Ilkley Tarn on Ilkley Moor in the rain with an umbrella

Ilkley Tarn from Darwin Gardens

This pushchair friendly family walk to Ilkley Tarn starts at the free car park at Darwin Gardens.

Remember your duck food, as the Ilkley Tarn ducks love to be fed!

You will find Ilkley Tarn on the lower slopes of Ilkley Moor.

The perfect location for a mini family friendly walk.

The Tarn itself is manmade and was built back in Victorian times as a beauty spot for those visiting the area and Ilkley’s famous White Wells Spa. Now, it is a stunning spot to take a budding adventurer, as at under 1 mile it’s super short! (Plus it has great puddles to splash in!)

Did you know that Ilkley Moor actually has two tarns?! This one is the well known one, but there is another small tarn up near White Wells and it has just had its pathway restored! You can take a detour off this walk to go and see it (although you’ll have to leave the pushchair behind I’m afraid!)

Walk details for Ilkley Tarn

Distance: Less than 1 mile.

Terrain: Easy, tarmacked. Some gentle ascent, 30m. Pushchair friendly.

Parking: Darwin Gardens Car Park

Public Transport: Yes, Ilkley Train Station (less than 1 mile away). A regular bus service is also available too to Ilkley town centre.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Location: Wells Road, Ilkley

Map: OS Explorer 297 Lower Wharfedale and Washburn Valley

What 3 Words: parking tiny.mint.immediate tarn couple.eased.artist

Toilets/ Baby Change: No

Nearest Cafe/Amenities: Ilkley Town Centre, (less than 1km). Picnic tables are positioned at Darwin Gardens

Standing at Ilkley Tarn

Directions to Ilkley Tarn

  1. Beginning from Darwin Gardens Car Park, head out of the Car Park via its entrance walking in an easterly direction towards Wells Road.

  2. Cross Wells Road. Those with pushchairs turn left along the pavement, walking a very short distance down the hill towards the corner with Crossbeck Road. Turn Right onto Crossbeck Road at the Cattle Grid. Immediately to your right, you will spot a gate across a small parking area. Head up through the gate, and you will find yourself at the bottom of the tarmac track up to Ilkley Tarn.

  3. If you do not have a pushchair, you can simply cross Wells Road, walk up the grassy bank on the other side, where you will see the small shallow paddling pool. The pool will be to your right as you walk on the short path leading to the small gate in the fence on the left. Go through the gate, and turn right up the tarmacked track winding upwards towards the Tarn.

  4. After a short distance following the wide tarmacked track, you will find the tarn. There is a simple loop around the edge which is fully tarmacked then head back the way you came!

  5. Fancy a little detour to the second tarn? Before you head back down the tarmac track to the gate at the bottom, turn left up the hill by the lampost. This path takes you to White Wells, and you’ll see the tarn right there on the left just before you get to the building. If you head round the tarn, there is another path heading upwards. That leads to the foundations of the old Victorian tearoom! This part isn’t pushchair friendly, but enjoy!

Last walked January 2023

⭐ We hope you enjoy our walks, but please exercise common sense as routes can change with the weather conditions and seasons! The routes have been walked by our own two feet, but you know your own limits. Always take a back-up map, don’t rely on GPS alone, wear appropriate clothing for the weather and take adequate snacks and refreshments with you (although as a parent, I know you already know that bit!)

⭐ Leave no trace! Take nothing away and leave nothing behind, take all rubbish home with you.

What’s cool for kids on this walk?

💦 The paddling pool is ace for floating boats on, homemade or otherwise!

✨ Just behind the car park is Millennium Maze, which is less of a maze and more of a series of stone tracks to follow. However, kids love to run around the little trails, and it’s great if you feel like burning off some more energy (or just fancy enjoying some extra long naptime!)

🏬 Located a short walk from Darwin Gardens, down Wells Road is Ilkley Town Centre where you can find a fantastic range of local restaurants, cafe’s and pubs. The route is also pushchair-able (although is downhill/uphill).

🦆 Ducks to feed! Remember your duck food!

🌳 The trees lining Wells Road are great for conker collecting, or if you are visiting in the late Summer, there are gazillions of blackberries to pick! If you want more, then why not try one of our walking games? Or you can download a free scavenger sheet!

White Wells Spa in Ilkley

Want to find more Ilkley Walks?

All of our family friendly walks are arranged in loads of different categories including, waterfall walks, short walks and walks with play parks. So you can find exactly the kind of walk you are looking for!

But if you want to find all the kid friendly Ilkley walks in one place?

Then why not head to our Ilkley Walks section!

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

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