WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE FOR LUNCH?
I usually get a warm pork pie from Lishman’s (01943 609436; lishmansonline.co.uk). This local butcher is famous for its award-winning sausages and pork pies.
AND FOR DINNER?
The Burlington Restaurant at the Devonshire Arms is excellent. Not only are the dishes good, but you can enjoy wonderful views of the Yorkshire Dales while you dine.
WHERE WOULD YOU SEND A FIRST-TIME VISITOR?
Head for the Old Bridge, and take a walk along the river before having a look around some of Ilkley’s charming little shops. Then drive up to the moors, park your car and walk up to the tops by the Cow and Calf Rocks and take in the view right across Wharfedale.
WHAT SHOULD I AVOID?
The traffic lights at the bottom of Brook Street should be avoided on a Bank Holiday, if at all possible.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING HOME?
A little hamper with a Fat Rascal or two from Betty’s – and some pork pies and sausages from Lishman’s. That’s my idea of heaven.
ANYWHERE THAT ISN’T YOUR KIND OF TOWN?
I was disappointed by Kuala Lumpur. I was expecting it to be quite exotic but it struck me as just like so many other cities, with its high-rise buildings.
- 'Love Your Garden’ by Alan Titchmarsh is published by Ebury Press priced £14.99; 'Love Your Garden’ is on ITV1 on Tuesdays at 8pm
Yorkshire essentials
Getting there by rail
Trains for Ilkley depart every half an hour from Leeds (nationalrail.co.uk).
Walking and cycling
Wonderful Lower Wharfedale offers plenty of walks through the rolling countryside or along the river; the “Prehistory Trail on Ilkley Moor” passes many landmarks and ancient sites. Visit ilkley.org for a list of excellent walks, ranging in duration from an afternoon to the whole day.
Alternatively, cyclists can ride alongside the canal, from Leeds to Bingley, 20 minutes from Ilkley by car, passing the medieval Kirkstall Abbey and the natural marvels of Rodley Nature Reserve and Bramley Falls. This easy, flattish ride also goes through Saltaire, an old mill village founded by philanthropist Sir Titus Salt, which is now a World Heritage Site.
Rail journeys
Also a 20-minute drive away is the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (01535 645214; kwvr.co.uk). This steam railway runs from Keighley to Oxenhope, and buying a “Rover Ticket” (£15) will allow you to get on and off as much as you like at the four intervening stops and enjoy a walk or a pub lunch.
Where to eat
A five-minute walk from Ilkley station is Bar t’at (01943 608888; markettowntaverns.co.uk), with a selection of local real ales and pub food.
The Michelin-starred Box Tree (01943 608484; theboxtree.co.uk) on Church Street serves sophisticated food from a constantly changing menu (lunch from £25, dinner from £35).
Where to go
Bolton Abbey, though largely ruined following the Dissolution, is still a breathtaking place. The site is a 15-minute drive from Ilkley and provides the perfect place for a picnic, a stroll, some fishing or an exploration of the ruins (admission is £6 per car).
In nearby Bradford, visit the National Media Museum (nmpft.org.uk), which has six floors of galleries and the IMAX cinema (free admission to museum, charges for IMAX).
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