5 Ilkley Moor Landmarks

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Tom & Essi Troughton

5 Ilkley Moor Landmarks

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Published on March 17, 2025

2 min read

Ilkley Moor Circular Walk

Ilkley is not only the home to the Yorkshire icon that is Bettys, but it also hosts a deep history that is ready to be discovered. On this challenging 15km route, we will step back in time and explore some of the key locations that form a significant part of Ilkley’s history. These iconic landmarks have been enjoyed for hundreds of years, but they are ready to be discovered once again, by you.

Where better to enjoy a Taylor’s Coffee than Ilkley? Did you know that the Bettys Ilkley Café and shop was opened in 1964, 2 years after Bettys purchased Taylors of Harrogate? Since then, the Bettys and Taylors business have become an icon in Yorkshire’s Heritage. This history has inspired this route, so we hope you enjoy it!

This challenging 15km route will take you up and away from Bettys towards Ilkley Moor. Here, we will discover many iconic landmarks. These include:

Darwin Gardens (inspired by Charles Darwin)

Swastika Stone (a symbol that may relate to the sun and is carved into the stone. This is thought to have been carved in the Bronze or Iron Age)

Stanza Stone – This was created as part of a project in 2012 between Simon Armitage and the Ilkley Literature Festival. They are a set of poems carved into stone by Artist Pip Hall.

The 12 Apostles Stone Circle – these 1.2m high stones are laid out in a circle and are an interesting highlight

Cow and Calf Rocks (also know as Hangingstone Rocks) are a large rock formation made of millstone grit. The legend goes that the Giant Rhombald splt the calf from the cow while fleeing an enemy. His angry wife dropped the stones from her skirt, forming the Skirtful of Stones.

The Tarn – a popular beauty spot since the Victorian period

Whitewells Spa Cottage – A bathing premises since 1703. Charles Darwin visited in 1859.

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Explore More Coffee Bag Adventures

This route guide is part of the Taylor’s of Harrogate Coffee Bag Adventures Collection and was created by OS Champions Tom & Essi Troughton

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