THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN OTLEY
Explore the great outdoors of Otley
The Brownlee brothers, Lizzie Deignan (née Armitstead), Georgia Coates and Danny Care… Otley and its surrounding countryside have been the training ground that honed the skills of world champions, Olympic athletes, Gold medal winners and England internationals alike.
Despite the fame of those names, Otley has no elite sports centre… it is simply surrounded by rugged countryside that provides a harsh but beautiful space in which to train.
Sporty visitors will find a whole range of things to do. Jump on your bike to sample the same routes seen by more than 3.5 billion people when the Grand Depart of the 2014 Tour de France passed through the town
Or take to the steep hills of the Chevin Forest on foot. Otley is an accredited Walkers are Welcome town and there are many published walks in the area – just as importantly, there’s coffee and cakes galore in the dozens of cafes in the town centre.
You don’t have to be a supreme athlete to enjoy the great outdoors here either.
Enjoy the fresh air and fabulous views with a stroll on the Chevin, play a round of golf at the local course, or meander in the beautiful gardens of Wharfemeadows Park. Horse riding, boating on the River Wharfe, and sailing are also available.
Top 5 must-dos
Pick up a picnic from the independent shops in town and set down your blanket by the River Wharfe in Wharfemeadows Park
Hike through the Chevin Forest for stupendous Wharfedale vistas from the 282-metre Surprise View summit
Cycle the Tour de France and Tour de Yorkshire routes by either following the signs or hooking up with Otley Cycle Club. See otleycycleclub.co.uk
The local Walkers are Welcome group has developed and published a number of walks which start and finish in Otley. These include Otley Four Walks (3-6 miles); Otley Four More Walks (6-9 miles); The Six Dales Trail – a 38 mile route from Otley to Middleham in Wensleydale – and the 28-mile Welcome Way which takes in Otley, Burley in Wharfedale, Baildon and Bingley. Maps can be bought in local shops.
Mountain biking is also possible on marked routes on bridleways on Otley Chevin.