Lower Wharfedale Group of the Ramblers The Wharfe passes under the historic Ilkley Old Bridge
LOWER WHARFEDALE is a group

within the WEST RIDING AREA
of the RAMBLERS.
West Riding Area
Web Site
The primary activity of the Lower Wharfedale Group is the organisation of regular walks for local members of the Ramblers. The walks are led by volunteers who know the area and who will have checked the walk for interest, suitability and safety. We welcome new people to walk with us and discover the pleasure of the countryside within reach of our area.

There are about 500 members of the Ramblers in our group. Not everyone wants to walk with others, but regularly we have a substantial number walking with us on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the various walking groups.
Where people are enthusiastic to do new things we can develop our activities as we choose. Just as long as members will volunteer to organise and lead new events.

We have a social committee who organise events, other than walking, and they also arrange our annual group holiday. In 2012 we went  to the Trossachs and in 2013 we are going to the Peak District. We are adding new activities to our programme all the time as members come up with new ideas.

The Lower Wharfedale Group began as a pressure group and working group in order to keep Rights of Way open. Later, the Group developed their programmes of organised walks.
Within the Lower Wharfedale Group there is a group of people, under the leadership of Jack,  who give their time to the care and repair of footpaths and footpath furniture, like stiles and bridges. In March 2009 the work of the Lower Wharfedale Working Group - Barry; Jack S.; Jack J.; Roger and Walter -  was recognised by an award from the Ilkley Civic Society. (See picture above.)

Since the working group was formed in 1994 they have built or repaired more than 260 stiles, 43 bridges, 75 paths and 60 gates. Their work benefits everyone who loves walking in our area!

People can report problems with Rights of Way to the group and we have a Footpath Officer, Richard, who has links with our three local authorities and a number of voluntary groups. He is able to pass on information to the relevant people in order to ensure that footpaths are kept open and maintained in good condition.


If you want to walk, either regularly, or when you are on holiday, but do not want to join a group, then there is a lot of information on The Ramblers National web site. Click on the logo on the right.


Did you know that the Ramblers have their own holiday company? They arrange a very wide variety of British and Foreign holidays. To see their web site click on the logos to the right.


To see why we would invite you to join the Ramblers, please click on the logo to the right. If you are interested you can move on to join the Ramblers on line.



If you are coming from outside Yorkshire to walk and want to find out more about accommodation, attractions, travel and so on across Yorkshire there are a number of useful web sites including:
Iknow-yorkshire
Click on their logo opposite to see the web site.
The Ramblers is a registered charity (number 1093577) and a company limited by guarantee (number 4458492).
Approximate Area covered by
the Lower Wharfedale Group,
though our walks range over a
much wider area.
th
amhope
www.ramblers.org.uk
About Us
The crest of Great Whernside. 31st May 2011

On Tuesdays and Thursdays we meet at the Old Bridge, Ilkley, for car sharing. In in the winter we might go from there as far the areas around Grassington, Kettlewell, Malham or Hebden.


In the summer, with the longer hours of daylight, as well as enjoying the Dales and other areas around us, we might go further afield. Further north and east in Yorkshire and into East Lancashire.


In addition to our regular walking programme, members of our group will organise extra walking events. We might arrange to meet on a Friday to walk in the Lake District. A group might organise a week’s walking along one of the long distance trails. A small group might do the three peaks of Yorkshire or other more strenuous walks.