Ilkley Moor – Backstone Beck Stones

Summary: The Backstone Beck Stones on Ilkley Moor, re-discovered in 1956, feature intricate rock carvings including over 80 Cup and Groove motifs.

  • Site type: Rock engraving
  • Number of sites: 3
  • Number of motifs: 87
  • Motif/s: Cupmarks, Lines
  • Quality: 2.5/5
  • Condition of site: Good
  • View site sketch
  • Year first recorded: 1956
  • K.S.J. Boughey and E.A. Vickerman, Prehistoric Rock Art of the West Riding (2003). p.86
  • John Hedges (ed.), The Carved Rocks of Rombald’s Moor, WYMCC: Wakefield (1986)
  • S Jackson & Michael J Walker,, “Ilkley Boulders Tour” in Cartwright Hall Archaeology Group Bulletin, 2:1 (1956)

This lesser-known and infrequently visited Stone Age rock art site on Ilkley Moor consists of three carved stones referred to as the Backstone Beck Stones. The stones were thought to have been “discovered” in 1956 by Michael Walker and Stuart Feather, and later sketched in more detail by John Hedges in a 1986 archaeological survey. (OS Grid Reference SE 12719 46272 / 53.911700, -1.806320).

IMG 9310 LR Ilkley Moor - Backstone Beck Stones

John Hedges in 1986 documented Stone 1 (PRAWR 285) as having:

About thirty-five cups, seven surrounding a small ring with cups on the circumference and at centre. Two long grooves with a cup at one end, running down to the edge of the rock. ‘Peck’ marks noticeable in one groove and in one ring round a cup. Three other grooves going half round cups, or leading from a cup. Slice of rock apparently removed.

John Hedges
IMG 9308 LR Ilkley Moor - Backstone Beck Stones

The second stone (PRAWR 287) is a little to the southeast and has about a dozen cups, two of which are quite deep.

IMG 9311 LR Ilkley Moor - Backstone Beck Stones

The Backstone Beck Stones are also known as:

  • Carving no.124 (Hedges)
  • Carving no.282 (Boughey & Vickerman)
  • Second Idol Stone (PRAWR 287)

Getting to the Backstone Beck Stones

The Backstone Beck Stones are close to a trail, but may be partly covered by heather making them hard to spot (I couldn’t locate the third stone). The easiest way is to head up the moor from the Cow & Calf Rocks, or take the trail that starts opposite the Cow & Calf pub continuing to The Haystack and then west past the Idol Stone. The Ilkley Moor loop hike passes this site and a number of others on the moor.

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