makes for a lovely scenic walk. Ilkley Riverside Gardens is another great destination for a walk, or to spend a sunny afternoon, located alongside the River Wharfe.

The village of Ben Rhydding is located north of Ilkley and alongside the

River Wharfe and is where you will find Ben Rhydding Nature Reserve. It is home to various habitats and provides an excellent place to watch birds and butterflies. Visitor parking is available and dogs are allowed if they are on a short lead, so it makes a great place for a day out.

Summer sports

As well as being famous for its climbing roots, Ilkley also o ers access to multiple other sporting activities. The serene town is even home to one of four of Yorkshire’s only public open-air swimming pools. Ilkley Pool and Lido is especially popular in the summer, being a great destination to enjoy the sun, relax and take the children for a family day out. Ilkley indoor pool hosts sessions throughout the week, including Aquacise, Swim For All and Ladies Only sessions. There are also bowls, a putting green and tennis courts, as well as a cute cafe to indulge in. Ilkley is also the ultimate destination for tennis and squash lovers, with it being home to one of Yorkshire’s most renowned tennis and squash clubs. Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club has five indoor and outdoor floodlit courts, as well as 14 grass courts, which cater to all abilities and ages, making it the best experience of tennis. There are also four squash courts, a fitness suite that hosts 60 weekly expert-led classes, and SERVE, which is the relaxing, atmospheric cafe bar. In addition to Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, the town is the location of Yorkshire’s third oldest golf club, and has many other sporting organisations, such as rugby clubs, cricket clubs and a karate club, which is run by former UK champion, Mark Outterside.

Additionally, Ilkley is one of Yorkshire’s first-rate cycling hubs, seeing many highprofile cycle races pass through yearly. In 2005 and 2007, the town hosted stages of the Tour of Britain race, with Ilkley Moor being a climb on both occasions. The Tour de France even passed through in 2014, approaching the town from Otley. Because of this success, the Tour de Yorkshire was created as a spin-o and Ilkley has ever since been included as part of the route.

To rest your head

If you’re looking to stay in Ilkley, it has a range of hotels and guest houses that are highly rated. One of Ilkley’s top cocktail bars, The Gin Lounge Rooms, also houses suites, each of which is named after inspirational women who were ahead of their time. Anne Lister, Ann Walker and Emily Wilding are among many of the trailblazing women that the Edwardian suites were named after. There are multiple luxury rooms, each unique with their own authentic characteristics, which are available at only £99 a night.

Ilkley Riverside Hotel and Country Pub is another one of the town’s renowned hotels. Situated near Ilkley Riverside Gardens, it o ers incredible views of the River Wharfe and Ilkley Moor. It is considered to be one of the best hotels in Ilkley, winning the Tourism Flower Award multiple times, and boasting of its warm and friendly atmosphere. When it comes to food, the spa town has a range of options of where to dine. Outside the Box Cafe, The Veggie Cafe and Avanti Co ee House are all great places to grab a co ee or a quick bite to eat. If you’re looking for somewhere a little fancier, Sachi’s Restaurant and The Olive Branch are exquisite options. Additionally, La Casita serves unforgettable tapas, Piccolino is a fabulous Italian restaurant and The Ilkley Cow is one of the best steakhouses around.

If you want more information about Ilkley, head to discoverilkley.co.uk

What’s on in JULY

Ilkley Bandstand Concerts

On Saturdays and Sundays until October, Ilkely hosts fantastic musical bandstand concerts at The Grove. The concerts feature music from Guiseley Jazz, Roots Alive and Ben Rhydding Clarinets.

Real Food Ilkley Market

This is a celebration of locally produced food and drink. It’s hosted on the first Sunday of every month from 10am until 3pm.

The First Middleton Land Sales

A brand new exhibition observing the history of the land sales in Middleton at the Ilkley Manor House from 8 July until August.

25 Summers

A beautiful exhibition at Manor House of original photographs taken at the Yorkshire Ballet Seminars is available throughout most of July.

Samuel Moore

The distinguished flamenco guitarist will be performing at Manor House on 14 July at 7.30pm.

Zip the Cow

It’s back! You can climb to the top of the Cow and Calf and jump from it on 22-23 July.

The vast refurbished collection equates to thousands of items that would otherwise go to landfill.

Luxurious items from many brands & designers start as low as £27.

Our preloved cashmere knitwear is complemented with a large choice of brand-new accessories designed to complete any outfit perfectly.