Ebor Way
The Ebor Way is a long-distance footpath in Yorkshire running 70 miles from Helmsley in the North Riding to Ilkley in the West Riding. It takes its name from Eboracum, the Roman name for York.
This walk connects the Cleveland Way and Dales Way running through the low-lying Vale of York. The trail runs via Tadcaster and Wetherby. It was first developed in the 1970s by the Ebor Acorn Rambling Club.
- Trailheads
- Helmsley, North Riding: 54°14’46"N, 1°3’47"W
- Ilkley, West Riding: 53°55’30"N, 1°49’23"W
From Helmsley, the walk heads south via Oswaldkirk, Cawton and Hovingham to Terrington. Here it is joined by the Centenary Way, which follows a broadly similar route to York, although the two diverge at times. From Terrington, it continues south to Sheriff Hutton and Strensall, then runs alongside the River Foss to the centre of York. Passing York Minster, it skirts round the north and west sides of the city walls before leaving the city on the west bank of the River Ouse.
Turning west away from the river, the path goes through the satellite villages of Bishopthorpe and Copmanthorpe before picking up the route of the old Roman road between Eboracum and Calcaria (Tadcaster). (Where the route crosses the A64, a new bridge has been provided at Bilbrough Top, as a rather safer walk than sticking faithfully to the route by a dangerous road crossing.) The path then continues to follow the route of the Roman road into Tadcaster.
From Tadcaster, the path largely follows the banks of the River Wharfe through Boston Spa, with deviations away from the river bank through Newton Kyme and Thorp Arch. From Wetherby, the path heads south through Linton, then meanders westwards before crossing the River Wharfe, and running along the south side of it to Harewood. A few miles after passing through the grounds of Harewood House, the route is joined by the Dales Way Leeds link, and from here on they take mostly the same route with only minor variances.
The route continues through Bramhope and along the Chevin before dropping into Menston, and then climbing up to Ilkley Moor for the wildest part of the route where it is best not to be baht 'at. After following the edge of the moor, the route descends via the Cow and Calf rocks, before coming to its end in the centre of Ilkley.