Events & Learning opportunities

This walk takes you from the edge of the town on to the high moor, offering sweeping panoramic views across Ilkley and the Wharfe Valley. It will take about two hours and is on reasonable paths, although there will be some muddy areas in wet weather. The first part is all uphill but we will have a good break halfway at White Wells. Starts at Darwin Gardens car park.

From the popular parking place at the Cow & Calf Rocks to the quieter areas beyond, discover the famous Cow and Calf Rocks, the geology of quarry faces, streams, a small gorge, a Cup and Ring Stone and Rocky Valley. This is a moderate walk of two hours, with lots of resting stops along the way, to make it a leisurely walk, with some uphill walking involved.

Discover the beauty and special heritage of Ilkley Moor. This walk is perfect for people who are new to walking, those with push chairs or wheelchairs, or those who just want a gentle stroll amongst beautiful scenery. It is an easy walk of about 1.5 miles on flat, sometimes slightly sloping paths.

This forms part of our regular volunteer days include habitat management and footpath maintenance, starting at 10am until 1pm. Gain skills and understanding in upland habitat management and restoration. This event is an informative and practical conservation morning to help manage and restore the habitats of Ilkley Moor and maintain a network of footpaths. Learn why the provision of a hardwearing network of footpaths helps protect the adjacent habitats and species. Meet the regular volunteers who go out each week to help conserve the heritage of Ilkley Moor. Booking is required for any volunteer day.

Go on a trail of discovery to introduce you to the different stones on the Moor, including the famous Stanza Stones. This is a circular walk of about three miles starting and finishing at the Craiglands Hotel in Ilkley, and will take you on the newly restored lower footpath up to the Cow and Calf Rocks. The walk will involve some uphill walking, but refreshments available (For a modest charge) at the Craiglands for those in need.

This forms part of our regular volunteer days include habitat management and footpath maintenance, starting at 10am until 1pm. Gain skills and understanding in upland habitat management and restoration. This event is an informative and practical conservation morning to help manage and restore the habitats of Ilkley Moor and maintain a network of footpaths. Learn why the provision of a hardwearing network of footpaths helps protect the adjacent habitats and species. Meet the regular volunteers who go out each week to help conserve the heritage of Ilkley Moor. Booking is required for any volunteer day.

Discover the beauty and special heritage of Ilkley Moor. This walk is perfect for people who are new to walking, those with push chairs or wheelchairs, older folk, or those who just want a gentle stroll amongst beautiful scenery. It is an easy walk of about 1.5 miles on flat, sometimes slightly sloping paths.

This popular guided walk will help you discover the birds of Ilkley Moor. Ilkley Moor forms part of the South Pennine Moors Special Protection Area (SPA) designated under the European Union Bird’s Directive for its internationally important breeding birds. Ground nesting birds include, red grouse, curlew and golden plover as well as meadow pipits, skylarks and cuckoos in the spring.

This event introduces you to the ubiquitous plant, bracken and the different methods employed to control it. With a look at past work by the Friends of Ilkley Moor to control bracken on the Moor; and to celebrate the Friends of Ilkley Moors success in securing funding to control bracken, in selected areas, using a flailbot.

A circular walk of two miles, around the lower slopes of the moor, and involves some uphill climbing.

This forms part of our regular volunteer days include habitat management and footpath maintenance, starting at 10am until 1pm. Gain skills and understanding in upland habitat management and restoration. This event is an informative and practical conservation morning to help manage and restore the habitats of Ilkley Moor and maintain a network of footpaths. Learn why the provision of a hardwearing network of footpaths helps protect the adjacent habitats and species. Meet the regular volunteers who go out each week to help conserve the heritage of Ilkley Moor. Booking is required for any volunteer day.

Discover the diversity of flora on the Moor; the trees, flowers, grasses, mosses and lichens of Ilkley Moor, in the full glory of summer. You will also learn about the conservation and management of these areas of the Moor. This is a moderate walk of about three miles, with some uphill climbing involved, but well worth the effort.

This is a walk of about four miles starting on the lower slopes of the Moor which gradually climbs up to the Twelve Apostles standing stones and continues on to the Trig Point at 1,281 feet; which is the highest point on Ilkley Moor and then returns down Keighley Road. It is a strenuous but very rewarding walk on the high moor of about four hours, with uphill climbing, using rough moorland tracks and crosses boggy terrain.

This event is an introduction to the ecology and conservation of the peatland habitat on Ilkley Moor. Discover the work the Friends of Ilkley Moor have been doing in partnership with Bradford Council to help restore Ilkley Moor’s peatlands. Learn about the benefits of this for biodiversity, flood alleviation, carbon capture and reduced fire risk. This is a moderate walk of about four miles, with some uphill climbing.

Discover the wild edible and medicinal foods found on the Moor with our summer wild plant food forage; the perfect month to see some of nature’s bounty at its best. We will have a good forage around amongst the hedgerows, woodland, moorland and along the path edges. This a moderate walk of about three miles and very informative and great fun.

Discover the archaeology of Ilkley Moor. Important archaeological sites can be widely found on the Moor, with its famous bronze age carved rocks and prehistoric enclosures. Their importance is recognised and protected as scheduled monuments. This is a strenuous walk, with some uphill walking, so bring your walking boots.

This is a fun summer school holiday activity for children and young people to discover the landscape of the Moor and the animals, insects and plants which live there. Wildlife identification, pond dipping and planting wildflower seeds (in pots to take home) will form part of this activity walk for all the family. An easy, slow walk of one mile.

This is a fun summer school holiday activity for children and young people to discover the landscape of the Moor and the animals, insects and plants which live there. Wildlife identification, pond dipping and planting wildflower seeds (in pots to take home) will form part of this activity walk for all the family. An easy, walk of about two miles.

This forms part of our regular volunteer days include habitat management and footpath maintenance, starting at 10am until 1pm. Gain skills and understanding in upland habitat management and restoration. This event is an informative and practical conservation morning to help manage and restore the habitats of Ilkley Moor and maintain a network of footpaths. Learn why the provision of a hardwearing network of footpaths helps protect the adjacent habitats and species. Meet the regular volunteers who go out each week to help conserve the heritage of Ilkley Moor. Booking is required for any volunteer day.

This popular, early evening, guided walk is to discover the night creatures of the Moor, in particular bats. Bat detectors will be used to identify the presence of any bats. This is a moderate, atmospheric walk of about two or three miles around the tarns and within the pine woodland; there is some uphill climbing involved. A touch will be very useful in the fading evening light.

This walk takes us to the highest point on the moor to discover areas of both archaeological and geological interest. We will visit the Twelve Apostles stone circle, dating back to the Bronze Age and steeped in mystery. It is widely believed to have a religious and ritualistic purpose involving ceremony and worship. Wear sturdy footwear as there is uphill walking.

This forms part of our regular volunteer days include habitat management and footpath maintenance, starting at 10am until 1pm. Gain skills and understanding in upland habitat management and restoration. This event is an informative and practical conservation morning to help manage and restore the habitats of Ilkley Moor and maintain a network of footpaths. Learn why the provision of a hardwearing network of footpaths helps protect the adjacent habitats and species. Meet the regular volunteers who go out each week to help conserve the heritage of Ilkley Moor. Booking is required for any volunteer day.

This informative event relates to the Sustainable Farming Initiative (SFI) moorland survey the Friends of Ilkley Moor have been undertaking on the Moor. Its purpose is to assess the condition of the vegetation, soil type and the degree of erosion present. Learn about the survey methodology and why it is being undertaken, it also offers the opportunity to take part in a trial survey of a small area.

Ilkley Moor is of course known for its wonderful moorland but on the lower reaches there are woodlands to be explored. This walk winds in and out of the atmospheric woods that form the lowest slopes of Ilkley Moor. There is some up-hill walking involved and the reward is lovely views of Ilkley and across the Wharfe Valley.

This forms part of our regular volunteer days include habitat management and footpath maintenance, starting at 10am until 1pm. Gain skills and understanding in upland habitat management and restoration. This event is an informative and practical conservation morning to help manage and restore the habitats of Ilkley Moor and maintain a network of footpaths. Learn why the provision of a hardwearing network of footpaths helps protect the adjacent habitats and species. Meet the regular volunteers who go out each week to help conserve the heritage of Ilkley Moor. Booking is required for any volunteer day.