Best places to walk your dog in Ilkley

Great Places to Walk Your Dog Near Ilkley

Looking for new places to walk your dog near Ilkley? Whether you’ve got a bouncy puppy, a reactive rescue, or a high-energy working breed, Ilkley and the surrounding areas offer some brilliant spots for training, socialisation, and peaceful walks.

As a professional dog trainer working across Ilkley, Skipton, Otley, and North/West Yorkshire, I always recommend mixing up your walking routes — not just for variety, but because different environments help reinforce training in the real world.

Here are some of my favourite dog-friendly walking spots near Ilkley:

🥾 1. Ilkley Moor

You can’t talk about dog walks in Ilkley without mentioning the moor. With wide open space, stunning views, and well-worn paths, it’s a fantastic place to practise off-lead recall (once your dog is ready) or just enjoy a proper hike.

Tip: It can get busy at peak times, so early morning or evening walks are ideal for reactive or nervous dogs.

🌳 2. Middleton Woods

Tucked away on the edge of town, Middleton Woods offers a peaceful, shaded spot that’s perfect for loose lead walking and scent work. The trails are fairly quiet and looped, making it great for practising recall with fewer distractions.

🐾 3. Riverside Walk (Ilkley to Addingham)

This flat, scenic route follows the River Wharfe and gives your dog the chance to explore grassy banks and riverside paths. You’ll often see other dogs here, so it’s a good place for controlled socialisation and focus work.

Trainer Tip: Bring a long line and high-value treats to reinforce recall and engagement around distractions.

🌲 4. Bolton Abbey (15 mins from Ilkley)

Just a short drive away, Bolton Abbey is a favourite for dog walkers. There’s a mix of woodland, riverside trails, and open fields. Dogs are welcome, but some areas require leads, so always check signage.

This is a brilliant location for real-world training: new smells, other dogs, people, and different terrain — all great practice for a well-rounded, confident dog.

🌾 5. Beamsley Beacon

For those who love a bit of a climb, Beamsley Beacon offers a quieter alternative to Ilkley Moor with panoramic views. It’s ideal for confident off-lead dogs, or a great challenge walk if you’re working on stamina and engagement.

🐶 Final Thoughts from Jack

Changing your walking routes isn’t just good for your dog — it’s also a perfect opportunity to build reliable recall, improve lead manners, and practise calm behaviour in different settings.

If you’re based in Ilkley or anywhere in the North or West Yorkshire area and need help with obedience, recall, or reactivity, I’d love to help.

I’m Jack, your local dog trainer at Northern K9 Company. I offer 1-to-1 training packages tailored to your dog’s needs — whether you’re walking the streets of Ilkley or the trails of the Dales.

Get in touch With Jack

Let me know how me and the team can help with your dog's training and I will personally respond with an email, text message or I will arrange a phone call. Even if you just need some simple advice I'm happy to help.

why should you Get in touch?

Hi, i'm jack, I treat every dog I train like my own. I seriously do, I love all dogs regardless of their breed or history. Every training session is a lesson learnt for both me and your dog, I try make every session as fun as possible, Although I believe in pack leadership I don't believe in showing dogs "who is boss" I believe in showing dogs that I am pretty cool to hang around with, and feeling safe in my presence which is why I also try to make every session an adventure for us both. One of my favourite things about this job is seeing how exited dogs get when they see me. Dogs really are Angels sent from heaven.