Ilkley Tarns #2: Craig Tarn - Beyond West Side
The cache, a small camo-taped tablet pot, is hidden above and south-west of the west end of this scenic tarn (aka Ilkley Tarn) off a small grassy side trail heading up towards White Wells on the lower slopes of Ilkley Moor.
To reach the cache location: there are two routes depending on which side of the tarn you wish to approach from . . .
Route 1: park at or near the end of Craiglands Road @ N 53 55.195 W 1 48.817, pass through the gate, head up the steps and follow the trail heading south-west up to the tarn. At N 53 55.150 W 1 49.065 just beyond the west end of the tarn take the stepped trail heading up south-west towards the cache area. When about 25m away from GZ, look for a smaller trail heading right towards the cache.
Route 2 (100m shorter): park in or near the parking area @ N 53 55.231 W 1 48.307off the end of Crossbeck Road and follow the main path heading east up towards the tarn. At N 53 55.174 W 1 48.108 take the small trail to the right heading up towards the cache.
The attractive tarn, with its superb view over the town - especially from the enhanced elevation of the cache location - was developed as an ornamental feature of the town from a moorland pond and bog and was completed in 1874. There used to be a fountain on the central island and during colds winters the tarn was a paradise for ice-skaters.
Although its days as a Victorian hotspot are over, people still visit the tarn to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the area. Above the tarn is wild moorland, and below are some impressive Victorian villas, including some which were famous hydrotherapy establishments (eg. Craiglands House, Troutbeck Hotel and Wells House.
QI: The '47' grid line on Ordnance Survey maps neatly bisects the tarn across the east-west axis.
Note: the original intended hiding place was indeed at the west end of the tarn, but this was found to be unsuitable due to its proximity to a stage of a multi-cache.