Ben Rhydding is a village adjacent to Ilkley, located between Ilkley Moor and the River Wharfe. It was originally named Wheatley (a name that survives in various street names and the village’s single public house), but its name changed to match that of a locally famous Hydro built during the nineteenth century and since demolished; Ben Rhydding is believed to be an ancient name for the uplands above Wheatley. The village has few historic buildings, but this walk makes up for that with extensive rural footpaths and fine views along Wharfedale.
Ben Rhydding Railway Station opened on the Otley and Ilkley Joint Railway in 1866; the original station buildings have been demolished, although the Station Master’s house survives as a private residence. Leave the station and follow the station approach to Wheatley Lane, passing Wheatley Hall on the right. Turn left and then immediately right along Cheltenham Avenue, and when this bends right, bear left along a signed footpath, which shortly turns left to pass beneath the railway line. Turn right at a junction and follow a footpath diagonally across two fields, then over a bridge over a small stream and across two more fields to reach a drive. Here, turn left and walk to Coutances Way.
Turn left, then shortly cross the road and turn right to enter Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits Local Nature Reserve.
Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits Local Nature Reserve
As its name suggests, this occupies former gravel pits, which ceased to be worked in the 1970s and subsequently flooded. The resulting lagoons were partly filled by tipping, until this was eventually stopped. Today, the reserve is home to a variety species of plants, birds and insects, as well as bats and otters. Turn right again and follow a path through the reserve, soon passing a lake formed from one of the gravel pits. Eventually, when the River Wharfe appears on the left, the path leaves the nature reserve back onto Coutances Way. Follow the road in the same direction, then carefully cross over and follow a signed footpath uphill. The path bends right then reaches a junction; here, turn left and follow it back under the railway track, then turn right and follow a path between trees to a metal gate. Turn right and follow the waymarked path through a kissing gate, then along the top of a field to reach Ben Rhydding Drive.
Cross straight over, then bear diagonally left, continuing to follow Ben Rhydding Drive uphill. After passing houses on the left, turn left and follow a footpath through trees to a drive, then turn left and follow this to the entrance to Clevedon House. Bear right past this and follow another signed footpath along a drive, shortly follow the waymarked route left through a small gate, downhill through trees, and across a wooden plan bridge over a stream. At a fork on the other side, bear left and follow the path as it curves right around fence then turns left and runs across a field to a farm track.
Turn right and follow the track through the buildings of Steadhall Farm, then when it bends left turn right and follow a path through a gate uphill next to Rushy Beck to Moor Road. Cross this and continue straight ahead along a path leading up onto Burley Moor, which adjoins Ilkley Moor. When the path ends at a T-junction, turn right and follow this (part of the Dales Way), then bear right at a fork and continue gradually downhill.
Burley Moor
When the Cow and Calf public house becomes parallel with the path on the right, turn right and follow a path towards it to reach Hangingstone Road.
Turn left, passing the pub, then take a signed footpath downhill on the right, eventually passing through woods and descending steps to reach Wheatley Lane. Continue straight ahead along this, passing the Wheatley Arms on the right, shortly followed by Ben Rhydding Methodist Church. On reaching the latter, turn left along Wheatley Avenue, then take the first right turn and follow it to Bolling Road. Turn left and follow this, shortly passing the Church of St. John the Evangelist on the left. Continue past this, then just after the junction with Manor Rise on the left, turn right and follow a footpath to a bridge over the railway track. Cross this and continue along the path to Grange Estate. Turn right and walk to Valley Drive, then turn right again, looking out for the Grade II-listed “Story of Wool” sculptural mural on the front of the International Development Centre visible through a gate on the left hand side of the road. The mural was sculpted by William Mitchell in 1968 for the International Wool Secretariat.
Continue along Valley Drive, then on reaching a crossroads turn left along Wyvil Crescent. When then road bends right, turn left and follow a cul-de-sac, then continue straight ahead at the end along a footpath leading to Collyer View. Turn left, then right along a footpath and continue straight ahead over the stepping stones across the river. On the other side, turn right along Denton Lane, then turn right again to cross a bridge back across the river. Turn right, and then left along Wheatley Lane to return to the station (if the stepping stones are impassable due to high water levels, turn right on reaching Collyer View from the path from Wyvil Crescent, then right along Wheatley Lane).
From Ben Rhydding, we now head to our final destination both on the Wharfedale line and in the City of Bradford, as we reach the town of Ilkley.
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