Places to Visit In & Around Burley in Wharfedale
Burley in Wharfedale
Cornmill Pond
Located towards the northwest side of the village, on the corner of Main Street and Cornmill Lane, the pond was a former reservoir for the local Corn Mill, which has long ceased operating.
The public is allowed to view the pond and its wildlife from the bridge. Care must be take as the water in the pond is deep and there is sediment in the bottom.
NB - Please do not enter into the ground at the side of the pond. The ground is leased to a resident, who maintains the pond and surrounding ground for the Burley Community Trust.
Sun Lane Nature Reserve
Located at the North East end of the village. Access to the Nature Reserve is at the far end of Sun Lane.
The Wildlife Group meets at this site twice a month.
Ilkley – 4 miles, 5 minutes by rail
With a wealth of upmarket shops and hotels, this lovely town set alongside the River Wharfe has much to offer.
Named Olicana by the Romans, it has blossomed into one of Yorkshire's most attractive tourist destinations, with a May Day Carnival, a Music Festival and a Flower Show.
More information at: http://www.ilkley.org/
White Wells
The remaining bath–house of the restored (1780) building, which helped promote the popularity of this former Roman outpost.
More information at:www.ilkley.yorks.com/white-wells.html
The Dales Way Walk
The official start of this popular 80 mile walk to Bowness on Lake Windermere is the Old Bridge in Ilkley, although there are links to the start from Shipley and from Leeds. There is also a good path over Ilkley Moor from Burley Woodhead.
Full details can be viewed on the official website at : The Dales Way Association
Otley – 3 miles
Historic Market Town straddling the River Wharfe. Street markets on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Birthplace of Thomas Chippendale, the world–famous furniture maker, who learnt his craft in this market town.
Thomas Fairfax, Cromwell's general, came from nearby Denton Hall, to the north of Otley.
The country's oldest agricultural show is held here every year in May, and is the first of the shows in the season - Pateley Bridge being the last.
Hosts a folk festival (September) and a Victorian Fayre (December).
More information at: www.otley.co.uk/
Bolton Abbey – about 9 miles
The 30,000 acre Yorkshire estate of the 12th Duke of Devonshire with over 80 miles of footpaths through some of the most spectacular scenery in England.
There are walks alongside the river Wharfe, with its peaceful shallows and fearsome Strid, through Strid Wood, with its rich variety of wildlife and as a complete contrast, some paths cross the exposed purple heights of heather moorland.
More information at: http://www.boltonabbey.com/
The Yorkshire Dales – about 10 miles
A National Park containing Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this 1,768 square km treasure is home to about 20,000 people, and attracts over 9 million visitors each year. Although predominantly contained within Yorkshire, due to the 1974 re–organisation of county boundaries some parts of the park now reside within Cumbria and Teesside.
More information at: www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/
Harrogate – 12 miles
Due no doubt to the stupendous year–round floral dispays throughout the town, and the number of people who retire there, Harrogate was unkindly described by a failing comedian as "... a cemetery with traffic lights".
Actually, Harrogate abounds with life and vigour, and is an extremely popular destination for shop–aholics of all ages. Tourists are drawn there by the staggering array of shops, restaurants, wine bars and the magnificent Valley Gardens. Along with the original Betty's Cafe.
And Harrogate is a top conference venue, so there are plenty of excellent hotels.
Too many attractions to list them all here, so for more information : http://www.harrogate.co.uk/
Harlow Carr Gardens
Situated about 2 miles from Harrogate, there are ample car parking spaces, a local hostelry, and even a Betty's Cafe on site. There is so much to see here that you need to allow at least half a day to view the many and varied garden layouts.
One aim of this Royal Horticultural Society 27.5 hectare site has been to set up a trial ground where the suitability of plants for growing in northern climates can be assessed.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/gardens/harlowcarr/index.asp
Skipton – 12 miles
Skipton Castle
Embsay Steam Railway
www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk
Keighley – about 8 miles
East Riddlesden Hall
National Trust - www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
Vintage Carriages Trust Museum of Rail Travel
www.vintagecarriagestrust.org/
Haworth – about 15 miles
Bronte Parsonage Museum
Information on times the House/Museum is open and also special events
Bradford – 11 miles, 20 minutes by rail
“Bradford’s role in life is to make every place else in the world look better by comparison” and “Nowhere on this trip would I see a city more palpably forlorn”
Quotes from Notes from a Small Island, by best-selling author Bill Bryson (c 1995)
Somebody on the Council must have read that book, because Bradford is part way through a massive 300 million–pound regeneration programme designed to provide a state–of–the–art shopping centre. There will be two department stores, 80 shops, 170 apartments and 1,800 parking spaces.
A 20 million pound project to cater for the new infrastucture requirements is almost complete. The entire programme is expected to be completed by 2008 - let's just hope they learned some lessons from the disaster they created in the sixties.
Even though part of the city centre is cordoned–off, don't postpone a trip to this fascinating city. There is so much to see and do here; visit the curry capital of the UK soon.
More information at: http://www.thisisbradford.co.uk/
The National Museum of Photography, Film and Television.
This is a "must see" museum - and you can even use the cinemas.
More information at: http://www.nmpft.org.uk/
Leeds – 11miles, 25 minutes by rail
Royal Armouries
The Royal Amouries Museum is located near to Crown Point Bridge and Clarence Docks, also known as New Dock on the South bank of the River Aire and the start of the Aire and Calder canal. The Royal Armouries Museum is one of the worlds great museum's, with 8,000 spectacular exhibits – 3000 years of history.
Approximatly 10–15 minutes walk from the bus station or 15-20 minutes walk from Leeds City station along the river side.
More information at:http://www.royalarmouries.org/extsite/view.jsp?sectionId=2222
Harewood – about 8 miles
Harewood House
Harewood House, home to the Queen's cousin, the Earl of Harewood, provides a wonderful day out for all the family. The House, with its outstanding art collections, splendid State Rooms and fascinating 'Below Stairs' exhibition, is set in spectacular grounds, which include formal gardens and gentle woodland walks.
More information at www.harewood.org/
Saltaire – 6 miles, 10 minutes by rail
Salts Mill
Old textile mill employing 3,000 workers, now office space and the Gallery for a Yorkshire Artist David Hockney.
More information at: www.saltsmill.org.uk/
Knaresborough – 15 miles
Mother Shipton's Cave
England's most famous prophetess for 500 years was Mother Shipton born in her cave in Knaresborough in 1488.
More information at: http://www.mothershiptonscave.com/main.htm