Sunday 1st January 2017 - Welburn and Castle Howard Park

Date: January 1st Sunday

Start time: Meet at Welburn village at 10am.

Leader: Mike

Distance: 8 miles

Level of difficulty: Easy

Walk through woodland paths, skirting Castle Howard park towards Conysthorpe.

Parking on road side of Village  Welburn access off A64.

Afterwards refreshments and toilets in village.

Filey and cliffs - 20th December 2016

Parking and meeting place: 5 Wharncliffe Place, YO14 0DU

Start: 10am

Leader: Ali  

The walk will be along the cliffs and on the beach and how far we go can be decided on the day, depending how we all feel!

Refreshments(mince pies) at the Ward residence after the walk.

Christmas walk: Ampleforth - Sunday 11 December

Start: 10am from the visitor centre car park at Ampleforth Abbey, which is down the bottom of the hill to the right.

Leader: Ali

Distance: 7 miles

Afterwards: The meal is booked for 2pm., giving people time to change if they so wish.

Sheriff Hutton - High Stittenham Circular Walk - Sunday November 13

Start: 10am

Car park and meeting point: As you go through Sheriff Hutton on the road from Strensall, turn right just after the Highwayman pub into Main Street. Parking: Roadside parking on either Main Street or Church End in Sheriff Hutton village. Meet near the village stocks on the Green near the Castle Inn.

Leader: Martin     Contact number:-  7979 674701

Distance and approx time: 7 miles appx. It should take about 4 hours with a coffee stop and a lunch stop.

Refreshments and toilets: No public toilets on the route. Refreshment afterwards either at the Castle Inn or the Highwayman pubs in Sheriff Hutton village.

Route: As the walk is on Remembrance Sunday there will be a break during the walk at 11am for two minute's silence.

The route includes going round the imposing ruins of Sheriff Hutton Castle before picking up the Ebor Way towards a climb up Mowthorpe Hill, along a section of the Centenary Way to the village of High Stittenham and back across farmland to Sheriff Hutton. Sections of the route include some spectacular views. The walk finishes at Sheriff Hutton Church which can be visited to view an small exhibition on Richard III, whose son, Edward, was reputedly buried at the church.

If it rains before or during the walk there is potential for some of the terrain to be quite muddy. The walk can be shortened by a mile in the event of bad weather. Lots of sheep, cows and horses (including racehorses) on the route, so any dogs may have to be on leads for sections of the walk.

22nd November - Warter, Great Dug Dale, Brig Dale and Lavender Dale

Start and parking: Take the B1246 off the A1079 at Barmby Moor to Warter. Go through Warter, past the church, down the hill and just past the pond and before a turning to the left sign posted to Huggate, there is parking by a seat for a few cars.

Start: 10am

Leader: Ali

Distance: 7.7 miles easy to moderate walk

Refreshments and toilets: There are none in Warter, but we could have our after-walk tea/coffee/hot chocolate and cake/scone in Pocklington!

This is a lovely walk starting from the picturesque East Yorkshire village of Warter with its  thatched cottages. We walk along the road for a short distance until we come to Great Dug Dale which we walk the length of. There is then a long open stretch over typical Wolds countryside with wonderful views.  We then enter the two lovely quiet Dales of Brig and Lavender before a short steep ascent out of them and a pleasant walk back to the start, the end of which includes a short walk on a quiet road. Most of the walk is on good grass paths and tracks.

Hawnby - Sunday 9 October

Start: 10am prompt

Meeting point: Parking roadside at Hawnby church - to be found 1/2 mile west of the village on the Kepwick Road. Hawnby is 6 mile north of Helmsley.

Leader: Mike

Distance: 7 miles

Approx time: 3-4 hours

Level of difficulty: Easy (one short climb at finish)

Refreshments and toilets: Cafe or pub in Hawnby

A popular area for Mike, the walk takes you round Coomb Hill to Arden Hall. Through Anya Wood onto Hawnby Moor and finish with the ridge walk of Hawnby Hills - great views!

Sutton Bank - Wednesday 28 September

Start: 10am prompt

Meeting point: Sutton Bank Visitor Centre Car Park .

Leader: Mike

Distance: 7 miles

Approx time: 3-4 hours

Level of difficulty: Easy (one short climb at finish)

Refreshments and toilets: Sutton Bank Visitors Centre 

Sutton Bank along the Cleveland Way to Hambleton Road and back great views!

The Corpse Road - Tuesday 20 September

Start: 10am prompt

Meeting point: Village centre, Osmotherley

Leader: Steve

Distance: 7 miles

Approx time: 4 hours

Level of difficulty: Moderate (a few short steep climbs)

Refreshments and toilets: Pub in Osmotherley

This walk strides out towards and follows part of the Corpse Road or Lyke Wake Walk with views towards Roseberry Topping, before heading over Scarth Wood Moor. There are numerous opportunities for great views over Moorland towards Teesdale in the north and the Vale of York to the south.

Sunday 11 September 2016 - Londesborough Park and Goodmanham

Date: Sunday 11 September 2016. 

Start: 10:00 am.

Start point: High Street, Market Weighton.  Meet outside the Londesborough Arms (opposite the Half Moon Pub and Boots the Chemist).

Parking: Parking on the high street is free on a Sunday. There are also a few 'free' car parks within a short distance of the meeting point.

For Sat Nav: 44 High Street, Market Weighton, YO43 3AH.

Leader: Rob

Distance: 7 and three quarter miles.

Time: 4 hours approx.

Level of difficulty: Easy walk.

Toilets: There are public toilets at the start of the walk and at Londesborough.

Refreshments: There are pubs and cafes in Market Weighton.  The church in Londesborough are also having a MacMillan 'Coffee morning' on the day of our walk. We should reach this within an hour of the start of the walk.  Its open 11 am to 5 pm and will be serving tea & coffee and some 'home made ' cakes.

The walk: Most of the walk is along the Yorkshire Wolds Way and takes in some lovely views over the wolds and the Vale of York.

Wednesday 31st August - Harome

Start: 10am prompt

Parking: Street parking near the church in Harome

Leader: Ali

Distance: 7 miles

Time: 3 hours

Level of difficulty: Easy

Refreshments and toilets: No public toilets. Pubs in Harome and Pub and tea rooms in Nunnington.

This is an easy walk along the River Rye to Nunnington and then returning to Harome along the bank of the River Riccal.

Osmotherley - Sunday 14 August

Start: 10am prompt at Square Corner. Map ref SE479959

Directions: Leave the A19 and head into Osmotherley.

Turn RIGHT at the T-junction in the village
Follow the road out of the village for approx 1/3 mile
Look for a LEFT turn and follow the road for 1.5 miles up onto the Moors.
Square Corner is where the road bears sharp left.

Leader: Keith

Distance: 7.75 miles

Level of difficulty: Moderate. Quite hilly in parts.

Refreshments: Cafe in Osmotherley. 

Wednesday 27th July - Nunnington, Stonegrave and River Rye

Start: Roadside parking at top of hill at Caulkleys Bank. Turn off Hovingham to Stonegrave road, signposted to Nunnington.

Leader: Mike

Distance: 7 miles

Level of difficulty: Easy

Refreshments: Pleasant café in Nunnington

This is an easy walk, including Stonegrave, Nunnington, River Wye and passing round the National Trust Property Nunnington Hall.

Sutton Bank and Gormire Lake - Tuesday 19 July

Start: 10am

Parking: Take the minor road(Cat Lane) going north out of Kilburn for nearly a mile. The car park is on the right just after passing a road off to the right(Oldstead Road).

Leader: Ali

Distance: 7 1/2 miles

Time: 4 hours

Refreshments and toilets: Sutton Bank Visitors centre.Pub in Kilburn.

This is a lovely walk with one steep climb is mostly on paths and tracks.

Sunday Walk: Aberford - Sunday 10th July 2016

Start: Aberford village - meet at the childern's play area on Main Street, just south of "The Arabian Horse" pub. You can park on the street on Main Street

Start Time: 10 a.m.

Leader: Clive

Distance and difficulty: Easy 8  and 1/2 mile flat walk

Time: 3.5 - 4 hours

Refreshments: The Arabian Horse Pub. (or if anyone knows a tea room in the area that will be open on Sunday let us know)

This is a circular walk, leaving Aberford village, crossing over the A1(M), taking in Leadmill Church, passing The Crocked Billet into Saxton village. Some road walking, then back overland via Hazelwood Castle to Aberford.

Wednesday walk: Kirkham Priory - Wednesday 29 June 2016

Start: Kirkham Priory 10 a.m. (Turn right across A64 above top of Whitwell Hill)

Leader: Mike

Distance and difficulty: Easy 7 mile walk

Time: 3.5 hours

Refreshments: Available at Stonetrough Pub

The walk covers a delightful stretch of the Derwent River, including Yorkshire Wildlife Trust plantation. Return over suspension bridge and village of Low Hutton.

Runswick Bay and Staithes - 21 June 2016

Parking: Runswick Bay in bottom car park just above the beach.

Start: 10am

Leader: Ali

Distance: Approximately 7 1/2 mile moderate walk.

Time: 4 hours

Refreshments: Pubs and cafes at Runswick Bay and Staithes.

The first part of the walk from Runswick Bay to Staithes is along a memorable stretch of the North Sea coast where there are a number of ascents and descents. From Staithes, the walk goes inland following an attractive route through woodlands and across fields. There is a bit of road walking.

Middlesmoor - Sunday 12 June 2016

Date: Sunday 12 June

Start: 10am - park in the small free car park (OS SE 092742) just beyond Middlesmoor hamlet - note it takes just under 1.5 hours from York to reach

Leader: Steve

Distance: 9 miles

Time: 4-5 hours

Level of difficulty: Moderate - with a couple of short steep ascents and one longer descent

Facilities: Toilets and pub in Middlesmoor

This wonderful walk takes us up onto the tops of Nidderdale (but without the big climb as Middlesmoor is near the top!), with views in all directions including Scar House reservoir. We walk along the gothic dam and then along the top of Dale Ridge, before descending down into the dale and finishing back in Middlesmoor.

Middelsmoor is a small farming hamlet near the top of Nidderdale, so climbing up is kept to a minimum.

Douthwaite Dale and Hutton-Le-Hole - Wednesday 25th May

Start: 10am prompt

Car park and meeting point: Parking spot on left, 1 mile from Hutton-Le-Hole, on road from Keldholme.

Leader: Mike

Distance: 7 miles

Time: 3.5 hours

Level of difficulty: Moderate

Refreshments and toilets: Cafes and pubs in Hutton-Le-Hoe

This is a medium difficulty walk along beautiful wooded Douthwaite Dale, visiting Gillamoor surprise view and then on through to Hutton-Le-Hole.

Flamborough Head - Tuesday 17 May

Parking: street parking in Flamborough village centre

Start point: outside Post Office on corner at roundabout in village centre

Leader: Ali

Distance: 7 miles

Level of difficulty: moderate - there are a few steep descents and ascents, although most of these have steps. 

Time: 3 1/2 hours

Refreshments and toilets: café and pubs in Flamborough. Ice cream or cuppa at Flamborough Head?!

Most of this exhilarating route is along exposed clifftop paths around the dramatic chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head, following the headland from Thornwick Bay to South landing.

The length & breadth of Ilkley Moor - Sunday 8 May

Date: Sunday 8 May

Start: 10 am

Leader: Rob

Parking: Wells Road Car Park (free) adjacent to Darwin Gardens, Wells Road, Ilkley.

Distance: 7.5 miles

Level of difficulty: Moderate.

Walk description:  An invigorating walk crossing rough open moorland, walking mainly on well used paths, many of which can be wet and muddy in places. Although the first half of the walk involves several stiles and some hill climbing, there's nothing too strenuous.

Refreshments: The walk starts an ends about 1/4 mile from Ilkley town centre where there are many cafes.

Getting there: Approaching Ilkley on the A65 from the direction of Otley, turn left on to the B6832 (Wheatley Lane). Just passed the entrance to Ilkley Railway Station (on your right), turn left on to Wells Road. The car park is at the top of Wells Road on the right just after crossing over a cattle grid.

Pickering up to Cawthorne Roman Camp - Wednesday 27th April

Start: Newbridge level crossing - parking on roadside. Newbridge is 1/2 mile outside Pickering passing railway station.

Start time: 10am

Leader: Mike

Distance: 7.5 miles

Time: 4 hours

Level of difficulty: Easy - through wooded country

Refreshments: In Pickering

Cawthorne Camps are a group of three military fortifications built by the Romans nearly 2000 years ago.  

Once we reach the camps there is a mile trail round the fortifications.

Settrington - North Grimston - Tuesday 19th April

Start: Settrington Beacon

Start time: 10am

Leader: Ali

Time: 4 hours

Distance: 8.5 miles

Level of difficulty: Easy to moderate

Refreshments: Local pub


This is a lovely moderate walk in the Wolds mostly on tracks and grass paths with a bit of walking on a quiet road which passes by Settrington House. 

There are a couple of steepish ascents.


Take the minor road out of Settrington travelling in a north-easterly direction with the Lake on your right and Settrington House on your left.Go up the hill and take the first turning on your right. In about a mile there is a small electricity sub station on your left and there is parking there for several cars. 

On the OS map it is marked as Settrington Beacon. The Centenary Way crosses the road here.

Pateley Bridge - Sunday 10 April 2016

Start: Showground car park, Pateley Bridge HG3 5HW

Time: 10am prompt

Leader: Steve

Distance: 7.5 miles

Time: 4 hours approx.

Facilities: toilets in car park at start/end and cafe/pub in Wath and Pateley Bridge

A lovely circular walk taking in Pateley Bridge, Wath, Gouthwaite reservoir and some old lead mine workings, for those with an interest in industrial heritage.

Fridaythorpe - Wednesday 30th March

Here are the details for the walk.

Start: 10am

Parking: Roadside in Fridaythorpe opposite the pond

Leader: Ali

Distance: 7 miles

Time: 3 1/2 hours

Level of difficulty: Easy 

This is an easyish walk. There are no steep ascents this time! We walk northwards out of the village and then across into West Dale, Bradeham Dale and finally Wayreham Dale before crossing the A166. We then walk back to Fridaythorpe along a minor road (with grass verge) and farm tracks.

Sunday walk: Drax circular - Sunday 13 March

Date: Sunday 13 March

Start: 10 am

Leader: Keith

Parking: Parking will be at a car park near Barlow - details below

Distance: 8 miles

Level of difficulty: Easy

Refreshments: Farm shop / cafe near Brayton Barff on outskirsts of Selby

This is a flat 8 mile walk around Drax power station. There are some interesting views of the power station but there is also plenty of woodland and open land.

Take the A1041 south away from Selby.
Follow the road for approx 2 miles and turn left onto Barlow road.
(do not take the 1st left to Barlow which is just 1/2 mile from the A63 roundabout)
1/2 mile down Barlow road look for a left turn into a tree lined lane. 

The carpark is 50 yards down the lane.
(If you reach Barlow then you have gone too far!)

There are toilets at Barlow Common near to the parking.

Midweek walk: Cottam circular, Eastern Wolds - Wednesday 29th February

Start: 10am  Lay-by on roman road to Kilham - at Kilham Westfield off B 1249 (Driffield to Langtoft)

Leader: Ali

Distance: Approximately 7 miles

Level of difficulty: Moderate 

Time: Approximately 3 1/2 miles

Refreshments: Driffield and choice of pubs in Kilham and Langtoft.

This is a pleasant walk taking in the dry valleys of the Yorkshire Wolds and the medieval deserted village of Cottam. One steep climb out of Phillip's Slack.

Sunday walk: Swinsty Reservoir - Sunday 14 February

Date: Sunday 14 February

Start: 10am prompt - Swinsty Reservoir car park

Leader: Janette 07932 275553

Distance: 8 miles

Time: ~4 hours

Level: Easy to moderate

The walk is around Swinsty reservoir and Fewston reservoir. Lots of good views.

Swinsty reservoir car park can be found along the A59 out of Harrogate, past the Hopperlane Hotel. Turn left sign posted Swinsty reservoir.

Midweek walk: Boltby - Wednesday 27 January

Start: Boltby - small roadside parking space 200 yards east of village on the Hawnby road

Time: 10am prompt

Leader: Mike

Distance: 7 miles

Level of difficulty: Easy to moderate

Boltby is approx 3 miles north of Sutton under Whitestonecliffe.

Excellent walk through Boltby Forest & reservoir and up to Paradise valley and farm. Part  of the Cleveland Way. Great views!

Afterwards - refreshments at pub at Sutton under Whitestonecliffe

Yorkshire Sculpture Park - Sunday 10 January 2016

Where: Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, nr Wakefield

Start: 10am, Sunday, January 10 at Top Lane, Bretton Common

Directions: Exit the M1 at junction 39 and take the A636 to Denby Dale. After about a mile and a half you will reach a roundabout where the A636 meets the A637 (Huddersfield Road). Go straight on towards Denby Dale and after a few yards take the first right into Top Lane where you will find lay-bys on either side of the road. Parking here avoids paying parking fees in the Sculpture Park.

Route: We'll walk on a track which takes us to the Sculpture Park (free entry) and do route through the park which will include the Lower Lake, the Poppies (it is the last day they can be viewed so it could be busy), various sculptures, up to Longside and across a Oxley Bank with spectacular views of the park and Emley Moor TV mast and back to the park before returning to Top Lane via parts of the Dearne Way and Kirklees Way.

Distance: 7 to 8 miles

Terrain: Mainly tracks, paths, a couple of steady climbs (not steep) and a few stiles. Given the time of year it will be muddy.

Toilets and cafe: Sculpture Park Visitor Centre

Pub: Black Bull, Midgeley

Leaders: Martin and Jenny

For more details about the park visit www.ysp.co.uk