Dales Way Link – Harrogate to Ilkley
A 16-mile long-distance walk linking the town of Harrogate with the starting point of the Dales Way in Ilkley. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: SE 297 553
Distance: 16 miles (26 km)
Time: 6–8 hours
Duration: 1 day
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
289 Leeds, Harrogate, Wetherby and Pontefract
297 Lower Wharfedale and Washburn Valley
Summary
The Dales Way Link from Harrogate to Ilkley is a permissive walking route allowing walkers in and around the North Yorkshire spa town to reach the start of the very popular Dales Way long-distance walking route on foot. It is one of three link routes from conurbations in Yorkshire, the others being Bradford to Ilkley and Leeds to Ilkley. The Dales Way starts in Ilkley and crosses parts of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Lake District National Park to finish on the shore of Lake Windermere. From Harrogate, the link — which is a lovely linear walk in its own right — heads to Ilkley via Valley Gardens, Harrogate Pinewoods, Carrdale Woodland, Haverah Park, Beaver Dyke Reservoirs, Swinsty Reservoir, Timble, Great Timble Wood, Denton Moor, March Ghyll Reservoir, and Middleton.