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Baildon Moor

1.9 miles (3 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This large area of moorland near Bradford is a popular place for walkers and cyclists. There's miles of good trails and fantastic views of Leeds and Bradford from the elevated position of the moor.
There's a good sized car park on Glovershaw Lane just to the north west of Baildon town centre. From here you can pick up numerous footpaths and bridleways suitable for mountain bikers. Head south from the car park and you can climb Baildon Hill which rises to a height of over 900ft. It's a great spot to soak up the far reaching views over the Yorkshire cities, towns and hills surrounding the moor.
To extend your walking in the area you can head south and visit the delightful Shipley Glen before picking up the towpath along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The lovely glen is right next to the moor and is well worth a visit with its pretty beck and woodland trails. It also includes the splendid Bracken Hall Countryside Centre which has a wealth of information on the area.
The River Aire also runs through nearby Shipley.
The Bradford Millennium Way and the Dales Way Link also run past the western fringe of the moor. Both these trails will take you to Bingley Moor and Ilkley Moor if you follow them north.
Just a few miles to the east at Guiseley you will find Esholt Woods which is another good place for walkers and mountain bikers.

Postcode

BD17 5LG - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Please click here for more information

Baildon Moor OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Baildon Moor Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

Head into Baildon village on the eastern side of the moor and you could visit the Bulls Head Inn. The inn has an attractive interior with a tap room, log fires and old photos of Baildon adorning the walls. They serve good food which you can enjoy in the garden area on warmer days. You can find them at 6 Westgate with a postcode of BD17 5ES for your sat navs.
On the southern side of the moor there's also The Old Glen House, next to the popular Shipley Glen tramway. The historic pub is hundreds of years old and has a charmingly rustic interior with cosy log fires. They serve good home cooked food which you can also enjoy in the outdoor area on a sunny day. You can find them on Prod Lane at a postcode of BD17 5BN for your sat navs.

Dog Walking

The expansive moor is a great place to exercise your dog. Please keep them under control as there are grazing animals and lots of birdlife to be aware of on the site. The Bulls Head and the Old Glen House mentioned above are also dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head a few miles west of the moor and you could explore the splendid Bingley St Ives estate. There's 500 acres of woodland, parkland and gardens to enjoy here.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Yorkshire Dales Walks and the Nidderdale Walks pages.

Photos

The cinder rocks, Baildon Moor - geograph.org.uk - 341900

The cinder rocks. This view is from the south-west. Shallow caves have formed, similar to those found in lava.

Hope Gate, Baildon Moor - geograph.org.uk - 341830

Hope Gate, Baildon Moor. This is where a bridleway enters the moor. To the left of the gate there was an ancient pottery. The two horses are in conversation with another in the lane.

Summer house behind Baildon Moor - geograph.org.uk - 48233

Summer house behind the Moor. This is one of a cluster of half a dozen such summer houses which presumably pre-date planning controls.

On top of the cinder rocks, Baildon Moor - geograph.org.uk - 341877

On top of the cinder rocks. Over the centuries a thin layer of soil has been created, supporting mosses and other plants.

Waterfall, Sconce, Baildon - Bingley - geograph.org.uk - 749294

Waterfall, Sconce, Baildon / Bingley. A waterfall that the OS have missed, on the edge of the moor.

View of Leeds etc, Baildon Moor , Baildon - geograph.org.uk - 761989

View over Leeds from the moor. The late afternoon sunshine picks out the high-rise buildings of Leeds, and also two power stations. The one on the right must I think be Ferrybridge, which is at SE4724 about 37km away.

Reservoirs, Baildon Moor - geograph.org.uk - 341937

Reservoirs. The pink-edged clouds are reflected in the water in the nearest reservoir.

Baildon Moor - geograph.org.uk - 26668

Summer view of the site. Looking NE towards the top of the moor from the vicinity of Bracken Hall.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Baildon Moor.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Baildon Moor.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)