Yorkshire – God’s Own County

The sun shines on the righteous and no more so than on the edge of Rombolds Ilkley Moor.
Walking across the moor from Ilkley you get great views of the Aire Valley as you crest the final ridge above Dick Hudsons. Over to the left is a view of Baildon with its own moorscape.  If you cross from Ilkley on the northern ridge heading west parallel to the Wharfe Valley you will then get a view of Riva reservoir and Baildon again.

The community in Baildon have a good tradition of walking and have published a series of leaflets using Baildonwiki:

• Railway Walk Heritage Trail – the arches at Woodbottom to the great Viaduct at Tong Park.
• The Turnpike Walk Heritage Trail – takes you between the old turnpike road milestones on Otley Road.
• Kirklands Walk Heritage Trail – St John’s Court to St James;s, Kirklands and Hoyle Court.
• Baildon Village Walk Heritage Trail – visits the old lanes, folds and corners around the centre of Baildon.
• Riverside Walk Heritage Trail – will take you from Roundwood Road to Charlestown centre along the River Aire.
• The Charlie Thompson Walk Heritage Trail – takes you round the places of interest around the St John’s Court area of Charlestown.

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This North Yorkshire settlement of Settle may have been populated by Angles in the 6th century but there are prehistoric remains amongst the limestone hills nearby.

Key Points of Interest

1. Known for its position on the Settle to Carlisle railway, where steam trains still run on occasion, beware the station is well south of the town centre. The railway was opened in 1875 but Settle was connected to the rail network 25 years before that via a road link to Giggleswick station.
2. Victoria Cave contained remains of mammoth, bear, reindeer and hippopotamus as well as stones, flint, bone and other implements and ornaments.
3. Set in the midst of great walking country, Settle is a bustling center for tourists and day trippers. For that reason there are numerous cafes, tea shops and pubs offering refreshment.



4. The river Ribble provided the power for Settle’s former cotton and paper mills and now is a base for many walks. Try the three peaks if you want a tester.
5. Overlooking the town is Castlebergh, an impressive 300 feet limestone crag which flies the flag even when England are not in the world cup.



6. Nearby locations include Giggleswick, just over the bridge, with it’s famous school and Feizor a hamlet up in the limestone hills with great valley views. See walking maps Settle to Feizor & Giggleswick
7. Scalebar Force is a waterfall in a deep wooded ravine just off the road which leads from Settle over the limestone moors to Kirby Malham and Airton
8. In keeping with a modern town new features are added. The Millennium garden is a small tranquil place spoilt only by the nearby eponymous supermarket run by the upmarket Booths chain. This hasn’t spoilt the local shops and my wife enjoys the local wool shop whilst I haunt the secondhand book shops.Victoria Hall is a lively theater and community focal point nearby. Queen Victoria gets a good press in Settle as iher reign was the great era for Settle’s tourist tourist trade.



9. Market day on a Tuesday in hectic. Buses and coach trips visit Settle on other days as well but if you want peace and quite get on your walking boots and head for the hills.
10. The church is set under the hillside not far from the Ribble. I was taken by the use of the church grounds to grow rhubarb and other edibles under the protection of the church walls, to say nothing of the surrounding hills.