This short and flat walk includes a stretch by the River Foss, fringes Strensall Common and traverses a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) nature reserve. Much of the route is on hard-surfaced paths, but the crossing of the nature reserve may be wet. It can be avoided by keeping ahead at Point 8 in the directions to return directly to the start point. There is public access to the reserve but no right of way. If closed, keep ahead at Point 8. The walk is mainly easy to follow but there are places where navigation is tricky. These are underlined in the text. Strensall Common is used for military training – please observe warning signs. There is a short section alongside a road (Point 5). This is necessary as the footpath alongside the Foss from Strensall Bridge to Lock Cottage is currently closed. When reopened there will be the option to walk alongside the Foss from Direction Point 4 to 7 (see ‘Alternative Route’ on Map).
Getting there
The recommended starting
point is the car park on the right side of Lords Moor Lane Strensall Common. This is seven miles from York via Huntington. This is the second car park on the Common when approaching from York. If using public transport, bus No. 5 runs regularly from the city centre. Alight at Strensall Library very near Direction Point 3.
Refreshments
The Ship Inn is just off route on Strensall main street.
What to see
The walk fringes the vast expanse of Strensall Common, the largest of the few areas of lowland heath remaining in the Vale of York with a range of varied habitats and wildlife. The core of Strensall has several interesting buildings (see information board at Direction Point 3). The River Foss, which at one point was canalised, hence the unusual humpback bridge, is a valuable wildlife habitat.
Directions
1) From the parking area take the track through a red and white barrier. At the fork in 75 metres, veer left passing an interpretation board to continue through pine trees. Just beyond the golf tee on the left, look for a low marker post right with a yellow waymark. Go through the kissing gate as directed to the boardwalk with a wire fence left and golf course right. Continue with the golf course on the right, eventually reaching the kissing gate. Go through, keeping ahead on the main track into open heathland, still following yellow waymarks. At the parking area by the metal barriers, turn right onto the access road. Go through a gate by a cattle grid but in 20 metres, fork left (No Entry sign) to reach the main road.
2) Cross the road and take Moor Lane opposite, continuing over the level crossing. Join York Road coming in from the left, keeping ahead for about 100 metres to where the main road swings right and becomes The Village.
3) Here go left onto Church Lane. Just beyond the churchyard entrance take the alley left protected by metal barriers. This leads to a road (West End). Turn right on the pavement but in about 200 metres, just beyond the school entrance, leave the pavement to follow the school’s hedged boundary, keeping right with a grassed area left. Remain by the hedge then join the road to a humpback bridge crossing the River Foss.
4) Immediately over the bridge, go right down steps onto a riverside path. Continue as it bends left with the river. Where the river starts to swing right go slightly left at a wooden gate leaving the riverside. Ignore the kissing gate on the left to continue to rough track passing allotments after which the track becomes paved and leads to the main road.
5) Turn left on the pavement. Beyond the cemetery entrance keep left on the verge, but where this narrows, cross the road with care to continue on a wider right verge, passing a cottage. About 200 metres beyond the cottage turn right at the footpath sign onto a track to Duncombe Farm. Continue passing between the house and buildings. Soon after a small pond, on the left track reaches some metal house gates. Here go left along the field edge with house grounds over a wooden fence to the right. In 50 metres, at the wooden fence corner, go right on a narrow unsigned path with the house grounds to the right. Keep going on a poorly maintained path passing beside the grounds of the further house to reach the riverbank.
6) Turn left alongside the river on the field edge path. Where a scrubby bank develops, keep by the river on a grassy path soon approaching a metal bridge.
7) Go over the bridge and head across the grass beyond to an obvious wooden bridge. Over this, follow the enclosed path keeping ahead where this joins a track leading from houses on right.
8) Where the track curves right go through a gate on left into Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve. Follow the faint path through rough grass, initially paralleling the reserve edge to the left. As the path fades, bear slightly right. After a few hundred metres, buildings should be visible through the trees ahead to the right. Aim towards these, skirting any boggy areas near the reserve’s right edge. Keep on, there’s no clear path, to locate the gate by a fence at the corner of the garden. Go through to a narrow enclosed path. After a short distance turn right at the earth track passing cottages. Cross the railway with care to reach the main road.
9) Cross the road into the parking area. Turn right to leave this by a ‘Warning Troop Training’ sign on the path that keeps close to the road on the right. Soon, find the first of several low posts that guide the route as it continues to the parallel road. After traversing boardwalks the path goes over a small bridge to reach a hard-surfaced track. Turn right, but in a short distance before the metal barrier, go left through some trees to the car park.
DISCLAIMER: Walks are undertaken at your own risk. Due care must be taken in following the walk, particularly after poor weather. Whilst every care is taken in compiling the description changes may have occurred since publication. Neither the walk author nor Your Local Link can accept any responsibility for errors or omissions.
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