Otley Pub Walkers will lead a trek to the Hermit in Burley Woodhead this weekend - and will find out more about the eccentric who is immortalised in the inn's name.

The informal walking group was formed by people who enjoyed the ‘4 pubs walk’ in the 2021 Otley Walking Festival, and thought it would be a good idea to keep pub walks going all year round.

Their first public event was an evening Halloween walk around Otley in fancy dress, calling in at pubs to hear stories of actual hauntings and murders. Their next town walk will be an Easter (bonnet) parade on Easter Sunday. But this weekend they will be going a bit further afield, and they are inviting anyone else who is interested to join them.

On Saturday, February 12 the group will lead a circular eight mile walk from the Buttercross in Otley Market Square to The Hermit Inn in Burley Woodhead. Walkers will call in at The Menston Arms on the way and will finish at The Fleece in Otley.

A spokesman said: "At The Hermit you’ll be able to hear the story of Job Senior, the Hermit who the pub is named after, including a poem about his life read by the Otley Town Poet, Matthew Hedley Stoppard. There will also be a loud and lively performance at The Hermit by Wharfedale Wayzgoose Border Morris Troupe, who will be familiar to many of you in Otley.

"The walk leaves Otley Buttercross at 11am on Saturday morning, and is expected back at The Fleece around 5pm. Walking boots will be essential for walking through muddy fields – and cash for buying drinks in The Menston Arms, which doesn’t accept cards or electronic payments of any kind. More details of the event (which will include ideas for only doing part of it, if you can’t face the whole eight miles) are on the Otley Pub Walkers Facebook page or Twitter @OtleyBootsnBeer and you can follow their social media for news of more events throughout the year."