Ancient Routes
The oldest roads
The moor was a crossroads for ancient trading routes connecting local people and traders to the major routes of the east and west coasts. The route known as Rombald's Way traversed the ridge of Otley Chevin, dropping down through Menston, back up on to Ilkley Moor, along Addingham High Moor to the west.
A north-south route crossed the River Aire at Bingley, climbed up on to Ilkley Moor, and dropped down to cross the Wharfe by a ford at Ilkley.
The crossroads - and possibly a local trading point - was probably at the Whetstone Gate marked on the OS maps
Roman Roads
Ilkley is the site of the Roman camp of Olicana, on the crossroads of the the Manchester-Aldeborough road over the moors, and the Ribchester-York road down Wharfedale.
More on the Roman Road from Thomas Codrington, 1903.
There was also a Roman Road through Menston, along the Chevin, through the Roman settlement at Yeadon.