Ilkley Moor - Swastika Stone - Doubler Stones and Rombalds Moor

Ilkley Moor - Swastika Stone - Doubler Stones and Rombalds Moor is 23.4 km long with 546 m of climbing, so most hikers should allow a full day on the moor. A typical walking time is around 6 to 8 hours depending on pace, ground conditions, and how long is spent at landmarks such as the Swastika Stone and the Doubler Stones.

This route is graded easy, but it is still a substantial moorland outing at 23.4 km with 546 m of elevation gain. The walking is generally non-technical, yet the length, exposed terrain, and open stretches across Ilkley Moor and the wider Rombalds Moor mean it suits hikers who are comfortable spending several hours on upland paths.

Dogs are allowed on Ilkley Moor, which forms part of this route, but they must be kept under effective control. Bradford Council advises using a lead around livestock and during the ground-nesting bird season from March to July, when species such as curlew, lapwing, golden plover, twite, and short-eared owl are especially sensitive.

A common access point for this part of Ilkley Moor is from the Wells Road side above Ilkley. Bradford Council identifies links from Wells Road parking toward White Wells, the Cow and Calf area, Panorama Reservoir, and the Swastika Stone, making the lower moor above town the usual practical start area for a longer circuit across Rombalds Moor.

The standout landmarks are the Swastika Stone and the Doubler Stones, both on the moor above Ilkley. The route also crosses Rombalds Moor, a broad West Yorkshire moorland known for prehistoric carved stones, with more than 400 cup-and-ring marked rocks recorded across the area, so the walk combines open moorland with notable archaeological features.

The route uses a well-known section of Ilkley Moor with an extensive network of paths and tracks, and there is a recognized path from the Keighley Road side toward the Swastika Stone. Even so, this is open moorland, so visibility can change quickly and navigation becomes more serious in mist, rain, or winter conditions.

Late spring to early autumn is usually the most straightforward time for this hike, when daylight is longer and the moor is generally drier underfoot. Heather season can add color later in summer, but March through July is also the ground-nesting bird period on Ilkley Moor, so extra care with dogs is required and sticking to established paths is especially important.