ilkley lies on the a65 road, which runs between leeds and kendal. the nearest substantial motorways are the m62 at bradford, and the m1 at leeds, and the a1(m) at wetherby. the civil parish is served by two railway stations: ilkley terminus and ben rhydding. these are linked by the wharfedale line upon which trains run between ilkley and leeds/bradford forster square stations.