Our Local Area

Beech Hill Church is based in a wonderful part of the world! And we have regulars who come from all over lower Wharfedale and beyond. If you’re thinking of moving to the area here are what we think are some of the highlights you should see:

The Market Town of Otley

Otley is a historic market town which has had a weekly market since 1220! There are many independent shops, pubs and restaurants. The Old Otley Courthouse has been converted into a community hub hosting arts and events. You can still see the Old Grammar School where furniture legend Thomas Chippendale went. The town has been used as a filming location for television programmes such as Heartbeat and Emmadale. In the marketplace there’s a clock tower called the Jubilee Clock which was built in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

The Spa Town of Ilkley

Ilkley is a scenic spa town in lower Wharfedale. The Grove is a lively street, lined with Victorian architecture and indie shops. There’s the Manor House a 14th-century house, now museum built on a Roman fort’s ruins. The Riverside Gardens by the Wharfe are perfect for picnics. There’s a an iconic Lido with a 1930s outdoor pool. If you’re in need of refreshment there is the famous Betty’s Tearoom. There’s also an annual literature festival which brings in some quite famous people (not just Alan Titchmarch who grew up in Ilkley!)

Otley Chevin

When John Wesley visited the area he wrote in his journals of the Chevin as “the Great Mountain”. There are lots of fantastic walks on the Chevin, as well as the wonderful Surprise View which gives you a great view of the whole of Otley and the surrounding area (there’s also often an ice-cream van parked there too!). There’s a recently build stone maze part way up, as well as the well known “White House” which is a notable landmark. Ancient rock art can also be found at the top on Knotties Stone. Every Easter a large cross is erected at Surprise View which can be seen for miles around.

Ilkley Moor

Ilkley Moor, (which is part of a larger moorland called Rombald’s moor) is a wild gem just up from Ilkley Town Centre. This rugged moorland offers jaw-dropping views over Wharfedale. There’s the mysterious Swastika Stone, carved thousands of years ago. There’s also the Cow and Calf Rocks—huge boulders visible for miles. There are also the White Wells plunge pool, and the Twelve Apostles stone circle to be found there. On top of that there’s the famous folk song “On Ilkla Moor Bah t‘Hat” which speaks of the peril of going there without your hat on!

Burley-in-Wharfedale Stepping Stones

The Burley in Wharfedale Stepping Stones span the River Wharfe, linking Burley-in-Wharfedale to Askwith. They offer a fun, wobbly crossing when water levels cooperate—though they’re often submerged in winter. Dating back centuries as a public bridleway, they sit above a low weir, part of a historic mill site now powering a modern hydroelectric scheme. They were repaired in 2013 after a local campaigns. A good site for picnics when the weather’s nice.