[Closed] Ilkley Moor Trails

You are best using Strava and trail forks.

Yes the trails are good and it is a up and down sort of a ride, but you can make a loop of it once you know the area.

As above really but get there soon before the ferns take over!

Cheers, was thinking of going tomorrow afternoon

Trail forks and strava a good place to start, just be aware of where you're allowed to be (it's been a bone of contention for some time, Bradford City Council are very good/ & (actively) tolerant of mtb but other land "owners" and some user groups not so much).

The main tracks should be fine and cycling is specifically permitted on those but some of the strava/tf stuff goes off those which isn't officially accepted by the council at the best of times and can cause grief with user groups (some justifiably, some are just miserable sods and or enjoy blasting small birds). Given it's nesting season and all the rain over the last week a lot of "cheeky" will be a mire and easily damaged so best avoided imo at the moment.

@dangeourbrain cheers for the info. I'm happy riding cheeky in my local hills but do prefer to be more cautious when anywhere else just in case i'm upsetting locals and others who are trying to be positive role models for mtb'ers.

upsetting locals

Chances are tomorrow you'll be fine, tis only Thursday, but I've had a fair few "oi you" moments up there where its nice to be able to say *squeaky voice* "not your land and the council says I'm fine here mate, just not over there (which is" your" land)", the where you're allowed is mainly about placating folks who don't know rather than not upsetting those who do.

A lot of the main trails are pretty rocky so weather well, especially the steps down to white Wells from west rock/Ilkley crags*.

*(may be unwise, probably I'd be a squishy red mess)

I like the trails on the tops, but it has to be dry and you have to know the right lines otherwise you're in a bog. some of the ridge line trails are really good. There's one that goes from the masts towards the forest (Silsden direction) to west buck stones, follows the forest line then cuts north to overlook Addingham joining the dales high way, then back to Keighley road on Dales HW. at a gate trend right if you want to come out back up Keighley rd, trend left if you want to come out down Keighley rd.

Also from 12 apostle stones to high lanshaw dam and then back on yourself along little lanshaw delves singletrack or you can go all the way out to woofa bank from lanshaw lass stone I think, then and back on lower trail (dales way/ebor way) (NB some of this is cheeky so be prepared with excuse and apology, the worst they can do is ask you to leave and the rangers are generally ok it's the dog walkers they don't like) . all above names are on OS 1:25k map

I was up there yesterday. Some boggy bits, but other bits were surprisingly dry. I’ve never had any problems with other users, always had pleasant exchanges, though I only ride up there during the week, not the weekends. I’m still getting to know the place, but Strava and Trailforks were a useful start

Might just use some sensible judgement on what to ride based on conditions and who else is about. I'd rather not annoy any locals when i'm just visiting. Is parking obvious?

Is parking obvious?

I've only ever parked in town, there's plenty round about and, especially since you're going mid week, the residential areas will be empty.

There's some just off Wells Road (White Wells carpark on Google maps or at west view park.)

I'd park up about the junction of queen's Road and Princess Road and go up through the woods beside St Margaret's personally.

Park at White Wells or Cow and Calf cafe.

Or even at Keighley Gate depending on where you're driving from.

Ilkley cycle races in town tonight, closed road racing, worth a visit.

I like the trails on the tops, but it has to be dry and you have to know the right lines otherwise you’re in a bog. some of the ridge line trails are really good. There’s one that goes from the masts towards the forest (Silsden direction) to west buck stones, follows the forest line then cuts north to overlook Addingham joining the dales high way, then back to Keighley road on Dales HW. at a gate trend right if you want to come out back up Keighley rd, trend left if you want to come out down Keighley rd.

That includes most of my favorite bits. One thing -- I don't normally go as far north as the Dales High way after cutting north from the forest line. I stay higher up as I make my way back to Keighley road, which has the advantage of dropping you right at the top of the specific mtb descents that head down just east of the road.

If the weather is really shitty, White Wells to Twelve Apostles to the masts is largely on flagstones and very well surfaced gravel. I'd don't know the place well enough to suggest what of the muddy trails drain well.

I don’t normally go as far north as the Dales High way after cutting north from the forest line. I stay higher up as I make my way back to Keighley road,

I probably stay on the higher trail as well then, it's whatever the obvious option is without losing height, I was just working off an OS map and memory and assumed it was that Dales HW trail.

Warning ⚠️ for White Wells! That’s probably where someone tried to get in to my van yesterday. Screwdrivered the side door. 😡 Certainly the most likely place it happened. Never had issues there before

went once, pieced a route together using strava and followed that with a few repeaters. thought it was really great and i was surprised how civil everybody i met was! i think yorkshire has a better bike tolerance than many places.

unfortunately i returned to the car park to find my van broken into so never been back and have no plans to either.

You can ride anywhere on Ilkley moor in my experience as the council allow it. Burley moor is privately owned and there is a farmer who will aggressively turn you away if he sees you. But it’s not easy to know when you’re on burley moor as it’s just got a few marker posts.
All the trails are good in the dry, some are very rocky and technical. Also some great trails built recently. It’s a small area but loads of singletrack. Just find a trail and see where it takes you.
Near the tops will be boggy after all that rain tho. Go easy on anything soft and peaty

Work is v busy at the moment but Pm me if you’re in the area and if I’m around am happy to guide or at least talk you thru in some more detail . I’m biased but there’s so much good singletrack It’s one of my fave places to ride

I'll try park at the Cafe if that's a safer place to park, plus it's food for before & after. There'll be nowt in the car to nick as such but saves the hassle. I'll be driving down the M6 then onto the A65.

there was nowt in my van to nick either but they smashed a window!

****ers took the power cord for my mobile jetwash ffs, and washbag with a used toothbrush in it.

@mahalo where were you parked?
We've been riding Ilkley regularly for years, generally park at the Cow and Calf and have never had a problem but I have heard of cars being broken into at White Wells on dark winter evenings.

I've had my van screwed at White Wells car park too so best avoided. Great riding there though!

Burley moor is privately owned and there is a farmer who will aggressively turn you away if he sees you.

Hmm, I quite regularly use the double track that goes up from Menston to the 12 Apostles, as I tend to ride there from my doorstep in Leeds and that's the only way onto the moor that doesn't involve a long road slog, or dealing with the crowds of the canal (and the psychopathic geese...). And it survives the winter very well.

Only been pulled up on it once, have I just been lucky or is that not the spot you're talking about?

Always been a bit baffled cyclists are banned from that bit, given it's basically a gravel road.

Another car has been done at White wells. It was posted on a local group, looked like some who had gone biking. I’d avoid parking there