Newton On Ouse & Beningbrough

Distance: 4 miles (7km)

Difficulty: Easy
Walk Source: Walk 10 in the 'In and around the Vale of York' Jarrold pathfinder guide

It being a Bank Holiday Monday and a beautiful day, there was only one thing to do, and that was to get out there and enjoy the sunshine. I jumped in the car and before I knew it I was at Newton On Ouse, 9 miles north of York on the A19. I parked the car near the village green, and set off towards the river past The Dawnay Arms. There’s a footpath sign to the left across a small field just after the pub, and I went across it, searching for a stile to take me onto a path. I found it to the left of the field, climbed it, and soon I was on a path leading along the banks of the River Ouse at the bottom of peoples’ gardens. The path has quite a few gates and stiles, and on a sunny day it's really idyllic. After a while you enter a wooded area, and you can see Beningbrough Hall in the distance, before the trees shelter it from view again.

I did this walk in February as well, when the path was very muddy after the recent floodings. I was relieved today to see that the path had dried up, and I would definitely recommend walking here in the dry season only.

All of a sudden you emerge onto a huge open field, trees in the distance and river meandering by. There were quite a few people enjoying the sunshine there today. I soon joined them and spent an hour reading my book and sunbathing - it was perfect. I think maybe this will be my sun-spot that I''ll go to on warm days this summer.

Eventually I decided to walk on, and made my way past some very cute black cows who were grazing and undoubtedly also enjoying the sunshine.

At one point the river Ouse meets the river Nidd, and the path makes a sharp bend to the left. I followed the path along a line of trees, and soon found myself at the end of the path and turning left, joining the road coming out from Beningbrough Hall. It's only a narrow lane, and not much traffic, so it was a nice walk along it towards the Hall. Before coming to the Hall you walk past the Farm Shop, where you can buy all sorts of goodies, like home made chutneys, cakes, vegetables and more. They also have a cafe, so if you fancy you can sit down for some refreshments (although they close at 5.30pm and sadly I was too late for that today). 

I carried on along the road, past the Hall, and along an avenue of redwood trees. They are massively impressive and pretty. Soon I was at the old gatehouse and back in Newton On Ouse where I found my car and drove back home.

Excluding the break by the riverside the walk too me about an hour and a half, but that was at a slow pace meandering and taking lots of photos.

Kirkham Priory & The River Derwent

Distance: 5 miles (8km)
Difficulty: Easy
Walk Source: Walk 7 in the 'Vale of York and the Yorkshire Wolds' Jarrold pathfinder guide

 Drive about half an hour north of York on the A64, and you come to Kirkham Priory. The priory itself is quite small, and not much of it remains. If you want to enter the grounds you'll have to pay admission tickets, but you can park for free outside, although on warm summer days the car-park can be quite full and you may struggle to find space.

The walk starts by taking you across the river and the railway line. Then it quickly turns left into the forest and up a steep, but thankfully short, hill. At the top you turn left again, and follow the yellow way-markers across a small field, through the wood, and along another field until you are at the bottom of the hill and join a gravel road. This road soon ends on a tarmacked lane, and you turn left to follow this lane for quite a while. 

The tarmacked lane takes you across the railway line again, and past a little row of charming small houses. The stations both here and at Kirkham are closed now, but the old station masters' cottages are still here. 

Soon after you have passed the houses you come to a Public Footpath sign pointing left straight across a field. There are little wooden pegs to help you keep to the path as you cross. At the end of the field is my least favourite part of this walk; a sump-like area where I always end up with wet feet no matter how waterproof my shoes are. Sprinting across this sump takes you to the banks of the river Derwent, and you turn left to follow it as it meanders across country. 

From here the walk is quite easy, as it follows the riverbank back to the priory. There are little footbridges to cross here and there, and in spring the sides of the path are lined with wild garlic that can be picked along the way. There are also some lovely views of the priory across the river as you get nearer the end of the walk. 

The scenery on this walk is perhaps not the most impressive ever, but it is a comfortable walk, at least I think so. It's close to the city, but it really has the countryside quiet that I some times long for. And it does have a bit of variation, with a wooded area, fields, and riverbank. 

The walk took me nearly a couple of hours, but that included lots of stops for photos, and also foraging for wild garlic.