The traditional starting place of the Dales Way, although an extended version of the walk now starts in Leeds. It is a long-established market town, with its prosperity formerly based on wool (produced in the Yorkshire Dales since the middle ages). In the 19th century it became a health resort, offering clean air and water to visitors from urban areas. Nowadays it still caters extensively for day visitors from the neighbouring cities of Leeds and Bradford as well as for Dales Way walkers and shoppers coming in from the Dales. Just south of the town is Ilkley Moor, an area of open land with heather moor and gritstone outcrops, including the Cow and Calf rocks. The Moor has been immortalised in the traditional song 'On Ilkla Moor baht 'at'. Points of interest include its 16th century bridge and some 9th century crosses in the parish church.