Yorkshire Wolds Way

If you're looking for the drama of mountainous landscapes or the thrill of a long, hard climb in borderline weather conditions, then the Yorkshire Wolds Way is not the trail for you. Undoubtedly, the country's most gentle National Trail, the allure of the Wolds is in its warm, dry climate, tranquility and gentle strolls through beautiful countryside and picturesque villages.

The trail begins and ends with water, from the banks of the Humber in the south to the North Sea coastline at Filey Brigg. In between, just under eighty miles of rolling agricultural land, peaceful mixed woodlands and a limestone landscape of dry valleys and steep escarpments await you, all dotted with pretty villages which provide frequent excuses for a relaxing break over tea and scones or a pint.

The walk begins under the awesome span of the mighty Humber Bridge at Hessle. After a couple of miles along the shoreline, the trail turns right through the woods round the back of North Ferriby. Here, it climbs up to the chalk quarry at Melton Bottom before dropping back down to the village of Welton. Stop for a pint at the Green Dragon as the famous highwayman Dick Turpin used to. From here, the trail takes to the first of many deeply incised dry valleys that cut through the landscape of the Wolds. Once it gains the top of the scarp, the trail follows the edge for some distance, dipping occasionally into more, lovely wooded valleys on the way north as it passes close by Brantingham, which is slightly off the trail but well worth a diversion. Beyond South Cave, the descent through the valley of Swin Dale is followed by a steep climb up onto Newbald Wold, which has great views over the Humber to the south.

Just after Goodmanham the trail enters the beautifully landscaped Londesborough Park which is well worth exploring. Londesborough Village and Nunburnholme lead the trail to the foot of Warren Dale, which it ascends on the left to gain the high ground above Millington. Sylvan Dale and Nettle dale soon present a pair of short sharp climbs to get the blood racing once again though. Use the excuse of the high top of Huggate Pasture for a rest and spend some time hunting for the towers of the Humber Bridge to the south if the air is clear. Soon the trail skirts the top of Cow Dale and drops into the secret hole made by Horse Dale, Holm Dale and Harper Dale.

The subsequent climb out of Holm Dale is rewarded by another opportunity for a pint at the pub in Fridaythorpe but you might prefer to wait until the delightful village of Thixendale tucked away in the bottom of the valley that gives it its name. The highest point of the walk soon arrives on Toisland Wold at the top of the climb out of Black Dale. Take some time to explore the abandoned hamlet of Wharram Percy on the way down. From here, more woodland appears as the trail approaches the scarp at the northern edge of the Wolds and the panorama over the north opens up. This escarpment is followed eastwards from here until the final descent to the finish at Filey Brigg and the chance to cool weary feet in the sea.