White Wells Spa building

Directions to Rocky Valley, Ilkley Moor:

1. I’ll begin with a little bit of advice about Ilkley Moor. It is absolutely COVERED in paths. Paths that are on the map, paths that aren’t on the map. Paths that appear in winter, get overgrown by bracken in the summer and paths that look insignificant on a map, are great wide tracks in reality. As such, the best advice I can give you when navigating Ilkley Moor, is to use the features around you to help! However, as confusing as it can get on Ilkley Moor, because there are so many paths, as long as you know where you’re headed, there’s probably a path going in that direction!! On our moorland walks, I always recommend using a map in combination with a GPS.

2. The route begins from the Darwin Gardens car park. As you exit the car park on the road that you will have driven in on (if you came by car!). Cross Wells Road, and take the track over the top of the grassy verge, to the paddling pool. You’ll see it almost immediately ahead.

3. At the far edge of the pool as you approach it, is a clear stepped path rising up and to the right, running at the beginning parallel to the pool. This is the path you need to take and it leads upwards to White Wells.

4. Once on the path, continue upwards until you reach White Wells. It is the whitewashed building situated above you. It is the original Spa of Ilkley, visited by Charles Darwin himself! There are lots of sitting spots surrounding White Wells, perfect for a little snack stop and if the flag is flying you can grab a hot drink from the cafe! Once you have had a breather, walk to the rear of the building (either through the alleyway or around the side). The path you need to take leads upwards, and leftwards. It is a wide easily identifiable route.

5. Follow this path upwards and onwards until you see some steps rising to the top of Ilkley Crags. Rather than carry on up the steps, Take the wide route to your left which leads along the bottom of Ilkley Crags. It’s identifiable by the number of massive rocks there are! This path forms part of the Dales Way route, so it’s well walked and easy to follow. Walk onwards through the Rocky Valley.

6. Once through, you will emerge near Backstone Beck. Walk to the stream, and dip your toes. This is your furthest point. Here is another great snack or play (or both) spot!

7. Once you have thoroughly dipped your toes, you need to take the path that heads downwards, descending to the left of Backstone Beck. There is also another path to the left of the one hugging the edge of the beck (as always there are options on Ilkley Moor!) which will lead you down and through the small area of pine trees you can see in the distance. You can take this as an alternative easier route to the more scrambly path that hugs the left hand side of the beck. However, if you choose this route you will miss the weird stone face carved into the rock, and you will miss the detour to Ilkley Moor’s waterfall!

8. Head downwards on the path alongside the left hand side of the beck. About a third of the way down, you can detour off to the right to go and see Ilkley Moor’s waterfall. You will also see a carved rock face here. If you detour head to the beck, cross it, and turn immediately left. A little bum scramble will take you to the bottom of the falls. Then head back to the main path down.

9. As you near the cluster of pine trees, there is another strangely carved face in the side of the rock. I have tried to find out why the faces are there, but I still don’t know! Answers on a postcard please!

10. Using the pine trees as your guide on the left (there are numerous paths and tracks here) and the beck to your right descend to the wooden footbridge over the beck. Then turn left (so you don’t cross it). Keep on this wide well trodden path until you reach the tarn.

11. Once at the tarn, walk to the far end of the water and then take the wide tarmacked track lined with lampposts downwards back to the paddling pool where you began.

Last walked December 2023

Descending Backstone Beck

One of the carved stone faces