Remaining Summer Availability - Book now!

NB: The Scullery is our newest apartment sleeping up to 4. It has only just become available and hence lots of availability! Last Updated here at 10.30am on 8th July. Go to our main website to check latest position and to book!

Arriving:
Friday 10th July: The Moorview, 3 nights £367, The Scullery, 3 nights £367
Friday 17th July: The Wells 3 nights £346, The Scullery, 3 nights £388
Friday 24th July: The Wells 3 nights, £346
Monday 3rd August: The Scullery, 4 nights £407
Friday 7th August: The Scullery, 3 nights £388, 7 nights £556.
Monday 10th August: The Wells 4 nights £363, The Scullery 4 nights, £407
Friday 14th August: The Moorview, 3 nights £388, The Scullery, 3 nights, 7 nights £556
Monday 17th August: The Scullery 4 nights, £407
Friday 21st August: The Wells, 3 nights £346, 7 nights £496, The Moorview, 3 nights £388, 7 nights £556, The Glenmoor, 3 nights £430, 7 nights £577
Monday 24th August: The Wells , 4 nights £363, The Moorview, 4 nights £407, The Glenmoor, 4 nights £451
Friday 28th August: The Moorview, 3 nights £367, 4 nights £385, 7 nights £526
Tuesday 1st September: The Old Gallery, 3 nights £861 REDUCED TO £693, Orchard Cottage, 3 nights £682 REDUCED TO £577, The Moorview, 3 nights £388 REDUCED TO £367, The Scullery, 3 nights £388 REDUCED TO £367
Friday 4th September: The Scullery 3 nights £336, 7 nights £481

Bradford becomes world's first "City of Film"

Bradford may not be top of your "must do" places to visit this year, but it has a lot going for it. There's The UK National Media Museum, The Alhambra and the best curry in the North, for starters! Now there's another reason as Bradford has been chosen to become the world's first-ever city of film. Awarded by the United Nations, the city is being recognised for films made in the city, the dedicated media museum and several film festivals held each year.

Billy Liar and part of Monty Python's The Meaning of Life were made in Bradford and The Railway Children was filmed on the nearby Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Bollywood stars often visit the city and Simon Beaufoy, the screenwriter for the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, said the accolade was "superb news" for his hometown. "Not only has Bradford played a crucial role in the story of cinema and helped shape its history, it has inspirational plans to enhance its future relationship with film, which will benefit both the local community and the industry at large."

Bradford is just 25 minutes by rail from Ilkley with trains every half-hour throughout the day.

New Article on Visiting Ilkley!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1191398/UK-holidays-Yorkshire-wonders-Charles-Darwin-Fat-Rascals-poetry-motion-lovely-Ilkley.html

What's on over the Summer?

If you're not sure what to do, here are a few events to whet your appetite...

Broughton Game Show, Sunday 28th June
Broughton Hall (on A59 west of Skipton; Grid Ref: SD 9450)
RAF Dakota flypast, dog display, motorcycle stunt display, heavy horses, miniature Shetland ponies, Birdman Challenge, falconry, sheep shearing and many other displays, stands and sideshows.
Adults £8, Concessions £6, Children £4
http://www.broughtongameshow.co.uk/ or see local tourist information for details

Great Yorkshire Show, Tuesday 14th – Thursday 16th July, Harrogate
The North’s leading agricultural event. Livestock shows, equestrian events, Black Dyke Band, The Great Show Wheel, Hot Air Balloons. Demonstrations, stalls and sideshows too numerous to mention. A fabulous, fully-packed day out. Please note: to avoid the jams, aim to arrive either very early or towards lunchtime.
Adults £20, Concessions £16, Children £9
http://www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk/ Tel: 01423 541000

Ilkley Summer Festival, 1st- 30th August
Many events including a big weekend on 15th/16th of music, picnic-ing and partying under the big top at the Riverside Gardens. Exhibitions, walks and continental market.
http://www.ilkleysummerfestival.com/ or local tourist information

Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival, 8th-16th August
Kettlewell (on B6265 then B6160 north of Skipton; Grid Ref: SD9772)
Walk the ‘Scarecrow Trail’ and discover scarecrows hiding in unexpected nooks and crannies in this idyllic Dales village of calendar girl’s fame. Various pubs and tearooms will sustain you.

Burnsall Feast Sports, Saturday 23rd August
Burnsall (on B6160 from Bolton Abbey; Grid Ref: SE031610)
Fell race (the oldest in Britain), children’s races, pet show, guess the weight of the sheep, side shows. A great local country event. Always held the first Saturday after the Sunday after August the 12th!
http://www.burnsallsports.co.uk/ or local tourist information

Malham Show, Saturday 29th August
Malham (Grid Ref: SD 900627)
Under the shadow of Malham Cove, this traditional agricultural and family country show has been taking place for over 100 years. Farmers’ Market, falconry displays, fell race, equestrian and livestock shows, tug o’ war, dry-stone walling and plenty of sideshows.
Adults £6, children under 16 free
http://www.malhamdale.com/ or local tourist information

Kilnsey Show, Tuesday 1st September
Kilnsey (on B6265 then B6160 north of Skipton; Grid Ref: SD 970677)
The Dales’ foremost agricultural show set against the magnificent backdrop of Kilnsey Crag. Dry-stone walling, producer and handicraft stalls, livestock, equestrian events, fell races and harness racing.
Adults £8, accompanied children under 16 £1, under 5s free
http://www.kilnseyshow.co.uk/ or local tourist information

Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, 18th – 20th September
Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate
Around 90 of the country's leading horticultural nurseries exhibiting and selling plants, special interest groups’ exhibits, gardening accessories, arts and crafts and local food.
Entry £12 (£6 after 2 pm on Sunday)
http://www.flowershow.org.uk/

Ilkley Literature Festival, 2nd – 18th October
This year’s contributors include Alan Bennett, Alan Titchmarsh, Melvyn Bragg, Paddy Ashdown, Sarah Dunant, Margaret Drabble, Michael Mansfield QC and James Cracknell (double Olympic gold medallist). Children’s weekend always popular. Tickets on sale from Tuesday 1st Septmember.
http://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/ 01943 601210 (general) 816714 (booking enquiries)



Information offered in good faith. We have no arrangement - commercial or otherwise - with any of these events.

Philip Catches Cycling Bug!

Philip Richardson, from Essex, is a regular guest here at Westwood Lodge. He's stayed here loads of times and is almost part of the furniture! He courted with his (then) girlfriend Theresa here. They came here for their honeymoon and have visited at least 6 times since (our computer records only go back to 2003!). Now Theresa is expecting their first baby so they'll be needing to try one of our larger cottages perhaps? Do please keep coming!

This year Philip splashed out on a new bike from JD Cycles here in Ilkley. He's putting it to good use as in May & June this year, Phil, together with some of his colleagues, will be raising money for the ‘Children’s Hospices UK’ charity by cycling from John O’Groats to Lands End… some 936.3 miles!

This event is also being supported by a host of fundraising and volunteering events by Barclays Bank colleagues across the UK, in an attempt to raise as much money as possible for the 42 nationwide children’s hospices that support life-limited children in the UK.

A web site has been created – http://www.lifecycle-uk.net/ for further information, including detail on the riders, progress so far and, of course, a Just Giving link. The web site will be constantly updated to maximise interest (see some of the initial photos!) and will ultimately follow the daily journey of the riders.

Children’s Hospices UK - http://www.childhospice.org.uk/ is a national charity which supports all 42 children's hospices across the UK which in turn, provides a wide range of care to some 25,000 children and their families. Their vision is for every child who is not expected to reach adulthood to have access along with their families to the highest standards of children's hospice care and support close to home.

Phil rides a Scott CR1 Team and is worried that he has more lycra in his bottom drawer than Theresa. Phil says "If I can show half as much grit and determination as the children we are trying to help the ride will be a breeze

Good Luck Philip and do come back here to rest those aching limbs and to carry out any necessary repairs to your bike!

Enjoy England Gold Awards

We are delighted our three courtyard cottages have each been awarded the first self-catering Gold Awards for high standards and service excellence.

Gold Awards are only given to those properties in the Four Star category scoring a minimum of 84 out of 86 in the annual inspection by Enjoy England (the old English Tourism Council) and unable to be rated as Five Star due to not being able to meet certain requirements (in our case being Listed Historic Buildings and having restricted bedroom space).

This means that all 7 properties at Westwood Lodge have either been rated as Five Stars or Four Stars GOLD.

Charles Darwin in Ilkley!

It's 200 years since Charles Darwin was born. He became world famous for his book "On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection" published exactly 150 years ago.

What is less well known is that Darwin came to Ilkley just before his work was published. He arrived on 4th October 1859 to take the "water cure" at the Wells House Hydro - just 200 yards down the road from Westwood Lodge.

He was joined by his wife and family and they enjoyed Ilkley so much that they took an apartment here at North House (now known as Hillside). Darwin received his review copy prior to publication, was here when his book was officially published (24th November) and where he started revisions for the second edition of his great work.

Visitors to Westwood Lodge can still see both Wells House and North House as well as stroll around the Darwin Millenium Gardens and maze, just a couple of minutes walk from Westwood Lodge Ilkley Moor.