Heber's Ghyll Off Grove Road, Ilkley

A Memory of Ilkley.

We used to live on Grove Road in the 1960s and 1970s and, being a tomboy, I would also go exploring with our two dogs. One of my favourite walks was up Heber's Ghyll - sometimes following the path up through the woods but most often just walking "wild" through the woods. It was full of bluebells (still is) and the Ghyll (stream) is a delightful place to sit and look at. At the top of the path, just before you hit the Moor, there is an old shelter - now in ruins - where you could sit and catch your breathe. This was Chalybeate Spring. Its a sad little place now - used by local youths for the odd bit of illegal smoking, etc, and partying so the council decided to remove the seats and roof to discourage this. What a truly delightful photo. I never realised it was a Spring either ..... though its always wet around the outside and seeping down the steps you can see in the foreground. Whenever I go back to Ilkley, its one of my favourite walks.