Burley Summer Festival Walks Programme 2024
Booking arrangements:
All walks are bookable with 28 places on each, except the Tuesday 20 Butterflies, Bees and Small Things walk, the Sunday 25 August Sun Lane Nature Reserve walk, and the Festival Finale walk to Bleach Mill which are open to all. Booking in person opens on Saturday 27July between 10.00 and 1.00pm at the Roundhouse, with bookings restricted to 3 walks per person. From later in the day unlimited bookings by text will be possible via the Walkers are Welcome phone number 07900 489498 until the beginning of each walk.
All walks are bookable with 28 places on each, except the Tuesday 20 Butterflies, Bees and Small Things walk, the Sunday 25 August Sun Lane Nature Reserve walk, and the Festival Finale walk to Bleach Mill which are open to all. Booking in person opens on Saturday 27July between 10.00 and 1.00pm at the Roundhouse, with bookings restricted to 3 walks per person. From later in the day unlimited bookings by text will be possible via the Walkers are Welcome phone number 07900 489498 until the beginning of each walk.
Saturday August 17
Walk the Yorkshire Heritage Way, Stage 5: Brimham Rocks to Ripon Cathedral
11.27 miles 6 hrs walking Strenuous Linear
Depart: 9.00 am Meet at: The Roundhouse, Grange Park Using Ilkley Community Transport to the start the walk at Brimham Rocks, the final stage of the Yorkshire Heritage Way passes through some of the best countryside in the Nidderdale National Landscape. It slowly descends to Ripon, leaving Brimham Moor to cross the River Skell at Butterton Bridge. From Sawley the route then follows the River Skell to Fountains Abbey. After walking through Studley Royal Deer Park, the walk continues along the Valley of the Seven Bridges to Ripon. The aim is to return by minibus to Burley by 5.30pm. Bring a picnic lunch and enough to drink. Wear suitable footwear and clothing. There are a number of stiles. No dogs please.
Cost: £6.00 for minibus transport to Brimham and return to Burley from Ripon. Pay cash on the minibus.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Saturday August 17
Burley Tree Trail
1.00 mile 2 hrs Easy Linear
Depart: 10.00 am
Meet at: The Roundhouse, Grange Park
This is a short walk led by Bruce Brown from Wharfedale Naturalists. It follows the newly published Burley Tree Trail, visiting over 40 different trees in and around the centre of the village. Walkers will be able to improve their identification of trees, common and not so common, as well as learn about their origin and contribution to wildlife. We will visit trees in Grange Park, the village green, and Burley House field with a few in between. The walk is level throughout and will be on either tarmac or hard surface paths.
Cost: Free. Booking: Required - limit on numbers (28)
Monday August 19
Biodiversity on Denton Reserve
4 miles 2.5 hrs walking Moderate Circular
Depart: 9.30 am
Meet at: The Roundhouse, Grange Park
Return travel to Yarnett House Farm will be on Community Transport minibuses. We will meet Nick Bailey, one of the owners of the Denton Reserve, who will lead a walk around parts of the reserve to visit areas that are gradually being repurposed for biodiversity and carbon capture. He will share plans for future developments including the re-introduction of beavers into the landscape.
Remember to bring enough to drink and wear suitable footwear and clothing. Some of the walking will be on rough ground. There may be some stiles. No dogs please. The aim is to return to Burley for around 1.00pm.
Cost: £3.00 for return minibus transport between Burley and Denton. Pay in cash on the minibus
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Monday August 19
Walking with poems
2.5 miles 2 hrs walking Easy Linear
Depart: 2.00 pm
Meet at: The Roundhouse, Grange Park
Join Colin Speakman, accomplished poet and celebrated author of many books about the Yorkshire Dales, on a leisurely walk between Burley and Burley Woodhead. Through his poems Colin will be reflecting something of the history and beauty of places along the route, joined by members of the Wharfedale Poets collective. The walk will finish at the Hermit pub with refreshments, when there will be chance for participants to have a go at writing their own poems. It’s hoped that some of these can be published on social media with photographs of the walk as well as poems by Colin and the Wharfedale Poets. Remember to bring water for the walk.
Cost: Free. Bring money for refreshments.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Tuesday August 20
Shipley Glen and Bracken Hall Countryside Centre
8.5 miles 4 hrs walking Moderate Linear
Depart: 10.00 am Meet at: The Roundhouse, Grange Park
The walk will follow good paths over Burley Moor, with open views across Airedale and beyond. Following the Glovershaw Beck into Shipley Glen we will meet one of the volunteers at Bracken Hall Countryside Centre. We will learn something about the educational role of the centre and how it engages with different aspects of the countryside. We will also have chance to explore its wild life garden.
Drinks will be available for a small donation. The return walk will go down to Roberts Park in Saltaire then along the canal to the end of the walk at Shipley Station. Remember to bring a picnic lunch and enough to drink on the walk.
Cost: Donation towards refreshments at Bracken Hall and for the rail fare back to Burley.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Tuesday August 20
Butteflies, Bees and Small things
1 mile 1.5 hrs walking Easy circular
Depart: 10.30 am
Meet at: Entrance to Sun Lane Nature Reserve
Anne Riley is passionate about small creatures – and expert at finding, identifying and photographing them. Sun Lane Nature Reserve has a great diversity of wild flowers, plants and shrubs. It's an ideal environment where butterflies, bees and bugs can thrive and is recognised as one of the best habitats for butterflies in the area. Walk with Anne around the reserve to explore the intimate world of our insects and other smaller creatures, often tiny but no less colourful and extraordinary. No dogs please.
Cost: Free
Booking: Not required. Just turn up.
Tuesday August 20
Mills and Water Power – the making of Burley
6.5 miles 4 hrs walking Easy circular
Depart: 1.30 pm
Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
Burley’s transition from an agricultural to industrial based community took place from the mid 18th century onwards leading to a growth in population, commerce and institutions. Visiting the sites of eight mills alongside water courses between Burley Woodhead and Burley Weir the walk will trace historical changes, delving into the purpose of the mills and their impact on the local economy and environment. The walk will be on lanes, tracks and field paths. There will be a moderate ascent up to Burley Woodhead at the start of the walk and a number of squeeze stiles. Please bring enough to drink. We hope refreshments can be available at Bleach Mill about half way through the walk.
Cost: Free
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Wednesday August 21
A choice of two walks to see peat restoration, ecology and archaeology on Denton Moor
2.5 or 4.5 miles 2 or 4 hrs walking Easy to Moderate Circular
Depart: 9.30 am for both walks
Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
Yorkshire Peatland Partnership (YPP) has begun an exciting and ambitious plan to restore the degraded peatland of Denton Moor. Lucy Lee and colleagues from the YPP will show us some of the work done over the past year and share plans for the future.
There are two options for the visit. The whole group will travel to the edge of Denton Moor by minibus then walk steadily on tracks up to the old shooting hut, now a resource centre.
One group will then take a longer circular route using public rights of way to see some of the peat restoration and archaeological sites higher on the moor. The other group will explore the area around the resource centre before returning to the minibuses.
There will be chance for both groups to find out about how the environment will benefit from YPP’s work and how we could get involved as citizen scientists.
Bring a picnic lunch and enough to drink. We will aim to be back in Burley by 3.00 pm. No dogs please.
When booking please indicate which group you would like to join.
Cost: £4.00 return by minibus between Burley and Denton Moor.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Wednesday August 21
Beyond Askwith with Tea at the Penny Bun
6.5 miles 3 hrs walking Easy Circular
Depart: 1.00 pm Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
The walk will cross the river to Askwith using the stepping stones if they are safe to cross. If not, car sharing will be organised to drive to the Penny Bun pub. From Askwith we will follow the Brickhouse circular walk from the ‘Rambles from Askwith’ walks leaflet. It gently climbs towards the moor with views across Wharfedale, using field paths and good tracks. Before returning to Burley, afternoon tea will be offered at the newly opened Penny Bun in Askwith. The aim is to be back in Burley for 5.00 pm. Remember to bring enough to drink on the walk.
When booking the walk please indicate if you would like afternoon tea so places can be booked.
Cost: £7.50 for afternoon tea at the Penny Bun.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Thursday August 22
Foraging with Muppett
5 miles 3 hrs walking Easy Circular
Depart: 9.30 am Meet at: Entrance to Sun Lane Nature Reserve
Come on a foraging expedition with Muppett (aka Michael Pascal) and find out how to make your walks a tasty experience. Learn how to safely identify the wild food opportunities that have sustained our forebears and are still available today. Muppett will begin the walk at Sun Lane Nature Reserve, following field paths to Stead then on to Burley Woodhead. Using the Ebor Way for a while the return to Burley will be alongside Carr Beck. Remember to bring enough to drink.
Cost: Free
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Thursday August 22
Bronze Age Burley – archaeological discoveries on Burley Moor
4 miles 3.5 hrs Moderate Linear
Depart: 1.30 pm
Meet at: Burley Woodhead Village Green, top of Moor Lane
This walk will visit some of the lower-level archaeological sites around Woofa Bank on Burley Moor. It will be led Dr Keith Boughey a local historian and expert on the Bronze Age. He has researched and written extensively on the subject. During the walk he will give detailed information about the sites we visit.
There will be some climbing on field paths and tracks with some walking across rough open moor. You will need suitable footwear and clothing with enough to drink. The aim will be to end the walk by 5.00 with refreshments at the Hermit Inn. No dogs please.
Cost: Free – bring money for refreshments.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Friday August 23 Two walks around the St. Ives Estate, Bingley
Longer walk to Goit Stock waterfall and Hewenden Viaduct
9 miles 4.5 hrs walking Moderate Circular
Depart: 9.30 am
Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
We will travel to St Ives Estate by minibus to start the walk. Following parts of the Millenium Way to Goit Stock waterfall and woodland the route then crosses the impressive Hewenden viaduct. Then going through Cullingworth and onto Harden Moor we return to St. Ives for a short presentation about the history of the St. Ives estate with the short walk group.
Bring a picnic and enough to drink. Refreshments will be available at the Ivy Kitchen café. The aim is to return to Burley by 4.30 pm. No dogs please.
Cost: £5 for return minibus transport between Burley and Bingley.
Bring money for refreshments
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (14)
Friday August 23
Shorter walk: a new view from the St Ives Estate
3 to 4 miles 2 hours walking Easy Circular
Depart: 11.00 pm
Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
Leaving later than the longer walk we will travel by minibus to the St Ives Estate. We will walk around the country park taking in new views which have opened up following recent tree felling. There are a good number of paths to follow, including around the Coppice Pond with its wildfowl, across open moorland and through a wildflower meadow. There will be a picnic stop during the walk dependent on the weather.
At the end of the walk refreshments will be available at the Ivy Kitchen Cafe before meeting up with the longer walk for a presentation about the history of St. Ives estate. Bring a picnic and something to drink. The aim is to return to Burley by around 4.30 pm. No dogs please.
Cost: £5.00 for return minibus transport between Burley and Bingley. Bring money for refreshments
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (14)
Friday August 23
Weston Hall, gardens and church
5.5 miles 2.5 hrs walking Moderate Circular
Depart: 10.00 am
Meet at: Jubilee Clock, Otley Market Place
The walk starts in Otley Market Place and follows the Six Dales Trail route towards Clifton., passing through the community-owned Weston Woods to reach Weston by 11.30. Weston Hall, has been home to the Vavasoure family for five centuries. The house dates from the late 16th century with interesting features such as the Dragon Room with a Tudor ceiling. Outside there is a 16th century tithe barn, and a well-preserved freestanding banqueting hall. The current owners Mr and Mrs Dawson will offer a guided tour and an opportunity to explore the gardens and visit nearby All Saints Church. The return walk goes across Weston Hall’s parkland to Weston Lane, arriving back in Otley around 3.30 pm. Please bring a picnic and something to drink. No dogs please.
Cost: Bring £10 in cash for house entrance.
Booking: Required –limit on numbers (28)
Friday August 23
Night walk over Burley and Ilkley Moors
5 miles 3 hrs walking Strenuous Circular
Depart: 7.30 pm
Meet at: Burley Woodhead Village Green, top of Moor Lane.
This is a high-level circular walk onto Burley and Ilkley Moors, visiting the Twelve Apostles stone circle. On a clear night there should be extensive night time views over Wharfedale and Airedale. The route will include rough moor paths and may be altered in poor weather or bad ground conditions. Adequate footwear, warm clothing, snacks and a drink are essential as well as a working torch or head torch with spare batteries. The aim is to return to the Hermit for refreshments by 10.30pm. The minimum age limit is 18. No dogs please.
Cost: Free - bring money for refreshments.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Saturday August 24
Burley’s brilliant benches
6 miles 4 hrs walking Moderate Circular
Depart: 10.00 am Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
Several benches have been installed in and around Burley over the past few of years. Sites have been chosen maybe because of the view, as a natural resting spot on a walk or in memory of a special person. More often than not because of all three. The walk visits 12 such benches. There will be chance to hear the story behind each bench and find out about local people who are no longer with us, some well-known others less so. The route heads up Hag Farm Road then touches the lower edge of Burley Moor on the way to Stead. We will have a lunch stop here, with drinks are available at the farm. The final part of the walk visits Sun Lane Nature Reserve and Leatherbank before returning to the village. There is one stile. Remember to bring a picnic and something to drink.
Cost: Free – bring money for drinks
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Sunday August 25
Sun Lane Nature Reserve – bio diversity hot spot
1 mile 2 hrs walking Easy Circular
Depart: 10.00 am
Meet at: Main entrance to Sun Lane Nature Reserve
On the site of the old village tip, Sun Lane is now a wonderful Nature Reserve at the western end of the village. Led by Peter Riley the walk will introduce the wide variety of flowers and wildlife now established on the Reserve. Peter will highlight its importance for biodiversity and the need to carefully protect and nurture it as a unique wildlife resource for the future. No dogs please.
Cost: Free
Booking: Not required – just turn up.
Sunday August 25
End of Festival walk to Bleach Mill
3 miles 2 hrs walking Easy Circular
Depart: 2.00 pm
Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
This leisurely walk marks the end of the festival walking programme. It will follow field paths alongside Carr Beck to Bleach Mill for refreshments where Simon Richmond will explain something of the history of the Mill. Return to the village will be along Hag Farm Road. There are no stiles. Wear suitable footwear and remember water for the walk.
Cost: Free – bring money for refreshments. All profits go to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Booking: Not required – just turn up.
Walk the Yorkshire Heritage Way, Stage 5: Brimham Rocks to Ripon Cathedral
11.27 miles 6 hrs walking Strenuous Linear
Depart: 9.00 am Meet at: The Roundhouse, Grange Park Using Ilkley Community Transport to the start the walk at Brimham Rocks, the final stage of the Yorkshire Heritage Way passes through some of the best countryside in the Nidderdale National Landscape. It slowly descends to Ripon, leaving Brimham Moor to cross the River Skell at Butterton Bridge. From Sawley the route then follows the River Skell to Fountains Abbey. After walking through Studley Royal Deer Park, the walk continues along the Valley of the Seven Bridges to Ripon. The aim is to return by minibus to Burley by 5.30pm. Bring a picnic lunch and enough to drink. Wear suitable footwear and clothing. There are a number of stiles. No dogs please.
Cost: £6.00 for minibus transport to Brimham and return to Burley from Ripon. Pay cash on the minibus.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Saturday August 17
Burley Tree Trail
1.00 mile 2 hrs Easy Linear
Depart: 10.00 am
Meet at: The Roundhouse, Grange Park
This is a short walk led by Bruce Brown from Wharfedale Naturalists. It follows the newly published Burley Tree Trail, visiting over 40 different trees in and around the centre of the village. Walkers will be able to improve their identification of trees, common and not so common, as well as learn about their origin and contribution to wildlife. We will visit trees in Grange Park, the village green, and Burley House field with a few in between. The walk is level throughout and will be on either tarmac or hard surface paths.
Cost: Free. Booking: Required - limit on numbers (28)
Monday August 19
Biodiversity on Denton Reserve
4 miles 2.5 hrs walking Moderate Circular
Depart: 9.30 am
Meet at: The Roundhouse, Grange Park
Return travel to Yarnett House Farm will be on Community Transport minibuses. We will meet Nick Bailey, one of the owners of the Denton Reserve, who will lead a walk around parts of the reserve to visit areas that are gradually being repurposed for biodiversity and carbon capture. He will share plans for future developments including the re-introduction of beavers into the landscape.
Remember to bring enough to drink and wear suitable footwear and clothing. Some of the walking will be on rough ground. There may be some stiles. No dogs please. The aim is to return to Burley for around 1.00pm.
Cost: £3.00 for return minibus transport between Burley and Denton. Pay in cash on the minibus
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Monday August 19
Walking with poems
2.5 miles 2 hrs walking Easy Linear
Depart: 2.00 pm
Meet at: The Roundhouse, Grange Park
Join Colin Speakman, accomplished poet and celebrated author of many books about the Yorkshire Dales, on a leisurely walk between Burley and Burley Woodhead. Through his poems Colin will be reflecting something of the history and beauty of places along the route, joined by members of the Wharfedale Poets collective. The walk will finish at the Hermit pub with refreshments, when there will be chance for participants to have a go at writing their own poems. It’s hoped that some of these can be published on social media with photographs of the walk as well as poems by Colin and the Wharfedale Poets. Remember to bring water for the walk.
Cost: Free. Bring money for refreshments.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Tuesday August 20
Shipley Glen and Bracken Hall Countryside Centre
8.5 miles 4 hrs walking Moderate Linear
Depart: 10.00 am Meet at: The Roundhouse, Grange Park
The walk will follow good paths over Burley Moor, with open views across Airedale and beyond. Following the Glovershaw Beck into Shipley Glen we will meet one of the volunteers at Bracken Hall Countryside Centre. We will learn something about the educational role of the centre and how it engages with different aspects of the countryside. We will also have chance to explore its wild life garden.
Drinks will be available for a small donation. The return walk will go down to Roberts Park in Saltaire then along the canal to the end of the walk at Shipley Station. Remember to bring a picnic lunch and enough to drink on the walk.
Cost: Donation towards refreshments at Bracken Hall and for the rail fare back to Burley.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Tuesday August 20
Butteflies, Bees and Small things
1 mile 1.5 hrs walking Easy circular
Depart: 10.30 am
Meet at: Entrance to Sun Lane Nature Reserve
Anne Riley is passionate about small creatures – and expert at finding, identifying and photographing them. Sun Lane Nature Reserve has a great diversity of wild flowers, plants and shrubs. It's an ideal environment where butterflies, bees and bugs can thrive and is recognised as one of the best habitats for butterflies in the area. Walk with Anne around the reserve to explore the intimate world of our insects and other smaller creatures, often tiny but no less colourful and extraordinary. No dogs please.
Cost: Free
Booking: Not required. Just turn up.
Tuesday August 20
Mills and Water Power – the making of Burley
6.5 miles 4 hrs walking Easy circular
Depart: 1.30 pm
Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
Burley’s transition from an agricultural to industrial based community took place from the mid 18th century onwards leading to a growth in population, commerce and institutions. Visiting the sites of eight mills alongside water courses between Burley Woodhead and Burley Weir the walk will trace historical changes, delving into the purpose of the mills and their impact on the local economy and environment. The walk will be on lanes, tracks and field paths. There will be a moderate ascent up to Burley Woodhead at the start of the walk and a number of squeeze stiles. Please bring enough to drink. We hope refreshments can be available at Bleach Mill about half way through the walk.
Cost: Free
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Wednesday August 21
A choice of two walks to see peat restoration, ecology and archaeology on Denton Moor
2.5 or 4.5 miles 2 or 4 hrs walking Easy to Moderate Circular
Depart: 9.30 am for both walks
Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
Yorkshire Peatland Partnership (YPP) has begun an exciting and ambitious plan to restore the degraded peatland of Denton Moor. Lucy Lee and colleagues from the YPP will show us some of the work done over the past year and share plans for the future.
There are two options for the visit. The whole group will travel to the edge of Denton Moor by minibus then walk steadily on tracks up to the old shooting hut, now a resource centre.
One group will then take a longer circular route using public rights of way to see some of the peat restoration and archaeological sites higher on the moor. The other group will explore the area around the resource centre before returning to the minibuses.
There will be chance for both groups to find out about how the environment will benefit from YPP’s work and how we could get involved as citizen scientists.
Bring a picnic lunch and enough to drink. We will aim to be back in Burley by 3.00 pm. No dogs please.
When booking please indicate which group you would like to join.
Cost: £4.00 return by minibus between Burley and Denton Moor.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Wednesday August 21
Beyond Askwith with Tea at the Penny Bun
6.5 miles 3 hrs walking Easy Circular
Depart: 1.00 pm Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
The walk will cross the river to Askwith using the stepping stones if they are safe to cross. If not, car sharing will be organised to drive to the Penny Bun pub. From Askwith we will follow the Brickhouse circular walk from the ‘Rambles from Askwith’ walks leaflet. It gently climbs towards the moor with views across Wharfedale, using field paths and good tracks. Before returning to Burley, afternoon tea will be offered at the newly opened Penny Bun in Askwith. The aim is to be back in Burley for 5.00 pm. Remember to bring enough to drink on the walk.
When booking the walk please indicate if you would like afternoon tea so places can be booked.
Cost: £7.50 for afternoon tea at the Penny Bun.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Thursday August 22
Foraging with Muppett
5 miles 3 hrs walking Easy Circular
Depart: 9.30 am Meet at: Entrance to Sun Lane Nature Reserve
Come on a foraging expedition with Muppett (aka Michael Pascal) and find out how to make your walks a tasty experience. Learn how to safely identify the wild food opportunities that have sustained our forebears and are still available today. Muppett will begin the walk at Sun Lane Nature Reserve, following field paths to Stead then on to Burley Woodhead. Using the Ebor Way for a while the return to Burley will be alongside Carr Beck. Remember to bring enough to drink.
Cost: Free
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Thursday August 22
Bronze Age Burley – archaeological discoveries on Burley Moor
4 miles 3.5 hrs Moderate Linear
Depart: 1.30 pm
Meet at: Burley Woodhead Village Green, top of Moor Lane
This walk will visit some of the lower-level archaeological sites around Woofa Bank on Burley Moor. It will be led Dr Keith Boughey a local historian and expert on the Bronze Age. He has researched and written extensively on the subject. During the walk he will give detailed information about the sites we visit.
There will be some climbing on field paths and tracks with some walking across rough open moor. You will need suitable footwear and clothing with enough to drink. The aim will be to end the walk by 5.00 with refreshments at the Hermit Inn. No dogs please.
Cost: Free – bring money for refreshments.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Friday August 23 Two walks around the St. Ives Estate, Bingley
Longer walk to Goit Stock waterfall and Hewenden Viaduct
9 miles 4.5 hrs walking Moderate Circular
Depart: 9.30 am
Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
We will travel to St Ives Estate by minibus to start the walk. Following parts of the Millenium Way to Goit Stock waterfall and woodland the route then crosses the impressive Hewenden viaduct. Then going through Cullingworth and onto Harden Moor we return to St. Ives for a short presentation about the history of the St. Ives estate with the short walk group.
Bring a picnic and enough to drink. Refreshments will be available at the Ivy Kitchen café. The aim is to return to Burley by 4.30 pm. No dogs please.
Cost: £5 for return minibus transport between Burley and Bingley.
Bring money for refreshments
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (14)
Friday August 23
Shorter walk: a new view from the St Ives Estate
3 to 4 miles 2 hours walking Easy Circular
Depart: 11.00 pm
Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
Leaving later than the longer walk we will travel by minibus to the St Ives Estate. We will walk around the country park taking in new views which have opened up following recent tree felling. There are a good number of paths to follow, including around the Coppice Pond with its wildfowl, across open moorland and through a wildflower meadow. There will be a picnic stop during the walk dependent on the weather.
At the end of the walk refreshments will be available at the Ivy Kitchen Cafe before meeting up with the longer walk for a presentation about the history of St. Ives estate. Bring a picnic and something to drink. The aim is to return to Burley by around 4.30 pm. No dogs please.
Cost: £5.00 for return minibus transport between Burley and Bingley. Bring money for refreshments
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (14)
Friday August 23
Weston Hall, gardens and church
5.5 miles 2.5 hrs walking Moderate Circular
Depart: 10.00 am
Meet at: Jubilee Clock, Otley Market Place
The walk starts in Otley Market Place and follows the Six Dales Trail route towards Clifton., passing through the community-owned Weston Woods to reach Weston by 11.30. Weston Hall, has been home to the Vavasoure family for five centuries. The house dates from the late 16th century with interesting features such as the Dragon Room with a Tudor ceiling. Outside there is a 16th century tithe barn, and a well-preserved freestanding banqueting hall. The current owners Mr and Mrs Dawson will offer a guided tour and an opportunity to explore the gardens and visit nearby All Saints Church. The return walk goes across Weston Hall’s parkland to Weston Lane, arriving back in Otley around 3.30 pm. Please bring a picnic and something to drink. No dogs please.
Cost: Bring £10 in cash for house entrance.
Booking: Required –limit on numbers (28)
Friday August 23
Night walk over Burley and Ilkley Moors
5 miles 3 hrs walking Strenuous Circular
Depart: 7.30 pm
Meet at: Burley Woodhead Village Green, top of Moor Lane.
This is a high-level circular walk onto Burley and Ilkley Moors, visiting the Twelve Apostles stone circle. On a clear night there should be extensive night time views over Wharfedale and Airedale. The route will include rough moor paths and may be altered in poor weather or bad ground conditions. Adequate footwear, warm clothing, snacks and a drink are essential as well as a working torch or head torch with spare batteries. The aim is to return to the Hermit for refreshments by 10.30pm. The minimum age limit is 18. No dogs please.
Cost: Free - bring money for refreshments.
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Saturday August 24
Burley’s brilliant benches
6 miles 4 hrs walking Moderate Circular
Depart: 10.00 am Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
Several benches have been installed in and around Burley over the past few of years. Sites have been chosen maybe because of the view, as a natural resting spot on a walk or in memory of a special person. More often than not because of all three. The walk visits 12 such benches. There will be chance to hear the story behind each bench and find out about local people who are no longer with us, some well-known others less so. The route heads up Hag Farm Road then touches the lower edge of Burley Moor on the way to Stead. We will have a lunch stop here, with drinks are available at the farm. The final part of the walk visits Sun Lane Nature Reserve and Leatherbank before returning to the village. There is one stile. Remember to bring a picnic and something to drink.
Cost: Free – bring money for drinks
Booking: Required – limit on numbers (28)
Sunday August 25
Sun Lane Nature Reserve – bio diversity hot spot
1 mile 2 hrs walking Easy Circular
Depart: 10.00 am
Meet at: Main entrance to Sun Lane Nature Reserve
On the site of the old village tip, Sun Lane is now a wonderful Nature Reserve at the western end of the village. Led by Peter Riley the walk will introduce the wide variety of flowers and wildlife now established on the Reserve. Peter will highlight its importance for biodiversity and the need to carefully protect and nurture it as a unique wildlife resource for the future. No dogs please.
Cost: Free
Booking: Not required – just turn up.
Sunday August 25
End of Festival walk to Bleach Mill
3 miles 2 hrs walking Easy Circular
Depart: 2.00 pm
Meet at: Roundhouse, Grange Park
This leisurely walk marks the end of the festival walking programme. It will follow field paths alongside Carr Beck to Bleach Mill for refreshments where Simon Richmond will explain something of the history of the Mill. Return to the village will be along Hag Farm Road. There are no stiles. Wear suitable footwear and remember water for the walk.
Cost: Free – bring money for refreshments. All profits go to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Booking: Not required – just turn up.