Walking With the Wanderer: the two Askhams (Bryan and Richard) and Bilbrough

6+ miles, 2-3 hours 

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This walk links three attractive villages, the two Askhams (Bryan and Richard) and Bilbrough. There are two length options. The full circular walk is just over six miles. The shorter version of four and a half miles, covering all three villages and the attractive countryside between, ends with a quick hop back to the start on a regular bus.

Getting there

If travelling by car the circular walk could be started from any of the three villages but the recommended start, and also that for the shorter option with bus return, is the north end of Manor Heath in Copmanthorpe (YO23 3UP) where there is roadside parking. Manor Heath is a named stop on the regular Coastliner bus service from central York.

Refreshments

There are pubs in each of the three villages. There are also refreshment opportunities at Bilbrough Top services and a café at the petrol station near the Street Houses bus stop for those returning by bus. Several seats en-route are handy for a snack.

What to see

The three villages, especially the green and pond at Askham Richard and the varied buildings lining the main streets of Askham Bryan and Bilbrough. Bilbrough church contains the tomb of Parliamentary Civil War leader Thomas Lord Fairfax. The countryside between the three villages is quiet and unspoilt with hedge and tree-lined lanes. Wildlife spotted included deer, buzzards, treecreeper and numerous woodland flowers – there’s a good display of bluebells in the wood beyond Bilbrough Manor in spring.

1. Walk north on Manor Heath to the A64 slip road and roundabout to take the road signposted Askham Bryan. Pass Askham Bryan College Equestrian Centre on the left with views to the Minster on the right. When the pavement ends cross the road and continue on the other side for 200 yards until a road on the left signposted Bilbrough and Askham Richard. Walk down this for 200 yards (there is no pavement) and opposite a green metal gate, turn right onto tree-lined Chapel Lane. Continue on this quiet lane to Askham Bryan.

2. At the T junction in the village turn left along Main Street passing the Nags Head. Continue to pass the new Monastery of Poor Clare’s (relocated from Lawrence Street) and where the road turns right keep straight on down a track signposted to Askham Richard. There is a handy bench at this point. In about 250 yards you go through a metal gate, then straight on along the edge of the field. At the corner climb over the stile and follow the path left alongside the field with a small wood on the left.

3. At the field end cross a track to a stile into pasture where there may be cattle grazing. Initially follow the hedge on your right but about two thirds of the way along go half left aiming for the corner of the wooded area. At the corner cross the plank bridge and turn sharp right to a stile near the field corner. Cross the double stile and continue between fence and hedgerow to cross a further stile and emerge in Askham Richard by the green where there are lots of benches.

4. Leaving the village go down Mill Lane on the far side of the pond between farm buildings (not the busier road leading towards Rufforth). Follow this very quiet hedge-lined lane until the edge of a small wood on the left. Here cut through left on a ten yard track to join a busier road. Turn back left here, watching out for traffic, until opposite Askham Fields Farm.

5. Turn right here by a large tree following the obvious track as it bends right and left, then going between hedges and gradually climbing. At the top of the hill there is a viewpoint with another well-placed seat beneath some fine beech trees. Continue on the hedged track with gardens on the right to reach a road.

6. Turn right and follow the road as it bends left. Ignore the first turning on the right but take the next (Main Street) opposite Bilbrough village hall. Continue up the street to Bilbrough church, passing the Three Hares pub. Take the public footpath just before the church passing through the churchyard and by the derelict Wesleyan Chapel to go through the squeeze stile into a grassed area. Follow the path passing a pond on your right and keeping right at a fork, towards the edge of a wood with Bilbrough Manor visible behind you. Go through a gap in the hedgerow and turn right to a field corner alongside the wood.

7.Here you need to decide whether to shorten the walk and return by bus or walk back to Copmanthorpe. If returning by bus go to no. 9 (below). To continue, turn left away from the wood along the field boundary with a low hedge on your right. About two-thirds along, where the field narrows, go through a hedge gap to continue in the same direction with the hedge now on your left. Reaching a metal gate at the road go right. At the road junction before the A64 turn left and cross the flyover.

8. Over the flyover curve right with the road. Near the T-junction behind the services area turn off left through a gate at a bridleway sign. Follow the path alongside the field boundary to the left. Continue in the same direction from one field to the next keeping hedges or ditches to the left. After a path into a copse on the left which you ignore, go through a metal gate to merge onto a road at a bend. Continue ahead on this quiet road for about a mile to the crossroads at the edge of Copmanthorpe. Turn left here onto Manor Heath back to the start.

9. To reach the bus stop continue alongside the wood turning right at a telegraph pole. Where the wood kinks away right go downhill towards the A64 keeping the hedge on your right (this path can be overgrown) to the field corner. At the bottom go over the stile and turn right on the cycle track/path. The bus stop is beyond the services area at Street Houses.