Ilkley Rd.
Riddlesden
BD20 5PN
The Willow Tree is well worth the walk uphill from the Aire Valley below. It’s a handsome stone fronted pub dating from the 1930s, standing next to the eponymous willow tree (photo 1). There’s quite a community in the upper part of Riddlesden and the pub is the focal point.
It’s now leased to Bridgehouse Brewery which is just a mile away along the valley below, and serves at least two of their beers plus guests. There’s food lunchtimes and evenings, a weekly quiz, a book club and occasional live music. There are also events organised for festivals like Halloween and Christmas. And there’s football on TV with a focus on Leeds United!
The pub was once owned by Heys Brewery from Bradford and there is an etched window in the porch with their name (photo 3) and a small glass window inside proclaiming the delights of ‘Victory Ale’ (photo 2).
The road outside carries on uphill over Morton Moor, becoming Ilkley Moor once it goes over the summit, and then down to Ilkley. It actually becomes a track half way up, so driving becomes tricky, but it’s perfectly possible to cycle it, and of course walk it.
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