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BURLEY TO ILKLEY via COW AND CALF ROCKS

A pleasant walk that offers magnificent views over Wharfedale. Approx. 4 miles

Directions to walk: Take the train to Burley station, or catch the bus to Burley and walk up Station Road.

1. On leaving the station, go under the Railway Bridge and up the hill past Scalebor Park Hospital. Turn right at the Ben Rhydding footpath sign. In 50 yards, fork left. After another 100 yards, as you bear left on to a cinder track up a gentle slope, the Moor comes into view. On reaching the tarmac road, turn right and go past the Cattle Breeding Station.
2. At the entrance to Stead Hall farm the path goes left over a stile by a gate. Follow it round to a farm gate, with a kissing gate at the side. Go straight ahead through the kissing gate, parallel with the wall on the left, but keeping to the right of the rushes. In about 250 yards, just after the corner of the wall, look for a stile on the left. Go over the stile and up the hill, passing through a wide gap with a stile at the side. Continue up the slope with the wall immediately on your left.
3. On reaching the top wall of the field, go over a stile into a walled lane. Turn left and go past Rose Farm to join the main road along the edge of the Moor. Turn right at the road and walk up the hill. As the road swings round to the right, go through the kissing gate just to the left of a public footpath sign pointing up onto the Moor.
4. There are number of paths to choose from here, but the definitive path follows the old track on the right by the wall. At the top of the rise, by the rock outcrops, you will come to the main path running along the edge of the Moor. This is the Ebor Way. Turn right and follow the drystone wall. From here on, it is a straight walk to the Cow and Calf Rocks with beautiful views over Wharfedale below.
5. From the top of the rocks, go westwards past Hanging Stone quarries, along the side of the valley of Buckstone Beck. In about 300 yards a footbridge over the beck will come into view, and beyond it Ilkley Tarn. Aim for the footbridge, and then continue to the Tarn.
6. Walk along the side of the Tarn, and then down the track towards Ilkley, which leads past a paddling pool to the junction of Wells Road and Crossbeck Road. Turn right down Wells Road into the centre of Ilkley and the train station.

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