YWW 4 – BLUBBERHOUSES TO ILKLEY
1. Through parking area to gate at far end beside the head of the reservoir.
2. Through the gate and follow the stony path straight on for 1¾ miles along the meandering wooded shoreline of Fewston Reservoir all the way to reach a road junction opposite the entrance to Swinsty Reservoir car park..
3. Cross the road then turn left along the walled stony track just by the car park entrance and toilet block.
4. Follow this walled track straight on down through woodland to join the wooded banks of Swinsty Reservoir then take the track to the right immediately before the walled gardens of Swinsty Hall (SE 194 533).
5. Follow this track up to reach agate beside the entrance to the Hall. Head through the gate and follow the path curving round to the right through the woodland for a short distance then, when the track straightens out, turn left back on yourself along a footpath.
6. Follow this path straight on through the woods to join a rough track and tumbledown wall across your path.
7. Turn right up along this track to reach a gate at the top of the woods (SE 191 531).
8. Head through the gate then walk straight on up across three fields through a series of gates to join the bottom of a walled grassy track which you follow up to join a lane on the outskirts of Timble.
9. Follow this lane to the right to emerge into a small ‘square’ at the top of the village (SE 179 529).
10. Walk across the ‘square’ to quickly join the main road through the village and follow this to the left up out of Timble.
11. Continue straight on along this road leaving the village behind for just over ¼ mile to reach a T-junction where you head left to soon reach a crossroads beside Lane End Farm (SE 170 531)
12. Cross the road with care and follow the stony lane opposite. Continue along the track to join the edge of a large plantation on your right,
13. Carry straight on along the track with the plantation on your right for a further 150yds then, where the track forks, follow the track to the left to reach a gate and cattle grid on the edge of open moorland *SE 164 527).
14. Cross the cattle grid and follow the clear track bending round to the right then climbing gradually up across the moorland to reach two gates on the ‘rise’ of Ellarcarr Pike (SE 159 523).
15. Head over the stile by the left-hand gate and follow the wide path straight on across the heather moorland to soon join a fence on your left.
16. Carry straight on alongside this fence on your left (ignore any stiles over this fence) heading gradually down across Denton Moor for ¾ml.
17. As you approach the bottom of the moorland you pass to the right of a small plantation, at which point follow the grassy path bearing slightly to the right away from the fence, over a ford across Lady Dikes (stream) to reach a metal gate/bridlegate beside the bottom left corner of a long narrow belt of woodland (SE 151 513).
18. Head through the gate and head straight on alongside the wall on your left, through a gate in a fence across your path then carry straight on (wall on your left) heading gradually down the hillside to reach a gate through the wall to your left in the bottom corner of the field.
19. Head through the gate and turn right heading down across the hillside with the wall now on your right (path becomes a grassy track) down to reach a cattle grid at the top of a walled lane just to the left of Yarnett House Farm (SE 149 502).
20.
Cross the cattle grid and
follow the lane (
21.
Turn right at the road junction
then in a short distance left at the triangular green (with the lamppost and
circular stone fountain) and follow this down out of
22. Where the road bends to the left, turn right through a gate along a track (SE 143 486).
23. Follow this track straight on across a field to join the bottom corner of West Park Wood on your right – carry straight on alongside this woodland then, where the track bends to the right through a double gate into woodland, head straight on (do not enter woodland) to quickly reach a stile beside a gate in the field corner.
24. Cross the stile and continue straight on alongside the fence/woodland over another stile beside a gate, after which carry on for a further 25yds then, where the fence/woodland bends to the right, head straight on across the field to reach a small metal gate near the farm buildings of Beck Foot Farm (SE 135 486).
25. Head through the gate and walk straight on into farmyard and follow the farm track to the right passing in front of the farmhouse, over a bridge across Bow Beck and on to reach the road.
26. At the road take the path opposite (SP) through a wooden kissing gate (ignore the metal gate and track) out onto a field.
27. Walk straight on alongside the overgrown hedge on your right across the field to reach a stile, after which bear left across the middle of the field to reach a stile towards the far left corner that leads onto Denton Road (SE 129 484).
28. Turn right along the road for ⅓ml then cross the suspension bridge to your left over the River Wharfe.
29. Follow the clear riverside path all the way to reach the road bridge.
30. Head up the steps onto the bridge and turn left into the centre of Ilkley.