The Darwin Walk

The walk starts from the main signboard at the far end of Darwin Gardens car park. Follow the boulder wall around to the plaque of Charles Darwin, beside a boulder of local sandstone known as Millstone Grit. Fossils contained in rocks formed an essential part of the evidence for Darwin’s theory of evolution.

Past the monument, turn right on a tarmac path which passes the Millennium Maze then bends left to follow a hedgerow. When the path forks, take the right fork to cross a bridge, then a left fork on a sand path heading uphill to reach a boulder bearing an Ilkley Civic Society blue plaque for Wells House.

Beyond the monument turn right through a gateway and follow the drive left to the impressive entrance of Wells House, the hydro where Charles Darwin stayed whilst taking the ‘water cure’.

Return past the blue plaque monument and continue ahead along the sand path. This winds left downhill to pass a pond and willow arbour, then right to pass the‚ ‘Millennial Vision’ viewpoint, and reaches the pavement alongside Wells Road. Charles Darwin often walked a similar sand path at Down House, his home in Kent.

White Wells bathhouse is easily seen on the hillside above, and can be reached by a moorland track from the other side of Wells Road. However the main walk turns left to follow a tarmac path beside a hedgerow, then right on a grass path round the maze, returning downhill to the ‘Darwin’s View’ monument. Cross the car park, turn right to the pavement, and left through a gate, then cross Wells Road and follow pavement beside Crossbeck Road to reach the elegant front of Hillside (formerly North View House), part of which was occupied by Charles Darwin and his family during his stay in Ilkley.

From here, a moorland track climbs to White Wells. The town centre can be reached using paths through Darwin Gardens and Mill Ghyll, or via Wells Road.