Section 1 of 8, Dales Way
Ilkley to Barden
9.4 miles (15.1 km). About 3½ hours, moderate.
Start: SE 112 480. Finish: SE 052 573. OS grid.
Take it with you: download this section's GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Up and down
About 243 m of climbing and 196 m of descent; highest point 143 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Ilkley.
- Station
- Ilkley, 740 m from the start. Directions SE 118 476
- Bus stops
- Skipton Road Westville Road, 180 m from the start. Directions SE 112 479Skipton Road Middleton Road, 240 m from the start. Directions SE 112 478Skipton Road Easby Drive, 280 m from the start. Directions SE 109 479
- Car parks
- Car park (pay), 60 m from the start. Directions SE 112 480Car park, 110 m from the start. Directions SE 113 480Car park, 350 m from the start. Directions SE 115 479
Getting back
The section finishes at Barden. Stations and bus stops near the finish:
- Bus stop
- Barden Tower, 330 m from the finish. Directions SE 050 571
Planning the Dales Way
- Planning the whole trail: dalesway.org.
- The guidebook the trail recommends: Dales Way: Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere (Trailblazer).
- Baggage transfer: the services listed for the trail.
What to expect
Underfoot: gravel and tracks 39%, paved or flagged 22%, earth, rock and mud 13%, grass 9%; the rest (17%) isn't recorded.
About 19% on roads with traffic.
On the way: 10 stiles, 7 kissing gates, 10 gates, 6 flights of steps.
Steepest climb: about 46 m in a kilometre (1 in 22), starting 5.8 miles in.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Walked it? Log it
Something wrong or missing?
Tell us what to change about this section: a wrong distance, a moved start, a path that's closed.