What a fabulous walk we had in the Wolds last Wednesday.
Much of our route overlaps with the Wolds Way, the National Trail which wends through some of the most tranquil and gentle countryside in England, along wooded slopes & serene dry valleys, the walk climbs gently onto the airy tops of the rolling hills where you can see forever on a good day.
But we are all cold & disgruntled in the car park, not used to cold starts or black skies but once we head into Wayrham Dale, the microclimate that is typical of the Wolds, wraps us up and warms us through. After weaving between the sharp fingers of several steep, uncultivated Dales, we run into the Wolds Way at a point where one of the 10 new public artworks has been completed.
You can read more about these art works at the: Visit Yorkshire web site
This particular feature was created by the artist, Chris Drury & is known as 'Waves & Time' & represents the ancient flow of ice & water through the area & how that has created the landscape we see today. It sits at the junction of three Dales & the spiral earthwork indicates how an eddy might have formed in the flowing water, to create the open space. The project involved restoring a Dew pond using traditional methods. Dew ponds were a common feature of the Wolds and were created to provide water for the sheep and cattle.
My favourite Thixendale stretches away in front of us but our route turns away from here & soon we are stripping off layers of clothing, ready for the steep climb up the side of Worm Dale. On emerging onto the road above Painsthorpe, the first rain storm of the day kicks off! Out came all the OMM jackets & the banter begins. Mrs Nomad gets a kicking for sporting the most unsightly piece of clothing possible, her sons 10 year old football waterproof & looking like a Gnome or Gnomad to boot!
From up here we spot a coppice to the right & it transpires that approximately 20 round barrows (burial mounds) have been found in the Painsthorpe area dating from the Bronze age, some even believed to date back as far as Neolithic times, this being one such mound.
From this Wold top we head down through Painsthorpe where we come across another massive crucifix on the hillside next to Painsthorpe Hall. Painsthorpe used to be the site of Painsthorpe Abbey, an Anglican Benedictine monastery, established around 1916 by Aelred Carlyle.
At the bottom of Painsthorpe Lane, we cross the field into Kirby Underdale where we turn & swing off through the fields, heading up a chalky track with a gradient of 17% in places.
We emerge into the rain yet again and find ourselves back at the top of Garrowby Hill. At 807ft (246m) above sea level, it is the highest point on the Yorkshire Wolds with views to match even through the rainclouds that have now opened above us! Garrowby Hill sits atop Bishop Wilton Wold which supports another burial mound, the subject of Hockneys 1998 painting:
Bishop Wilton is considered by some, to be one of the prettiest villages in the East Riding of Yorkshire. A shallow beck runs through the centre of the village which is flanked on both sides by sloping grass verges & narrow lanes. This beck serves as a habitat for endangered wildlife including water voles, toads & newts.
Heading out of the village in a Southerly direction towards Pocklington, we soon turn off the road, following a public footpath sign to the left & heading back up the hillside to the wold top and the next few fields to Great Givendale. Spotting a nice open verge, we start to arrange our fleshy backsides, ready for a brief fuel stop until the cow phobics amongst us point out there is one rather over sized bull in the adjacent field.
Despite the presence of a robust barbed wire fence, not many of us feel comfortable eating bully beef sandwiches whilst being eyed up by this young lad! So, we continue through the settlement for another 100 yards & reach the little church of St Ethelburga, situated down a wooded slope, as if hiding away from the world. It is such a peaceful place, once found, never to be forgotten! We entered into a debate as to whether they would allow such a pleb as myself to squeeze into a patch of earth when the time comes. Doubtful!
After 15 minutes, we were all becoming far too complacent about life and starting to stiffen up so Mrs Nomad gives the marching orders. From here, we follow the Minster Way which stretches for 50 miles between the Minsters in Beverley & York. It was established in 1980 by the Ramblers. The path wends its way along the bottom of Givendale & up the side of Whitekeld Dale and onto a farm drive where we spot a rope swing strung in the remote beach coppice with views across Yorkshire. Being of child at heart, there is always one Nomad who has to try these things out & provide great amusement to those not quite as brave. Clearly it wasn't designed to take her adult weight as the branch dipped, she disappeared from site & came precariously close to getting a muddy, bruised bottom on reaching full swing cycle!
We head across the next multiple crossroads & down 'The Balk' into Millington. Sadly, the Ramblers Rest is shut on Wednesdays, so I could not introduce the Nomads to one of the jewels in Yorkshire tea rooms!
So, we turn left, following the signs to Millington Pastures & Millington Woods. Millington Woods is one of the few remaining wooded dales in the Wolds. There has always been a woodland where Millington Wood stands in the steep sided lily Dale. The first written evidence dates back to the Doomsday Book in 1086. The wood was owned by several estates & let to tenants to provide fencing materials, furniture & fuel. In 1986 the wood was bought by the local authority & designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1991. It is a popular beauty spot & is known locally for its springs - Millington Springs - which formerly supported large beds of watercress. After a mile along this road we come to the edge of Millington Woods & drop down a chalk track after another snack attack with fuelling before the next & last climb of the day.
Once on top of Millington Heights again, we join the Roman road heading back to the A 166. Turning off to the right just after a fir plantation & the clouds open once again before the last dash for home. Many of us felt that we got it totally wrong today with our fuel intake, I for one was starving when we finished but lessons were learned and future plans made!
A great walk, with some great banter, walking-talking therapy & time to laugh, live & enjoy the Wolds:
