Yesterday, J and I walked in the northern part of the Yorkshire Wolds. It’s one of my favourite parts of the Wolds and of Yorkshire. We followed a route that is available via the Long Distance Walkers’ Association (LDWA). The LDWA is a wonderful organisation – charitable and volunteer run, it consists of a lot of local walking groups who walk long distances – easy enough. A lot of groups organise annual challenge walks of 25+ miles, through which we have walked through new (to us) and wonderful parts of the UK, with a small entry fee meaning you are fed at checkpoints along the way, and receive hot food and usually a badge and certificate at the end. The LDWA groups also arrange various walks during the week for anyone wanting to head out with someone who has scouted a route. It also promotes anytime challenge walks – a walk that someone has devised on public footpaths, with a map and a route description, again, often for a badge when you complete it. Yesterday’s pick was the North Wolds Walk, a route of 20 miles around some of the most scenic parts of the Yorkshire Wolds (in my opinion).

Take a look:

Some of the route is along a national trail – the Yorkshire Wolds Way, and also along other way-marked routes such as the Chalklands Way and the Minster Way, all of which take you through the gorgeous Yorkshire Wolds. The Chalklands Way was the first longer walk that J and I undertook with an overnight stay, over 10 years ago. I have a lot of fond memories of that, and the excitement of being outside with the only occupation for the day being walking.

J and I walked the 79 miles of the Yorkshire Wolds Way two years ago, starting on a Monday morning from Hessle (well, North Ferriby but the part of the route out of Hessle was being rebuilt after a landslip in to the River Humber). We ended the walk at journey’s end in Filey, which happened to be over Easter weekend, so enjoyed a couple of days at the sea side after the longest walk that I had completed at that time. I enjoyed it thoroughly – of all the national trails in England, the Yorkshire Wolds Way is the least walked. It’s still popular enough to be a thing, particularly where the route passes closer to towns and villages and folks walk the sections nearest them. But to walk it in its entirety, walking 20-ish miles per day, was wonderful. It was quiet – you see only a few people when you’re out in the Wolds proper each day, and get to enjoy big views and big skies along the way, as well as artwork – a labyrinth cut in to the grass, poetry carved in to curved wood benches along the way. Whilst it was a bit of a test of endurance, it was entirely manageable , breaking the route into sections to stay in B&Bs along the way, which for me, was a lot of the fun – big breakfasts to refuel, evening meals in local pubs that have been earned that day from burning calories and hours and hours of fresh air in between.

Yesterday’s route revisited some of my favourite parts of the Yorkshire Wolds Way around Millington and Thixendale, with Great Givendale and Bishop Wilton thrown in for gorgeousness, too. 7 hours of walking, dinner in The Gait (appropriately named) in Millington at the end. A wonderful day to mark two weeks at home; I have done a lot with the two weeks and I’m glad for it.

I’m now at Gatwick, waiting to fly out to Italy and start the European travel again. To Verona today, and Mantova tomorrow. Happy Sunday, everyone!