2023 and beyond!

This year marks 25 YEARS since we first acquired the buildings at Westwood Lodge - then known as The Glenmoor Centre. We've been through a few changes over the years. initially we were a day and residential conference centre with one self-catering cottage and offering B&B in our 10 bedrooms. After Foot & Mouth Disease closed large areas of the countryside in 2001, we limited ourselves to day meetings and then stopped catering operations altogether in 2003. We were totally self-catering stays from then, until the Covid-19 pandemic forced us to virtually close down in 2020. 

Since the easing of Coronavirus restrictions - given our increasing age and energies - we've now switched to longer lets. Generally these are for a minimum of 12 weeks and aimed at people who live elsewhere, but need accommodation here in Ilkley for a few months. Examples include people moving house, carrying out major home refurbishment or needing to be here because of work or the needs of elderly relatives. 

Rest assured, we're not going anywhere! Whilst we're sorry that our regular holiday cottage guests - many we regard as good friends - have had to find alternatives, we are pleased to continue to operate and to invest in the fine Grade II Historic Listed Buildings, that are the wonderful Westwood Lodge Ilkley Moor.

Westwood Lodge - What facilities will be closed when you re-open?

We regret that communal (shared) facilities will need to remain closed for the foreseeable future.  These include:- 

• The Cellars - hot tub, sauna, workout room, sun bed and changing rooms
• The Wee Shop 
• The Wendy House, garden games and trampoline 

We regret that non-residents cannot visit Westwood Lodge at the present time.

Each cottage has its own private garden and the apartments have a shared roof terrace where social distancing will work.

Ilkley Moor is open as are shops and take away services in Ilkley.  Trains and buses are running to a revised timetable.

Coronavirus - Latest update

Following the latest Government advice we plan to reopen "as normal" on Saturday 4th July. We will be writing to all guests about enhanced cleaning, which facilities will be open and precautions affecting your stay.

Many dates are getting reserved and you can book your summer/autumn stay with us with confidence. If Government directives prevented us from being open,  you would be refunded in full.

Until 4th July,  we can only offer accommodation to key workers and anyone else required to stay in Ilkley for essential reasons. Our accommodation is classed as “dwelling houses” which means each cottage/ apartment is completely self-contained (bathroom, kitchen, own washing machine/dryer, hot water system etc). 

Call 07841 697186 to book a stay between now and 4th July.

For the latest UK Government advice click here

For the Ilkley information click here

We will issue updated information here, as and when we have it. 

Tim Edwards

Westwood Lodge Ilkley Moor

  

Cycle the Tour de Yorkshire 2018!

What a fantastic stage finish we had here on Ilkley Moor!  Thousands lined the route to cheer the cyclists up to The Cow and Calf Rocks and the finish line of this challenging stage.  This was the scene more than an hour before the stage finish!

The caravan procession of sponsors was greeting with big cheers as goodies were handed out!

The famous Cow and Calf Rocks were adorned with Yorkshire flags 

Finally, the riders came storming up the gradient for the first ever climb finish of the Tour de Yorkshire.  The women's event had followed the same route for most of the day and was equally as exciting! 

Find out more and watch the highlights at https://letour.yorkshire.com

Why not book your stay with us and cycle part (or all!) of the stage?

Tour de Yorkshire Information - 4th May 2018

The Tour de Yorkshire returns to Ilkley for an exciting stage finish on Friday 4th May 2018.  Whilst it will be a great day, all departing and arriving guests, plus visitors, deliveries and staff need to be aware of ROAD CLOSURES that will affect getting to/from Westwood Lodge on the Friday. The following information is from the Council official website and offered in good faith. In brief: access to us is likely to only be possible (5am to 10pm) from the A65 and then via any of the "back roads" such as Victoria Avenue or Westville Road/Eaton Road, Parish Ghyll Drive, Princess Road and Queens Road round to us. Even then, the junction of the A65 and Brook Street will be closed as each race comes through. 

From 5am to 10pm the following roads will be closed:

• The Grove
• Cowpasture Road
• Brook Street
• Springs Lane (from Tesco to Station Road)
• Station Road
• Keighley Road (green lane over the moor)

Ilkley Lido will be closed throughout the event 

The women's race has an estimated arrival time (on Denton Road) of 12.15pm with an estimated latest finish time of 12.45pm. We expect that the A65 junction with New Brook Street and Brook Street will be closed between 11.45am and 1.15pm. 

The men's race has an estimated arrival time (on Denton Road) of 5.40pm with an estimated latest finish time of 6.10pm. We expect that the A65 junction with New Brook Street and Brook Street will be closed between 5.10pm and 6.40pm. 

Race publicity caravan

The Tour de Yorkshire publicity caravan will pass along the race route on the day of the event. Confirmed location and approximate timing for the caravan to get to the finish line is 4.57pm.

Race timing

An interactive map detailing the race routes can be found on the official Tour de Yorkshire website as follows:

• Women's race
• Men's race

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

First ever Tour de Yorkshire will feature Ilkley and the famous climb up the Cow and Calf onto Ilkley Moor!

Latest news from Welcome to Yorkshire

 

We are proud to announce details of the first ever Tour de Yorkshire

Stage 1 on Friday 1st May will start in Bridlington and finish in Scarborough - 174km

Stage 2 on Saturday 2nd May will start in Selby and finish in York - 174km

Stage 3 on Sunday 3rd May will start in Wakefield and finish in Leeds - 167km

Stage 1 will start in the seaside town of Bridlington and 174km later finish further up the coast in Scarborough. The riders, from all over the world, will pass through spectacular coastal scenery and the iconic North York Moors landscapes. From the start line in Bridlington the riders will head along the Flamborough Head Heritage Coast before turning away from the coast into the North York Moors National Park, through Dalby Forest and towards Pickering. They’ll then take a spectacular journey back to the coast at Whitby, and then south to Robin Hood’s Bay with the ultimate race to the finish line on the seafront at Scarborough.

Stage 2 will see the race start outside the imposing Selby Abbey. The route takes in much of the Yorkshire Wolds, and from Selby will take the peloton towards Market Weighton, through North Newbald and on to Beverley, where they will turn north to Malton, then on to Stamford Bridge. Spectators will have the chance to see a circuit of York and organisers are hoping for a dramatic finish in the city. And as part of the legacy of the Tour de France to get more women cycling there will also be a dedicated women’s event on a circuit through York on day 2, the 2nd May.

Stage 3 will see the peloton make a return to some of the roads raced in the 2014 Yorkshire Grand Départ of the Tour de France, only with a twist; starting in Wakefield, riders will travel south to Barnsley before heading to Holmfirth where they pick up the Grand Départ route in reverse, racing to Ripponden before riding the iconic Cragg Vale – which in the Tour de France was the country’s longest continual climb and now becomes the longest continual descent. The riders will then make their way to Hebden Bridge, Oxenhope and through the famous cobbled streets of Haworth, one of the most iconic images of the Tour de France in Yorkshire. After a steep climb at Goose Eye the riders will once again see Ilkley, with the famous climb up the Cow & Calf before a sprint point at Arthington and then what is expected to be a hugely popular finish line in Roundhay Park in Leeds.

Here are the Tour de Yorkshire routes maps:

http://letouryorkshire.com/stage-1/map

http://letouryorkshire.com/stage-2/map

http://letouryorkshire.com/stage-3/map

Many in the media are already dubbing it as one of the biggest and most exciting cycling events in the UK in 2015 and we hope you will be part of it. The race will start around midday each day; we will be issuing more detailed timings shortly, and you can watch anywhere along the route for free. It will also be shown live on television in the UK and across Europe and a huge television audience is expected, once again shining a spotlight on Yorkshire.

Amateur cyclists can also take part in the Tour de Yorkshire Ride, a mass participation bike ride which promises to be one of the most challenging and popular sportives in the British calendar. Organised by Human Race, it will take place before the pro race on the morning of the final day, Sunday 3rd May and thousands are expected to take part. You can register here, more details will be released next week.

Welcome to Yorkshire is also organising a month long Tour de Yorkshire Festival from 1 April to 3 May 2015 to showcase the county’s rich and diverse cultural offering. The Yorkshire Festival, which accompanied the Tour de France Grand Départ, will be held in 2016.

Welcome to Yorkshire will shortly be contacting the Tour Makers who supported the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2014 and recruiting a smaller number of Tour Makers to support the Tour de Yorkshire.

The race is being organised by Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sport Organisation, with support from British Cycling and local authorities throughout the county, especially the start and finish towns and cities; Bridlington, Leeds, Scarborough, Selby, Wakefield, York and North Yorkshire County Council and East Riding Council.

You can keep up to date with all the latest information about the Tour de Yorkshire here:

Website: www.letouryorkshire.com

Twitter: @LeTourYorkshire #TdY

Facebook: Facebook.com/LeTourYorkshire

Don't miss The Witching Hour!

 

This is an absolute "must go" event.  Brilliant local writers such as Rachel Hagan, Mary Colson and John F King will be coming together for an hour of flash fiction, poems and stories inspired by the ever-changing landscape of Ilkley Moor.  And it's FREE!  See you there! 9pm Thursday 9th October 2014, Ilkley Playhouse.  Click here for more information

Le Tour Ilkley Moor silkscreen print from local artist

Local artist, Joy Godfrey, has produced a great new silkscreen print of a cyclist on Ilkley Moor.  It's £250 (unframed) or £50 for an A2 reproduction.  Joy will arrange a tour of her workshop for serious purchasers and you can see her work at Weaverbird on Wells Road.  See more of Joy at www.joygodfrey.com   

Haglofs Adventure Series Open 5 in Ilkley this weekend!

www.openadventure.com

The 2013/14 Haglofs Open 5 series kicks off in the picturesque Victorian spa town of Ilkley in West Yorkshire.

 

This is the first time Open Adventure has visited this corner of the Yorkshire Dales and veteran Open 5 competitor Sue Booth is hoping to show you the delights that Ilkely and the surrounding hills have to offer.

Lying on the River Wharfe in Wharfedale, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, Ilkley is the official starting point of the Dales Way. Famous for Betty's Tea Rooms, the Cow and Calf rocks and the beautiful Ilkley Moor - the subject of the notorious Yorkshire anthem "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at".

Tim and Paula are doing it and there's still time to sign up! See you there!

 

Find out more...

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

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

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"

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

Hundreds Participate in Ilkley Moor Filming!

Hundreds of people turned out on a gloriously sunny Ilkley Moor this morning to play their part in the filming of the new Yorkshire Anthem - On Ilkley Moor Bah't 'at. 


The filming is the latest part in the making of a new video song about our famous Moor.  Brian Blessed has already recording some of the lyrics (see below) as have several local choirs.  Soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment joined the town crier and local residents throwing their hats in the air and singing along.  Funds raised will go towards the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.  


More news about the release soon!  

Brian Blessed to sing On Ilkla Moor Bah't 'at in RAP!

Yes! It's true! Brian Blessed is to star in a rap version of the Yorkshire Anthem On Ilkla Moor Bah't 'at!

It was announced today at Y12 - Welcome to Yorkshire's Official Convention announcing record growth in tourism to Yorkshire.

See the ITV Yorkshire News story: http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/story/2012-03-28/ilkla-moor-rap

See the you Tube Video

(Photo: Telegraph and Argus)

STOP PRESS: Gary Richardson our ace number 1 handyman interviewed by ITV1/ Yorkshire Television for this story! See the feature here!

Cottage guests help our Annie raise £203 for a good cause!

Our 11 year old daughter - Annie - organised a special Mother's Day fayre last weekend. With help from classmates and mum Paula, they made cakes, buns and handmade gifts. The event was held in our grounds in aid of Ilkley Grammar School's nominated charity Aquabox. Annie had hoped to raise £50 but ended up handing over a cheque for £203. A number of guests staying with us gave generous support by uying gifts and coffees. The final total was reached after the last of the trays of cakes were sold to visitors walking on Ilkley Moor!

The money will go to buy lots of things to make up boxes that will be kept ready to be sent anywhere in the world where there is a big natural disaster in the future, such as took place at Haiti.

Behind the scenes of the Bartons' car crash - Videos - Emmerdale - ITV

Behind the scenes of the Bartons' car crash - Videos - Emmerdale - ITV
So poor John Barton didn't survive the spectacular car crash scene filmed here out on Ilkley Moor last month. Find out more from this behind the scenes clip!

A few questions you've asked...

1 Where were the first shots (low loader and stuntman) fimed? Just over from Keighley Gate (Whetstone Gate on maps) on the road back across to Silsden

2 Is the drop off from the Cow & Calf Rocks really that big? Yes

3 Can we see where the filming took place? Yes indeed. Ilkley Moor is open access land

4 How long did filming take? 3 nights. We could see that the floodlights were still on at 3 o'clock in the morning!

Dramatic Emmerdale Story being filmed on Ilkley Moor!

Nightime filming has been taking place this week for what is said to be a huge Emmerdale story to be aired later in February.  The Yorkshire TV team have been filming dramatic scenes on night shoots on Ilkley Moor until 3am.  Although they have been keeping exact details of the stunts under wraps for now, it is rumoured locally to involve some sort of major mock car crash.  An insider reported "it's a top secret stunt - they've got a stunt crew, fire engines, paramedics on stand-by. They're really big scenes coming up in about six weeks' time which are top secret. It's going to be big." 

Certainly, there have had some very powerful searchlights up there!

Filming has also been reportedly taking place on the moors above Silsden and Riddlesden.

An Emmerdale spokesperson recently confimed "It's a big dramatic storyline that will be on screen in February. It does involve a big stunt so we've had paramedics and fire crews."

Emmerdale continues at 7pm on ITV1.  (Logo and title Yorkshire Television)

Ilkley Moor on National Radio

If you were listening to Radio 4 "Today" this morning (Friday 18th November 2011), you'll have heard an item about our very own Ilkley Moor! 

"On Ilkley Moor Bah't 'at" has been Yorkshire's anthem since Victorian times, but now a brass band leader is launching a campaign to stop it from dying out.

Gordon Eddison, a school music teacher and musical director of Otley Brass Band, explained to John Humprhys why he is campaigning to keep the song alive.

Listen again here!