Tour de Yorkshire 2018 returns to Ilkley!

It has just been announced: ILKLEY will host the end of stage 2 (Barnsley to Ilkley) on Friday 4th May of the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire 

This time the route will come from Otley via Askwith, Denton, past Ilkley Lido, up Brook Street, Cowpasture Road and a summit finish at The Cow and Calf Rocks.

First stage: 3rd May - Beverley to Doncaster
Stage two: 4th - Barnsley to Ilkley
Stage three: 5th - Richmond to Scarborough
Stage four: 6th - Halifax to Leeds

The route was announced by Sir Gary Verity from Welcome to Yorkshire at a packed launch. 

Ilkley is undoubtedly the best base to view Tour de Yorkshire 2018  and we have made all our remaining accommodation available for May Day weekend breaks arriving Thursday 3rd or Friday 4th May. 

Find out everything about Tour de Yorkshire here

Ilkley Literature Festival Back in town!

The Ilkley Literature Festival this year runs from Friday 29th September until Sunday 15th October. There are over 250 events including Alan Bennett, Sarah Millican, Richard Osman, Shami Chakrabarti, Judy Murray, Richard Dawkins, June Sarpong, Daljit Nagra, Alan Hollinghurst and many more.

The Children’s Festival is headlined by BBC Radio 1’s Greg James and Chris Smith and includes fantastic events for anyone ages 3-12 including Ben Faulks, Nadia Shireen, Robin Stevens and Festival favourites tutti frutti. Young People have the chance to meet some of their favourite authors including Alex Wheatle and Samantha Shannon. Plus there are workshops and masterclasses with leading writers and the Festival Fringe.  

Go to http://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk for full details.

Ilkley Summer Festival 2017

Ilkley Summer Festival is now underway and offering some great events!  The Ilkley Jazz Festival is a key part of the programme with some excellent musicians. 

Find out more at:  http://summerfestival.ilkley.org

Tour de Yorkshire 2017 comes back to Ilkley!

Sunday 30th April 2017 sees Le Tour de Yorkshire back in Ilkley.  Here are the essentials.  Go to the official Tour de Yorkshire website for full details and everything you need to know!

STAGE 3: SUNDAY 30TH APRIL 2017: BRADFORD TO FOX VALLEY, SHEFFIELD

Total stage length: 194.5km

8 King of the Mountain Climbs: Silsden, Haworth, Leeming, Shibden Wall, Deepcar, Wigtwizzle, Ewden Height & Midhopestones

2 Sprints: Brighouse & Stocksbridge

Total ascent: 3,517m

On Stage Three The riders roll out of City Park in Bradford and take in Salts Mill before the start flag is lowered. The action then briefly joins the 2014 Tour de France route at Burley-in-Wharfedale before passing into the Yorkshire Dales. Skipton is the next town on the agenda, with the first of eight categorised climbs being contested on the Côte de Silsden. The next ascent comes on the cobbled rise up Haworth’s picturesque main street and another climb at Leeming must also be tackled before they face the infamous Côte de Shibden Wall. This cobbled brute could see splits form before the final intermediate sprint in Stocksbridge. The riders then embark on a torturous 22km finishing circuit that features no less than four categorised climbs at Deepcar, Wigtwizzle, Ewden Height and Midhopestones before the race reaches its climax at Fox Valley.