Yorkshire is one of the most beautiful places in the world and these walks have the awe-inspiring views to prove it.
It’s time to see Yorkshire at its very best. These incredible walks are all within an hour of Leeds and they’ve got one thing in common – views that will take your breath away. From the Surprise View at the Otley Chevin to the panoramic vistas of Beamsley Beacon and the far-off scenery of Silsden Moor, these awe-inspiring views will show you why Yorkshire is called God’s own county.
Beamsley Beacon
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Beamsley is a picturesque village and it’s the starting point of a 7-mile walk that offers beautiful views across Wharfedale. You’ll make your way up to the top of Beamsley Beacon where you can pause to enjoy the incredible 360° views, with landmarks like Round Hill, Simon’s Seat and Rombalds Moor that you can spot over the horizon. The rest of the walk is just as good – Kex Gill is a hidden gem lined with alder trees and the Beamsley Hospital is an unusual relic, a circular building that was built in 1593 and is now a holiday home.
The Beamsley Beacon walk starts at Langbar Road, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, LS29 0EX.
The Silsden Moor Circular
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Silsden Moor is just 45 minutes from Leeds, and if you want a long, rewarding 11.5-mile walk with breathtaking views nearly every step of the way, it’s the place to go. Head up Millennium Way from Addingham and see God’s own county at its best, with views of Skipton, Rombald’s Moor and Ilkley in the distance. You’ll pass landmarks like Cowburn Beck, House Farm and Low Bradley Mill before you get up close to the High Bradley rocky outcrops and reach the edge of Skipton Moor. Here, you can stop and take in the beautiful heather-covered hills and Chelker Reservoir before you make your way back to the start.
The Silsden Moor Circular starts at Parson’s Lane, Addingham, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, LS29 0FA.
Otley Chevin & the Surprise View
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Otley Chevin is the place to go for a quick walk that’s full of stunning vistas. It’s just 30 minutes away from Leeds and the 2.7-mile ramble is an absolute treat – you’ll start and end at the Chevin’s Surprise View, as you make your way around the top of the huge ridge. On a clear day, you’ll be able to see as far as Simon’s Seat, Norwood Top, Almscliffe Crag and the White Horse near Sutton Bank from the path that runs along the top edge before you make your way through pretty woodland on your way back to the start.
The Otley Chevin & the Surprise View walk starts Otley Chevin, Yorkgate Road, Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS21 3DG.
How to enjoy the outdoors safely
You can leave your house to exercise for one hour each day – you just need to take a few extra precautions.
- You can exercise in public, outdoor spaces with people you live with, your support/childcare bubble or with one other person from outside your household
- You should stay within your local area and minimise travel time wherever possible
- You should stay two metres apart from anyone outside your household at all times – where this is not possible, you should stay 1 metre apart and take extra precautions, like wearing a mask
- You shouldn't leave home if you or someone you live with has a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss of/change in your normal sense of smell or taste – please self-isolate.
