Best Walks in the Yorkshire Wolds
The Yorkshire Wolds are one of England's best-kept secrets. While the Dales and the North York Moors attract the crowds — and deservedly so — the Wolds offer something altogether quieter, gentler, and no less beautiful. These rolling chalk uplands, stretching in a great arc from the Humber to the coast at Flamborough, are a landscape of sweeping open fields, hidden dry valleys, ancient trackways, and villages so pretty they look like they have been arranged by a set designer. The walking here is magnificent — big skies, long views, and a near-certain chance of having the path entirely to yourself. Here are six of our favourite routes.
Millington Dale — Distance: 5 miles (circular). Difficulty: Easy to moderate. If the Wolds have a single must-visit location, it is Millington Dale. This deep, steep-sided dry valley, carved by meltwater at the end of the last ice age, is one of the most dramatic landscapes in East Yorkshire. The walk begins in the village of Millington — a cluster of pretty cottages around a stream — and climbs up through the dale, with its wildflower-rich chalk grassland and swooping hillsides, before looping back along the rim with panoramic views across the vale. In spring, the dale is alive with cowslips and skylarks; in autumn, the hedgerows blaze with hips and haws. The Gait Inn in Millington is the obvious pub stop, serving decent food and well-kept ale. Allow two to three hours.
Thixendale Circular — Distance: 7 miles (circular). Difficulty: Moderate. Thixendale is a remote, single-street village at the meeting point of six dry valleys, and it is quite possibly the most atmospheric settlement in the Wolds. This circular route climbs out of the village to the north, following an ancient track along the ridge with vast views in every direction, before dropping down through the eerily beautiful Wharram-le-Street valley and returning via a succession of quiet dry dales. The sense of solitude is remarkable — you can walk for an hour without seeing another person. The Cross Keys in Thixendale is a wonderfully traditional village pub, perfect for a post-walk pint. Allow three to four hours. Kiplingcotes Derby Route — Distance: 4 miles (linear, or 8 miles return). Difficulty: Easy. The Kiplingcotes Derby, first run in 1519, is the oldest horse race in England, and its ancient course along a high ridge between Etton and Kiplingcotes makes for a superb, straightforward walk. The track is wide and firm underfoot, the views to the south over the Humber Estuary are magnificent on a clear day, and the route passes the old racecourse starting post — a modest stone pillar that belies the extraordinary history of this event. It is flat, easy going, and ideal for families or a gentle afternoon stroll. The Light Dragoon in Etton is perfectly placed for refreshments at the southern end, while the Goodmanham Arms offers outstanding food and ale at the northern end. Allow two hours for the one-way walk.
Huggate to Fridaythorpe — Distance: 6 miles (circular). Difficulty: Moderate. This route links two of the Wolds' highest and most characterful villages via a series of ancient green lanes and field-edge paths. Leaving Huggate — which at around 165 metres above sea level often catches the weather before anywhere else in East Yorkshire — the path climbs to the broad ridge before descending through open farmland to Fridaythorpe, a quiet village straddling the old Roman road from York to Bridlington. The return leg follows the Wolds Way national trail along a magnificent dry valley. The walking is exhilarating, the views are enormous, and the sense of space is intoxicating. The Wolds Inn in Huggate serves a restorative pint and good, honest pub food. Allow three to four hours.
Wharram Percy — Distance: 3 miles (circular). Difficulty: Easy. This short walk is as much a history lesson as a ramble, and it is utterly fascinating. Wharram Percy is the best-known deserted medieval village in England — abandoned in the sixteenth century, its outlines still visible in the turf of a quiet valley. The walk descends from the car park on the ridge through open farmland to the ruined church of St Martin's, which stands alone in the valley floor, its walls open to the sky. The site is managed by English Heritage, and interpretation boards explain the history. It is a haunting, beautiful place, especially in the quiet of a winter afternoon. The route is short and easy enough for all abilities. The Star at Sancton or the Cross Keys at Thixendale make good pub options on the way home. Allow one to two hours, more if you linger over the history.
Bishop Wilton Wold — Distance: 5 miles (circular). Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous. For those wanting a proper workout, this route delivers. Bishop Wilton Wold, at 246 metres, is one of the highest points in the Wolds, and the climb from the pretty village of Bishop Wilton is steep enough to get the heart pumping. The reward is a vast, 360-degree panorama — the Vale of York to the west, the Wolds rolling away to the east, and on a clear day, the white smudge of the Humber Bridge to the south. The descent through the wooded Brough Dale is lovely, and the Fleece Inn in Bishop Wilton is a proper village pub with good beer and a warm welcome. Allow three hours.
The Wolds are a landscape that rewards the walker who seeks them out. They are never crowded, rarely dramatic in the showy way of mountain country, but they possess a quiet, luminous beauty that stays with you long after the mud has been washed off your boots. Pack a flask, lace up your walking shoes, and go and discover them. You will wonder why you waited so long.