Ilkley, Rombalds Moor, Roman Road and Addingham
You climb out of pretty Ilkley onto the wide gritstone shoulder of Rombalds Moor, then swing back through the green lower Wharfe valley for a big, varied day close to home.
Mostly on runnable ground, but most runners still walk the steepest climbs.
A 26.5km round from Ilkley onto the shoulder of Rombalds Moor and back through lower Wharfedale, with around 660m of climbing. Long, rolling running linking valley pasture with open gritstone moor.
You climb out of pretty Ilkley onto the wide gritstone shoulder of Rombalds Moor, then swing back through the green lower Wharfe valley for a big, varied day close to home.
The route
Start in Ilkley and make a 26.5km round that climbs onto the shoulder of Rombalds Moor before returning through the lower Wharfe valley. The route uses green roads like Parson's Lane on the moor edge, then drops back to the pasture and river paths of the dale. It is a long, rolling outing that links two very different landscapes, open moor and green valley, into a satisfying loop with no single hard climb.
The moor and the valley
Rombalds Moor is the great gritstone upland between Wharfedale and Airedale, of which Ilkley Moor is the best-known part. Its shoulders carry old tracks, cup-and-ring carved stones and wide views over the two valleys. Addingham sits below in the lower Wharfe, a handsome village of old weavers' cottages and three churches, with the river running through. The route balances the exposure and space of the moor with the shelter and greenery of the valley, giving a real sense of the country where the Dales meet the Pennines.
Why it works
This is a route for a long, steady day on mixed ground. The valley sections are easy and runnable; the moor edge is rougher and boggy after rain, with navigation needed where the tracks fade in cloud. It suits a steady long run or a big training day close to home. The moor holds water and the low paths get muddy, so expect a mix underfoot. Addingham has shops, pubs and parking, and the loop links easily with Ilkley and Bolton Abbey if you want to extend or vary it. It is a rewarding way to link the moor and the dale that most local runners keep to weekends.
The moor edge is exposed and boggy after rain with tracks that fade in cloud, so carry a map. The low valley paths hold mud and the Wharfe rises fast in spate. Grouse shooting affects parts of the moor between August and December.
Summits on this route
Safety on this route
- No signal? Text 999 — pre-register first: text register to 999
- Tell someone your route and expected return time before you head out
Leave No Trace
- Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
- Please respect the countryside and all its inhabitants.
- Dogs on leads near livestock, and around ground-nesting birds from March to July.
- Gates as you find them — open or closed, leave it that way for the farmer and the next runner.
- Take it all home — wrappers, peel, tissue, the lot. It doesn't count as biodegradable if you can still see it.
- Stick to the path where the ground either side is wet, planted, or nesting habitat.
Common questions
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