Great days out ... the Yorkshire Wolds

The Yorkshire Wolds Way is a fantastic route for exploring some of the most beautiful countryside in England.

This section describes our suggested 'Top Ten' experiences for you to enjoy along the Trail.

From the banks of the mighty Humber estuary, along wooded slopes and through tranquil dry valleys, it climbs gently onto the tops of the rolling hills where on a clear day “you can see forever”.

The trail covers a total of nearly 80 miles, but of course you don’t have to do it all at once! There are fantastic days out to be enjoyed along its course, a selection of which are described below.

There is also secret art to discover on some of the suggested walks. You can find out more about secret art on www.yorkshirewoldssecretart.co.uk

What are you waiting for? Go and explore!

Getting around

Information on public transport is available at www.traveline.info

What to bring with you

We recommend downloading and printing a copy of our easy-to-follow walking maps, which are available for each 'Top Ten' destination along the Trail. You'll find links to download the walking maps on the pages listed below.

Suitable outdoor clothing and footwear are recommended. A map of the area is useful but not essential (Ordnance Survey map number 293, 294, 300, 301) or get a copy of the A-Z Yorkshire Wolds Way Map. You might also like to bring a pair of binoculars for spotting wildlife.

Accommodation, food and drink

Information on staying and eating locally is available at www.nationaltrail.co.uk/YorkshireWoldsWay

The Yorkshire Wolds Top 10 Trail Experiences

1Get up close to the Humber Bridge

The Yorkshire Wolds Way offers a unique, close-up view of the impressive Humber Bridge as it passes underneath the bridge along the Humber foreshore.

2Go on a high-tech treasure hunt near Market Weighton

Follow a circular walk around Market Weighton and Goodmanham village, hunting for treasure along a geocache trail – an adventure for the whole family.

3See Red Kite at Londesborough Park

Londesborough Park offers the ideal setting to spot Red Kites. Although these magnificent birds can be seen almost anywhere in this part of the Yorkshire Wolds, they tend to prefer estates or parkland like Londesborough Park, which provide a good food supply with old mature trees for roosting and nesting.

4Follow in the footsteps of former rebels on the Pilgrimage of Grace

The Pilgrimage of Grace heritage walk is an 8¼ mile linear walk through outstanding landscapes between Warter and Pocklington. It celebrates the important role that this part of Yorkshire played in the Pilgrimage of Grace, a rebellion against Henry VIII in Yorkshire in 1536.

Stretch out on a poetry bench near Huggate

5Discover secret art and a poetry bench near Huggate

After a walk around the Huggate landscape, rest up and watch the world go by on the Huggate Poetry Bench, north of Huggate village and listen to one of our ‘Secret Art’ poems by famous Yorkshire poet Ian McMillan.

Thixendale valley, Yorkshire Wolds Way, Fridaythorpe

6Explore the hidden dry valleys around Fridaythorpe

Fridaythorpe is the best place to explore the characteristic dry valleys of the Yorkshire Wolds. The network of dry valleys, known locally as ‘dales’ or ‘slacks’, which dissect the Yorkshire Wolds plateau, offer fantastic opportunities to experience peace and tranquility.