Time to Plan your Summer Cycling Holiday!

Cyling is rapidly becoming one of the most popular sports in Britain. Here in Wharfedale, they are hundreds of new cyclists out every weekend! Why? There's no doubt that the success in the Olympics followed by the exploits of Brits Sir Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, Chris Froome and David Millar in the Tour de France has inspired a nation...

In 2014 the World's largest annual sporting event, the Tour de France, will be coming to Yorkshire and this will no doubt continue to raise the profile of this fantastic sport.  Don't forget that Le Tour is coming through Ilkley/ Addingham on BOTH days! 

What we would like to see as a result of all this success, is more people on the roads cycling as Yorkshire has some truely splendid routes to explore, for experts and for novices. So here are some ideas to get you on the road.

Buy a Bike!

Our local cycle shop is JD Cycles. 01943 816101. Click here or phone Jamie or Mitch! They can give you expert advice on the exact bike for you.

Hire a bike

For a relatively small charge you can take out a first-class bike for the weekend and explore Yorkshire in style. Dave Ferguson is your man 01756 795367.

Join our local cycling club

Cycling is a real community sport and Ilkley has the UK's fastest growing cycling club!  Click here. They are keen to recruit new members, whatever your level of experience.

Find the best routes

There are plenty of routes for you to explore, from routes suitable for family day rides through to Four routes any hardcore cyclist must try. Or if you are feeling particularly ambitious, why not cycle the very route that your cycling heroes will be cycling during the Grand Depart in 2014?

Sportives

There are a number of Sportives across Yorkshire each year, find out more here.

Information supplied with help from Welcome to Yorkshire.  Find out more about Le Tour here

(Yes, that's me -Tim! If I can get up that hill, anyone can!)

Philip Richardson - regular cycling guest who comes up from Essex

All clear!

Monday 25th March - Following the adverse weather since Friday, the situation has improved substantially today. We are not anticipating any serious problems for guests arriving with us today.  

Adverse Weather - 23rd/ 24th March 2013

*** More snow is forecast this weekend *** guests all arrived safely but only way in and out is on foot *** trains running ok except on route to Carlisle *** roads to Ilkley currently ok but up to Ilkley Moor is not *** 

We are always fully prepared and intend to remain fully open.  Main roads in the area are expected to stay open (drive with extreme care) and rail services into Ilkley will be operating (possibly with a few delays and cancellations).   Even if you can't do everything you've been planning, local shops, pubs and restaurants should all be open!   We're always prepared for extreme weather here. The boilers are all serviced, we have plenty of cut logs for open fires and our 4x4 vehicle is ready to ferry guests up the hill from the station or town centre.

We appreciate that media reports often indicate a dire and severe situation, which is rarely the case. Of course, the position may be different elsewhere and extra care and measures such as carrying a shovel in your vehicle, extra warm clothing and flasks of hot drinks are always wise precautions. On the positive side, Ilkley and Ilkley Moor always look like Christmas card scenes in the snow. Snowballs and sledging may be the order of the day over the weekend.

Please click here for the latest Met Office Ilkley weather
Please click here for AA advice on winter motoring
Please click here for current National Rail information

Trinity Leeds Open - at last!

Hollister (16,000 square feet and second only to the Regent Street flagship store), Superdry, One Direction -  all new shops that feature at the new Trinity Leeds. Thousands packed into the new shopping centre opening at 10am today.

The centre claims to be creating 3,000 new jobs and to be the only large retail development to open in Europe, this year.  It's the size of 13 football pitches and cost £350m to build the 120 shops (including 40 new brands).

Trinity is a few yards from Leeds rail station.  Trains from Ilkley every half and hour throughout the day (hourly on Sundays).  Journey time - about 29 minutes.  Cheap Day Return fare £5.70 (railcard and Metro card reductions available).

Y13 - Welcome to Yorkshire 2013

Thursday 21st March saw the UK's biggest tourism event. Y13 was organised by Welcome to Yorkshire showcased plans for Le Tour de France 2014 and other major events. It's was held at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds.

Latest from Y13 as it happened ...

Gary Verity (CEO) confirms that £10 million has been secured to host the event. Will some of this be available to fill potholes on the route?

Le Tour roadshow for Wharfedale businesses will be held in Ilkley on 8th May

Gary Verity announces plans for a "Bike bank" where children can borrow a bike to help them learn to cycle, whilst they save for their own.

Johnny Brownlee MBE (Olympic Gold Medalist) on stage arguing for getting the potholes filled! Sound man!

Plans announced to promote Rugby League World Cup being held later this year.

The Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle is being launched as a brand, promoting four key venues for art and culture. Festivals such as the Ilkley Literature Festival will feature heavily. see www.yorkshire.com
More to follow!

Yorkshire's entry at Chelsea Flower Show will have a cycling theme. Can it win visitors choice for the fourth year in a row?

The Dales returns to ITV in the spring. 4 million viewers every week!

Finally - Double Paralympic Gold winner Hannah Cockcroft MBE is on stage! Inspiring!

Open Day at Westwood Lodge!

Stop Press! Thanks to everyone who called in to say hello this afternoon! We were amazed how many came, toured Westwood, sampled Paula's homemade cakes, sipped Yorkshire Tea and helped fund raising for Macmillan Cancer Care.  We'll hold another Open Day soon, so watch this space !

This Saturday - 16th March 2013! We're opening our doors to offer a glimpse inside The Main House at Westwood Lodge.  Sympathetically restored and refurbished, The Main House has recently been added to our Five Star and Four Star Gold Award self-catering holiday cottages and apartments.  It's a Grade II Listed building usually only available for our overnight guests to see inside!

The Main House has been added in response to people seeking accommodation for larger groups of family and friends.  It’s already proving popular locally for extended family get-togethers, wedding anniversaries, and even funeral gatherings.  The Main House has now received the coveted 4 Star GOLD award from Visit England. It has 2 large reception rooms and 7 bedrooms, sleeping 20 guests, all of whom can dine together in comfort and privacy.

"Guests come from around the world to stay in our cottages, but some Ilkley residents seem to be unaware of our existence.  We want Ilkley folk to see inside at what we have to offer"

"It's a perfect place for a celebration weekend, if you don't have room to accommodate everyone in your own home. The Main House is so spacious that organising a big family birthday weekend, christening or even a college reunion becomes not just feasible, but enjoyable.  We offer a welcome touch of luxury in an incredibly homely setting ".

So, when is it again?  Saturday March 16th from 2pm until 4pm.  Everyone is welcome to drop in, whether or not there's a special occasion in mind.  Coffees, teas and cake will be available with donations to Macmillan Cancer Care.

Westwood Lodge Ilkley Moor, Wells Road, Ilkley LS29 9JF welcome@westwoodlodge.co.uk

Find Out All About Le Tour 2014!

YES!  The world's greatest cycle race - the Tour de France - is coming to Yorkshire next year!  It will start HERE IN YORKSHIRE on 5th and 6th July 2014 bringing millions of fans to the Yorkshire roadside to cheer on the champions of the sport.  It comes to Ilkley and Wharfedale on BOTH DAYS, so we really are in the best place to see it!

It will be the first time Le Tour has visited the north of England having previously only made visits to the south coast and the capital.  Welcome to Yorkshire (we're members!)  are predicting a festival and spectacle for fans and first timers alike and are sure Yorkshire will rise to occasion and give the riders, the teams and the race organisers a Grand Départ to remember.  Here are some quotes from them...

"Yorkshire is a world class county and it will deliver a world class event"

"Over 3 billion people watch Le Tour on television every year providing a wonderful advert for our county and hopefully it will prompt people who maybe haven't visited before or not been in a while to book a break to visit"

 "This is undoubtedly Yorkshire's opportunity to welcome the world"

With the recent success of British riders, notably Bradley Wiggins becoming the first Briton to win Le Tour in 2012 shortly followed by a gold medal time trial performance in London, the popularity of cycling has never been higher.

 

A brand new website has been launched by Welcome to Yorkshire.  To find out more Click here to take Le Tour!

STOP PRESS: Just one apartment left at Westwood Lodge Ilkley Moor for Le Tour weekend - BOOK NOW!  We've still got accommodation for the run-up days and we're encouraging aspiring cyclists to come and try the route this summer!  

Grow Your Own Weekend!

Foodies rejoice! RHS Harlow Carr brings a weekend to tickle your taste buds and inspire you to live the 'good life'. Round up the family and discover the joys of growing your own fruit and veg!

It doesn’t matter how much space you have or your level of experience, there will be something to interest everyone; find out how to create your own small holding, be it for meat, milk or eggs, with the chance to meet some furry and feathered friends too!

You’ll also be able to sample the best produce from around the region and learn how to cook up a storm with fresh fodder at home, as top chef and owner of the Mirabelle Restaurant in Harrogate, Lionel Strub will be hosting outside cookery demos.

23rd and 24th March 2013

Click here to find out more!

Ilkley Literature Festival is 40!

2013 is the Ilkley Literature Festival's 40th Anniversary and they have a busy twelve months ahead, including the 2013 Festival running from Friday 4th to Sunday 20th October.

Snow latest.. (26th January 2013)

We've still heavy snow here today but we're fully open. Text or email if you're arriving and need advice or assistance.

Tour de France - great for Yorkshire, great for you!

Following the announcement of more route information for when the Grand Départ of the Tour de France comes to Yorkshire, Welcome to Yorkshire has launched a new website all about the event next year.

Why is the Tour de France great for Yorkshire?

• The Tour de France is the world’s largest annual sporting event – and it’s coming to Yorkshire!
• The Grand Départ is the opening race of the Tour de France – on July 5, 2014, it will be in Leeds, followed by two days (July 5-6) of racing around Yorkshire
• A worldwide audience of 3.5 billion people watch the Tour de France annually – the eyes of the entire world will be on Yorkshire
• Over 188 countries around the world broadcast the Tour de France
• 2,000 journalists representing dozens of nationalities attend the Tour every year

Will you be joining us? Bookings at Westwood Lodge Ilkley Moor for 2014 opened today! Even if you can't attend the event itself, why not come and cycle part of the route before the big event?

Tour de France Coming to Ilkley!

The routes of the Tour de France 2014 in Yorkshire have been announced and there's been a bit of tweaking!

Day 1 - Saturday 5th July - Leeds Grand Depart > Harewood > ILKLEY > Skipton > Aysgarth > Middleham > Ripon > Harrogate (Sprint finish on The Stray)

Day 2 - Sunday 6th July - York > Knaresborough > Bolton Abbey > Keighley > Haworth > Hebden Bridge > Holme Moss > Sheffield

Find out more..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/21056721

Weather outlook

Light snow is due on Ilkley Moor this week (up to 18th January).  No problems are expected but we will text guests on arrival day if any difficulties are experienced.

Whatever the weather, we expect to remain fully open for business.  Roads to us are expected to remain open and trains running normally. Before setting off: - 
Click here for the latest Met Office Ilkley weather.
Click here for AA advice on winter motoring.
Click here for any current National Rail service disruption information.  

Have a safe journey!

Tour de France Yorkshire - The route...?

Although it won't be revealed by until a press conference (in both Leeds and Paris) on 17th January, "usually reliable sources" suggest the following is likely: -

Day 1 - Saturday 5th July 2014 - the start will be in Central Leeds, heading out through the grounds of Harewood House and then up and across - probably Sutton Bank - through The North Yorkshire Moors National Park - and across for a sprint finish on the sea front in Scarborough. 

Day 2 - Sunday 6th -  is expected to start in York City Centre heading across into The Yorkshire Dales National Park, coming down - hopefully through Ilkley and up past The Cow and Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor, then down through Halifax and maybe ending in Sheffield City Centre.

All this is yet to be confirmed! It may prove wrong.  I'll bet it's not far off the mark though!  

We'll just have to wait - in the meantime go to yorkshire.com for the latest news

Tour de France - Latest

It is official: The world's greatest cycle race - the Tour de France - will start in the world's greatest county on 5th & 6th July 2014 bringing millions of fans to the Yorkshire roadside to cheer on the champions of the sport.

Welcome to Yorkshire reports...  "It will be the first time Le Tour has visited the north of England having previously only made visits to the south coast and the capital. We guarantee it will be a festival and a spectacle for fans and first timers alike and are sure Yorkshire will rise to occasion and give the riders, the teams and the race organisers a Grand Départ to remember. Yorkshire is a world class county and it will deliver a world class event.

This is Yorkshire's moment to shine. Over 2 billion people watch Le Tour live on television every year providing a wonderful advert for our county and hopefully it will prompt people who maybe haven't visited before or not been in a while to book a break to visit us.

This is undoubtedly Yorkshire's opportunity to welcome the world.

With the recent success of British riders, notably Bradley Wiggins becoming the first Briton to win Le Tour in 2012 shortly followed by a gold medal time trial performance in London, the popularity of cycling has never been higher. With that in mind it might be a good idea to think about booking your favourite Yorkshire hotel, bed and breakfast or campsite early to avoid disappointment!

Yorkshire is rightly proud to be able to say it will host the Tour de France. The county is a heartland of the sport and over the next few pages we celebrate Yorkshire's Grand Départ, Yorkshire's cycling champions, the county's iconic cycling landscapes and hopefully inspire more people to consider going uphill and down dale on two wheels in future".

Le Grand Depart will be in Leeds on Saturday 5th July 2014.  Competitors will tour the city and then head for The Yorkshire Dales.  Sunday will be in the North Yorkshire Moors (based on information provided by Welcome to Yorkshire). An announcement on 17th January 2013 will confirm the route and dates.

 

 

Vive le Yorkshire!

Yorkshire has won the bid to host the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2014.

News that the "Back le Bid" campaign has been successful is terrific for Yorkshire.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to stage the biggest annual sporting event in the world, in Yorkshire" commented Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Gary Verity

"Two billion people watch Le Tour live on television every year and the Grand Départ, which is held outside of France every two years, is the most eagerly anticipated and widely publicised few days of the whole race" 
 

More details about Yorkshire’s Grand Départ will be revealed by Welcome to Yorkshire in January.

For the latest follow this story on Twitter and Facebook (direct links to this story!)

 

(OK! You're right! I'm not likely to be in the lead peloton - but they just might tackle our local steep climb at Langbar!)

Snow expected overnight - Monday 3rd December

The first snow of winter was expected overnight, but came to nothing!  Remember, if there are any serious issues regarding travel to us, we let arriving guests know by text message/ SMS as well as posting news on Blogger, Facebook and Twitter. 

In 15 winters, we've never been cut off due to weather.  We have a 4x4 vehicle and can collect anyone stranded in snow!  There's always a warm welcome when you arrive!  Tim

Christmas Lights switch on 24th November

Ilkley Christmas lights will be switched-on next Saturday - 24th November.  Special offers at Westwood Lodge Ilkley Moor!

The Aagrah is coming to Ilkley?

Curry Capital Stop Press!  - There's a planning application in for a new restaurant in Ilkley.  It's at the site of Oakley's and the adjoining former healthfood shop.  The application in the name of "Mr Mohammed Aslam".  Now Mr Aslam just happens to be Managing Director of The Aagrah Group of Restaurants... 

Many people think that the award-winning Aagrah would be a great addition to Ilkley's culinary fayre!  Watch this space!

 

Bradford wins again! Curry Capital of Britain for second year running!

Bradford has been named Curry Capital of Britain for a second year running.

 

The city is said to have "hung on to its title by the narrowest of margins" after receiving the same number of points from the judges as Glasgow.

The title went to Bradford because the city received a higher number of votes in the public poll.

Organiser Peter Grove said Bradford was "Curry Central - they eat, sleep, breath and export curry and it is part of the city makeup."

The four restaurants representing Bradford this year were Shimla Spice, Aagrah Shipley, Zouk and Akbars.

"Well done to everyone who has helped Bradford retain the Curry Capital of Britain crown. A great achievement by some great restaurants."

Enjoy one of our Courtyard Cottages this winter!

Winter Warmer - Low occupancy deals. If there's just one or two of you, we're offering 7 night stays in our courtyard cottages in November or December at 25% off our already low Winter Warmer prices!   So you can enjoy more space and bring your dog (for a small charge). Book online and the system will calculate your extra discount! (Note that this very special offer can't be combined with any other discount!)

Deluge Fails to Dampen County’s Spirit

Wet weather has failed to dampen the county’s spirit as key festivals and tourism business have declared they will not be beaten by the deluge.

Despite the county experiencing torrential downpours this week festival organisers at the hugely popular Masham Sheep Fair have announced they will open for business as usual this weekend. The River Ouse may have burst its banks but the majority of York businesses are trading as normal including key tourist attractions such the National Railway Museum, the Jorvik Viking Centre and the city’s popular Food and Drink festival. Hebden Bridge, which has been repeatedly hit by the bad weather is open, and has an exhibition highlighting the town’s strength during the recent poor weather at the Heart Gallery. The nationally renowned Ilkley Literature Festival goes ahead as normal as does the Helmsley Folk Weekend.
 

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said:

Yorkshire, like the rest of the country, has experienced extremely high rainfall this week however it doesn’t mean the entire county is closed - far from it. Festivals, towns and businesses are fighting back and it’s extremely important to get the message out there that Yorkshire is not a washout, where possible we are open for business ready and waiting with a warm Yorkshire welcome that won’t be beaten by the wet weather.

Westwood Lodge Ilkley Moor is open as usual.  Local shops,  roads and rail links are open and operating normally 

 

October and Autumn half-term prices cut!

LATEST - We've cut the prices of a wide range of short breaks and full week stays for the remainder of September and all of October, including the peak autumn half-term weeks!  So, whether you're after a crisp morning walk on Ilkley Moor, scrunchy leaves in our courtyard, watching the sunset from The Roof Garden or just sitting by the cosy Orchard Cottage log fire - book now!

Examples: (available at the time of writing this post, but subject to still being available when you come to book!)

The Glenmoor - 5th October, now £399 for 3 nights

The Old Gallery - 15th October, now £599 for 4 nights

The Wells - 19th October, now £399 for 7 nights

Coach House Cottage - 26th October, now £695 for 7 nights 

Ilkley Literature Festival Short Break Accommodation (better than hotels, guest houses or B&B)

LATEST from Westwood Lodge, Ilkley Moor - we've still got accommodation availability for key Festival dates.  If you're coming to the Ilkley Literature Festival (28th September to 14th October 2012), we've now reduced the prices of most remaining dates too!  We are Ilkley's ONLY Five Star self-catering properties and we are within walking distance of ALL Ilkley Literature Festival key venues.    

3-night short breaks for two from just £299, when booked online! Click here for current availability and prices.

Are the big hotels (often miles away!) just too impersonal?  Will a B&B (usually without the breakfast bit these days!) not hit your spot?  How about a short break in one of our FIVE STAR apartments, either on your own or with your significant other? 

Or why not bring the family for a few days in the Dales and book one of our Four Star Gold Award cottages?  

There are still some great Festival tickets to be had, so book soon!  Click here to go straight to the Festival!

September Offers Booking Now!

September is always our most popular month. The weather is often excellent, The Dales and Moors are quieter and the days still long - often with beautiful sunsets.

All our offers are made by us (not an agency) and are guaranteed to be currently available if listed here! We're taking bookings all the time - so grab a bargain now!

Click here for our September offers!       

Ilkley Summer Festival in full flow!

A varied programme of events is taking place throughout August as part of the Ilkley Summer Festival.  One of the highlights is always the Ilkley Continental Market - a range of goodies from across Europe for you to enjoy!

As usual the Grove will be closed for allowing everyone to enjoy a traffic free experience whilst browsing and shoping.  Various Bands will be appearing on all market days at  The Bandstand to entertain while you shop and relax.

Click here for more details

Summer is coming - hopefully!

Yorkshire (and the UK) is expected to get drier and warmer as we approach August.  There are signs that the jet stream may shift northwards which means it should feel more like summer, at last!  It's all down to pressure building in the Azores!

BBC Weather says: -

"The jet stream s a great river of wind flowing through the upper atmosphere. Its path is the cause of the repeated flooding being suffered during a British summer that has so far been one of the most miserable on record.  It usually passes along a steady path from west to east across the Atlantic - sometimes a bit to the north of the UK, sometimes a bit to the south.  As a relatively small island, on the borderline between the Atlantic Ocean and the European continent, the precise location of the stream matters hugely and, at the moment, the UK is on the wrong side of it.  However, if it shifts, the weather should prove to be more like summer."

New late-night pharmacy ideal for guests

We're delighted that a new late night pharmacy has opened here in Ilkley.  It's a joint venture involving our local GPs from the Ilkley Moor Medical Practice on Springs Lane.  It intends to be open 7 days a week and until 11pm Mondays to Saturdays.

"We regularly get guests asking about obtaining their prescription medicine.  Often they didn't get time to hand their prescription in before coming away on holiday.  So this new pharmacy should prove a big hit with our guests"

Big names coming to Ilkley Literature Festival

Paddy Ashdown, Michael Portillo, Sandy Gall (ex ITN), Michael palin, Sandi Toksvig, Jeremy Vine, Clare Balding, John Suchet...

They're all going to be at the Ilkley Literature Festival which will be held from 28th September until 14th October 2012.  Click here to find out the latest on who will be attending.  Tickets go on sale in mid-August with popular names getting snapped up in hours (or even minutes!). 

Book your stay at Westwood Lodge now!  If for any reason you don't get the tickets you were hoping for, we'll change the dates of your stay - even to the 2013 Festival if necessary!

Ilkley Stones on Radio 4

Don't miss Radio 4 this Sunday (15th July) Put it in your diary! BBC Radio 4 will be broadcasting a special 30 minute documentary called Poems from the Pennines, a documentary featuring the Stanza Stones project on Sunday 15th July at 4.30pm. Repeated on Saturday 21st July at 11.30pm. BBC Radio 4 Website  Tune in to hear interviews with Simon Armitage, Ilkley Literature Festival and young people involved in the project