Yorkshire Dales UK Break

Claire Summers on 10 September 2020
In September 2020 we took a short trip to Ilkley, Yorkshire, the town where the film Calendar Girls was shot.

We stayed in a lovely Victorian Country House which consisted of apartments and cottages, called Westwood Lodge.

We had a 2 bedroom apartment (both en-suite with showers) as we travelled with friends, it was very well equipped with every utensil you need in the kitchen, plus WIFI, smart TV, even bath robes provided and all finished to a very nice standard. The views from the apartment from every room, as we were on the top floor, were so picturesque.

It had a lovely shared roof terrace as well with tables and chairs so this was a nice outdoor space to relax in and enjoy the views.

The accommodation was very well located right next to Ilkley Moors and we spent a lot of time hiking up the moors and enjoying the amazing views across the town.

There are walking trails to follow so there is no chance of getting lost. It can be quite steep and uneven in places so if you have any walking difficulties its something to bear in mind to choose your route carefully.

On the moors is a plunge pool known as White Wells and its free, you just need to check if its open, so if you are brave enough you can take a very cold quick dip and get a certificate to say you have done it. There is a cafe on the same site where you can enjoy a drink and sit outside.

We were only a 10 min walk from Ilkley Spa town which has the famous Bettys Tea Room, which of course, we had to go in and have a cream tea. Due to social distancing they were well organised with the queues outside which were separated whether you were going into the cafe or just browsing in their shop. I have to say their signature Fat Rascal scone was amazing and large. I was quite hungry when I went in and thought I might even order two of them but I am glad I didnt as they were big! Probably one of the best cream teas I have had.

Ilkley town has everything you need for a self catering break, supermarkets, shops, restaurants, bars, train station and a nice characteristic feel about it as you walk around.

Even though we were self catering and were quite happy eating in, we did eat out one night at a pub called Bar T'at and the food was delicious!

We also managed a round of golf at East Morton Golf Club, this was about 40 mins drive away from Ilkley. It wasn't the higher end of golfing, with a cabin for the golf house, but the course was good with lovely, friendly staff where we hired everything we needed at amazing low prices.

I really enjoyed getting away for a few days to Ilkley and I would highly recommend the area for a days away in the UK.