Ilkley is in half an hour drive from Bradford, Leeds or Harrogate, so that on your way to Bolton Abbey you can stop here for an hour to walk around the city center.
I got to Ilkley by train from Leeds for £ 5. You can also take a bus, but in this case the way will take about an hour, though, it will be a little cheaper.
Ilkley greeted me with its charming houses, cozy streets and incredibly fresh air. And this is because this picturesque town is located in Wharfe Valley in the southern part of the Yorkshire Dales, an incredibly beautiful countryside.
There is a Tourist Center right in front of the Railway Station and bus stop. As soon as you arrive to Ilkley, go there. There you can get a map and bus schedule to Bolton Abbey and Leeds.
Since the bus to Bolton Abbey runs only three times a day from Ilkley, I recommend that you check the timetable before going for a walk around the city, so that you can properly plan your time.
2 hours are enough for a walk around Ilkley.
I went to St. Margaret's Church and also saw a small museum nearby.
Bolton
Abbey
I took a 15-minute bus ride to Bolton Abbey from Ilkley. The bus departs from the stop "B" next to the Railway station.
The cost of a one-way ticket is £ 3.5. You can buy a ticket from the driver.
I recommend that you allocate 3-4 hours for a visit to the abbey. Since the last bus leaves from there at 5:21 p.m., I didn't have enough time to explore the whole area.
Bolton Abbey is located in the heart of Yorkshire in an incredibly beautiful valley, stretching for miles with its green meadows along the small River Warfe on the bank which you will see the Ruins of the Abbey.
This is a great place for leisurely walks.
There are also a couple of cafes and a tourist center with a souvenir shop near the bus stop.
The abbey was founded in 1154 on the land granted to the Augustinians by Lady Alice de Romilly in memory of her son who drowned.
But by order of Henry VIII, everything, except the local parish church, was destroyed and only this functioning church of St. Mary has been preserved to date.
If you still have time after a walk around Bolton Abbey, you can visit Ilkley Moor on your way back through Ilkley. My story about Ilkley Moore is in this article.
