Ilkley is a very desirable place to live. If you're in any doubt as to why, try this four-mile walk which passes through a posh residential area where the houses have magnificent moorland views before heading out into open countryside and returning via woodland which, in the spring, is densely carpeted with bluebells.

In fact, to enjoy this walk at its best cut it out and put it away for a few weeks until the bluebell season is upon us.

But it's a pretty good walk at any time, ideal for a winter morning or afternoon.

I started out in the middle of the town, walking down the road which leads past the parish church on the left to the bridge across the river.

The church is built on the site of what was once the Roman fort of Olicana. Tucked away behind it is the Manor House, Ilkley's art gallery and museum.

Immediately before the river I turned down the steps into the park and walked along past the playground, the river flowing sedately along to my right.

This was early in the day. It was barely light. The only people sharing the park with me were dog walkers, some of whom seemed to spend much of their time bellowing at their unleashed pets to stop them attacking other dogs.

To those of us who aren't fans of the canine species, having such a pet really does seem to be a toil of a pleasure for many people.

The arched footbridge which soon took me across the river was built in the 17th century and has stood the test of time well.

At the top of the arch I paused and looked at the water. Only 20 yards away a heron stood stock still in the shallows before taking lazily to the air and flapping downstream.

At the far side of the bridge my walk followed the riverside footpath upstream before parting company with the river and joining the road. I crossed over into the climbing road opposite and almost immediately forked left into Owler Park Road.

This fine residential road headed upwards, passing the sort of houses which have helped to make Ilkley one of the more expensive places in the country to buy a home.

Where the road swung right I veered left over a stile into woodland and followed a muddy path through the trees before arriving at a stile into a field.

The faint green path led the way ahead, with more mud to be negotiated as it crossed a stream before arriving at a fence with another stream beyond. A right-left dogleg took me over another stile and up a steep hillside and into a large field with the buildings of Low Austby down to the left.

I headed across this field, taking avoiding action as a flock of geese waddled noisily in my direction, and was soon climbing up the field edge in the direction of a fine old house, High Austby, which stands on a ridge commanding magnificent views across Wharfedale.

Within minutes I was walking east through open countryside on a narrow road which soon became a track before returning to tarmac at a house known as Tivoli. Not much further on was one of the treats of this outing.

Signs by an ornate wooden gate with a Latin inscription declared that this was Calvary. Beyond the gate the path swung round to become a tree-surrounded avenue heading between carved-stone Stations of the Cross to a shrine at the far end which had been adorned, over the years, with simple makeshift wooden crosses left by "pilgrims" to this remote, quiet and (at least when you're there alone) slightly spooky place, a folly created in the middle of the 19th century.

I would appreciate any information any reader has about who built this place here, and why.

I left it behind and soon was walking down towards Middleton Lodge, which dates from the start of the 17th century, was once a monastery but is now private dwellings again.

Turning left here, I arrived at a road junction and headed towards Middleton but quickly left the tarmac to head down a field and go over a stile into Middleton Woods, which are owned and maintained by Bradford Council and are famed for their bluebells.

The woods are crisscrossed with paths.

To find my way out I kept on what seemed to be the most-used paths, descending gently. As I started to pick my way down some steep steps there was the sound of shouted, frustrated instructions coming from below.

It was another of those aforementioned dog walkers trying to keep her pet under control - although at least this one was on a lead. I stepped to one side as it powered its way up the steps, towing her along behind it.

A couple of signposts confirmed that I was heading in the right direction to return to Ilkley.

Before long I'd emerged from the wood and walked down a snicket to arrive at the car park of the Ilkley Lido, where I was photographed nearly 60 years ago as a toddler wearing one of those onepiece knitted bathing suits that stretched when they got wet.

It's a miracle, I suppose, that the place still exists. Long may it continue to do so.

Step by Step

  1. From traffic lights in middle of Ilkley walk down New Brook Street towards river, with church on left. Before bridge, go left to descend steps into park and walk upstream through park to go right at far end over footbridge. Turn left on far bank and continue along riverside path until path leaves water and joins road.
  2. Cross over, go up road opposite briefly then take left fork up Owler Park Road. Where road swings right, go left over stone stile and descend to path through wood. Follow this right until it arrives as stile into field. Keep ahead across field until path drops down to meet fence with stream beyond. Go right here, then soon go left over stile.
  3. Cross footbridge and climb hill ahead. Over next stile, go left then soon go right to walk across field with buildings of Low Austby to left. On meeting fence, turn right and climb hill to stile at top.
  4. Over this continue uphill, passing ancient, gnarled tree, towards High Austby. Go through gate and follow path round left-hand side of holly tree, going right-ish with it and climbing to pass wooden gate in hedge and arrive at stile in wall corner.
  5. Over this, walk up High Austby access drive to junction. Go right here on narrow, paved road which after a while turns right. Keep ahead here on track to dip down and pass Tivoli (house) before continuing with woodland (and rhododendrons) on right to arrive at Calvary on left. From Calvary, keep on to end of track and turn right to pass houses on left.
  6. With Middleton Lodge ahead on right and new building ahead left, turn left and follow drive to road. Dog-leg left then right into Middleton road, looking soon for footpath sign pointing right into field.
  7. Head diagonally down field to stile into Middleton Woods. At foot of steep initial slope, take left-hand fork (but going to right of stream) and pick your way down through wood on what looks like most-used path.
  8. You should come to some steep steps, a signpost which points you on to Woodland Walk and then another which gives you an option to return to Ilkley. Follow this to arrive at a road. Dog-leg left across it and follow footpath sign down snicket to Lido car park and return to centre of town.

Fact File

  • Set-off point: Middle of Ilkley.
  • Time for 4-mile walk: oneand-a-half hours.
  • Going: easy.
  • Map: OS Explorer 27, Lower Wharfedale.
  • Parking: free at roadside in New Brook Street.
  • Refreshments: plenty of all sorts in Ilkley.
  • Toilets: at main car park in Ilkley (all others seem to be locked).