"On Ilkla Moor Baht'at"

Upon return from my brief visit to Chicago, Rachel and I decided to take a special excursion after a week apart. We wanted to stay within the beautiful landscape of Yorkshire, and decided to visit the picturesque, Victorian spa town of Ilkley.

Ilkley is located under the dominant eye of the Ilkey Moor and the popular Cow and Calf Rocks. It's most famously known nationwide as the home of the Yorkshire anthem "On Ilkla Moor Baht'at". "On Ilkla Moor Baht'at" translated from Yorkshire English is "On Ilkley Moor Without a Hat".

The song is about a man courting his true love, Mary Jane. Mary Jane pokes fun at the man for venturing out on Ilkley Moor without his hat, and how he is likely to die from exposure due to the cold. It's arguably the most widely known anthem in England and can be heard throughout the rolling hills, wind and rains of Yorkshire.

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During our visit we enjoyed hours scrambling the rocks of Ilkley Moor, taking long walks through surrounding villages and sampling local culinary delicacies and ales.

Rachel and Jason pose for a self-timer on Ilkley Moor, overlooking the surrounding villages.

Ilkley Moor on an uncharacteristically sunny December afternoon.

After exploring the moor on our first afternoon, dense fog prohibited us from getting on top the following day. We happily mapped out a lovely walk along the River Wharfe to the surrounding villages of Low Mill, Addingham, Nesfield and Middelton. One of my favorite aspects of Yorkshire Life is that walking paths connect virtually every town and village through stunning farmland, riversides and canals. A snapshot from the front of a farmhouse in the village of Low Mill.
A nice view of local homes as we enter the village of Addingham.Even the isolated village of Nesfield has the iconic red phonebox!


The churchyard at Addingham Church.
The beautiful English countryside on a typical grey and dull day.

A highlight of our stay in Ilkley was the accommodation. We stayed at the Spindleberry Guest House conveniently located a few hundred meters from a footpath accessing the moor and a ten minute walk to the middle of town. Our hosts, David and Annette Graham, looked after us very well and got us ready for each day with a hearty and healthy breakfast. We were met both mornings with abundant options of fruit, cereals, nuts, seeds, "Full English" and the most delicious smoked mackerel in the land. View of Spindleberry Guest House from the Wheatley Road entrance.

Ilkley and it's environs provided a most memorable "mini-break" and will be added to the long list of "Gee, I'd like to live there one day" places on Earth. Two random trees, passed by two random ramblers, on a random slice of gorgeous English countryside.


SEE EWE NEXT TIME ON ILKLEY MOOR and DON'T FORGET YOUR HAT!!!!

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On Ilkla Moor Baht'at

Where hast tha been sin' I saw thee, I saw thee?

On Ilkley Moor baht 'at

Where hast tha been sin' I saw thee, I saw thee?

Where hast tha been sin' I saw thee?

On Ilkley Moor baht 'at

On Ilkley Moor baht 'at

On Ilkley Moor baht 'at

Tha's been a-courtin' Mary Jane
Tha's boun' to catch thy death o` cowd
Then we shall ha' to bury thee
Then t'worms'll come an` eat thee up
Then ducks'll come an` eat up t'worms
Then we shall go an` eat up t'ducks
Then we shall all ha' eaten thee
That's wheer we get us oahn back