I've heard there's some good riding up at Ilkley so I might head over one evening to check it out. What's best to do up there? Is it easy to navigate, where's best to park etc?
Cheers
Hi - hoping for someone to shed some light here too - went up for the first time in a while last night, had a good ride, but can't help but feel I could have avoided some of the walky bits - there are lots of new tracks too, and would love a loop that takes in as many as poss with a pedal up. Current loop, for some fun stuff but with an xc slant - park at cow and calf, take the track at the corner of the car park closest to Ilkley (bottom right as you look at the rocks). Head to pond, keep going to white wells car park, pick up road, take a left at fork and up towards Keighley 'road' turn right off the road after the steep bit and pick up path down the back of the houses, past reservoir on right, past, view point/rocks, then left up wall, through gate and back along the top for a couple of miles before picking up any of the downhills back to the pond/white wells or cow and calf. Fairly 'common' loop, but can't help but feel it misses out a lot of the fun stuff, which I'm guessing is laps from white wells (ish) car park, with a pedal up past the white house, and/or Keighley Road.
I am guessing that because there isnt much legitimate riding on Ilkley Moor the responses will be low.
It is a very popular area with tourist, families, walkers, wardens etc. Most local riders ride early or late in the day to avoid any trouble.
I think @funkydunc has it here... you could stick with that (legit) xc loop and follow your nose. It was lovely up there at 6pm on Sunday.
Pm me.
Definitely ride only at considerate times. Be aware it is a place busy with many other users and we're very lucky to be permitted to ride there at all.
I am guessing that because there isnt much legitimate riding on Ilkley Moor the responses will be low.
https://www.bradford.gov.uk/environment/countryside-and-rights-of-way/access-on-ilkley-moor/
There's plenty of good stuff inside the hatched area which is allowed, provided you're doing it in a considerate way.
Yep totally understand re being considerate and riding at quiet times etc. I'll be heading over alone and on a weekday evening.. thanks for the tips above and I'll pm you el_boufador. Definitely keen to find the interesting stuff...
And remember a hat, otherwise...
APF
Been up tonight. Everything dry and dusty and riding well, ferns are getting bigger but not yet a problem 🙂
Sounds good. I didn't make it up yet but hopefully soon. Thanks for the link above, sounds like there's a good thing going on there with the council.
Go to Strava. Look for segments. Look at ride of bloke on KOM. Download ride as gpx. Plot as route. Ride route.
Not complex stuff!
That said, I wouldn't go out of my way to ride Ilkley. The best trail is the one that handrails the road to the cow and calf - the rest are a bit abortive. Also - don't ride it in the wet.
Yeah I've avoided strava so far but it's probably good for this sort of thing. I know you say it's not complex but I'll find a way of making it so.
