Walking to the Swastika Stone
A goodish hike - to Piper Crag and back to Ilkley is 8 kilometres; going on to the Doubler Stones is another 5 kilometres.
From the station, turn right and walk down to the crossroads. Cross over to go straight up the hill - the most pleasant way is up through the gardens of Mill Ghyll. When you come out at the top of the gardens, carry on up Wells Road. Cross the first cattle grid, and at the second turn left up Keighley Road. Just before the Spicey Beck goes under the bridge, take the path to the right and follow the wall.
By an iron gate, look over the wall into the car park of Overdale Nursing Home, and you will see a very large stone partly under the wall; it has 4 cups with rings and long grooves, and other well-worn markings.
Back on the main path, go along the edge of the moor, past the reservoir, to the top of Heber's Ghyll. Cross the bridge and follow the wall until a path leads up through the bracken. You will see the railings surrounding the Swastika Stone.
The Swastika Stone
The most famous single carving, situated on Woodhouse Crag. It is carved on a flat slab of grit stone - watch for the 20th century replica in front of the original carving! The Swastika Stone may be of a later date than other cup and ring markings, and consists of a four curved arms weaving through 9 cups in the form of a cross - two lines of five cups. Similar carvings are found in Italy and Sweden.
Continue along the path for 60 metres - on the left are two gateposts, one of which has two cups with rings. Go over the stile, through the wall, and immediately through the broken down wall on the right, and follow the moor edge to the .....
Anvil Rock
This flat rock is set on a pile of rocks, nose pointing NE. The top surface has several possible cups and rings.
Return to the path, and pass the fir trees. Go over the stile, and on the path is the ....
Sepulchre Stone
This very large rock - look for the geological folds - has several worn cups, one with a ring on the top surface.
Carry on, over two walls, passing Piper's Crag. The next wall stile contains an Ilkley boundary stone dated 1893. Cross this stile, and the next. On the right, just before the cairn is the .....
Piper Crag Stone
This smooth grit rock juts out over the stony slope. It has a complex design - 32 cups, some with multiple rings and grooves.
Decision Time
- On to the Doubler Stones?
Continue along the ridge, over the stile, past Addingham Crag. On the path is a very large stone known as the Noon Stone. Carry on over 3 more stiles, and you will pass the Hugh Teal Hall stones; just to confuse us, there was never any Hall here!
To the south, you will be able to see the mushroom shapes of the Doubler Stones. Carry on to a small cairn where two paths cross; take the path on the left, heading for the stile in the wall. Continue down the path, through the wooden gate in the fence.
Doubler Stones
The two rocks are formed of hard grit stone on pillars of softer sandstone. The western stone has several clear cups and basins, the eastern has 2 large cups.
Retrace your steps to the Piper Crag Stone.
OR - back to Ilkley
Descend the stony track under the Piper Crag Stone. At the bottom ignore the gates in the wall and veer left along the wall to a stile. Cross this and folow the sunken track across the field. When you reach the farm track, turn right, and continue through the gate at Hardwick Cottage, over the cattle grid to Hardwick House Farm. Pass the farm to the gate with a stile and cross the rough field to a stone stile. Continue, with first a wall and then a fence on the right, to the stile by the gate. Bear slightly left through the next 3 fields to reach the stiles and the buildings.
Continue down the road with Bracken Wood on the right. Past the entrance to Heber's Ghyll, keep right down Heber's Ghyll Drive, turn right on to Grove Road, and head back to Ilkley station.