Ilkley Moor, Twelve Apostles stone circle, Cowper's Cross, Yorkshire.
[9.7 km] Fri 18 July 2014

OS Grid Ref: SE 13204 46716
Lat/Long: +53.916424, -01.800454
Drove through Ilkley to the car park near to the Cow and Calf Rocks. It was almost deserted when I arrived but the man was getting the café and outdoor tables and chair ready. My first main objective was to visit the base of the Cow and Calf rocks as it was the filming location for the Monty Python ‘Hermits’ sketch. In the sketch Michael Palin and Eric Idle discuss the best ways of insulating a hermit’s cave.
I walked into the adjacent quarry and climbed steeply out at the far end. On the top I followed to path to the SE which disappointingly had discarded plastic bags of dog muck strewn around. It was easy flat walking and I was surprised not to see anybody around. A minor path crossed the moor then joined a larger path that took me to the Twelve Apostles stone circle.

The Twelve Apostles stone circle

It was interesting standing there watching large passenger aircraft circling low as they made their final approach to presumably Leeds Airport. To the NE I could also see the domes of the Menwith Hill satellite ground station. I retraced my tracks for a short way then took the path to the west and the trig post.

It was easy walking as large stone slabs had been used to pave the path. When a brief heavy shower of rain hit I managed to shelter behind some large boulders before continuing past a radio mast then to the road at Whetstone Gate. I turned right along a rough track to Cowper’s Cross which is the original cross base.

The upright shaft of the cross is a re-worked gatepost that replaced the old shaft with its authentic ‘pagan’ carvings. I don’t know the whereabouts of the original cross.
I continued along the rough Keighley Road to the edge of the moor then turned right along a minor path. Further on I made a short detour to the Badger Stone with its wonderful cup and ring markings. The minor path continued over Cranshaw Thorn Hill back to the quarry where I started. Back at the car the car park had almost filled up.