Haystacks and Twelve Apostles Walk
The walk to the Haystacks and Twelve Apostles is a rugged, yet beautiful journey that will take you across the expanse of Ilkley Moor to experience several natural and manmade highlights. While out walking the trail, you will traverse the open terrain of the moor, climbing uphill to experience the Haystacks Rock, as well as the Twelve Apostles Stone Circle, all while taking in beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. Due to the high volume of Neolithic and Bronze Age sites in the area, this is a fantastic route for history lovers.
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Route Description for Haystacks and Twelve Apostles Walk
As mentioned above, if you love visiting unique historical sights and taking in scenic views of the countryside, thent the Haystacks and Twelve Apostles Walk will be a great option for you to get out and explore the complexities of Yorkshire Dales National Park. Terrain along Ilkley Moor is a bit rugged and traversing it will require a small amount of uphill walking, so make sure to wear sturdy walking boots.
Setting out from the car park, you will head to the southwest and immediately pass by the imposing rock formation known as the Ilkley Moor Cow and Calf Rocks before traversing the moor to cross over Backstone Beck. Turn south here and follow along the edge of the water, enjoying the views of Haystack Rock off to the left and the Ilkley Crags on your right.
After climbing uphill across the rugged terrain of the moor, you will pass by the Twelve Apostles, a stone circle that likely dates back thousands of years to the Bronze Age. From here, you will follow the trail to the southeast to skirt around a small body of water before turning to the north on the final leg of the walk across the moor. Continue downhill to eventually meet up with your initial path, following it past the Cow and Calf Rocks on the return to the car park.
Getting to the Haystacks and Twelve Apostles Walk Trailhead
To reach the trailhead for the Haystacks and Twelve Apostles Walk from Ilkley, head southeast on Cowpasture Road for 0.8 km and continue straight onto Hangingstone Road. After another 0.8 km, you will find the car park on the right.
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