Time: 2¼ hours
Distance: 4½miles
Dunnington, Holtby and Hagg Wood
East of Dunnington, there’s a good network of rights of way offering easy walking through varied countryside. This route links together several paths, taking in the underappreciated village of Holtby and one of the largest and most accessible areas of woodland close to York, Hagg Wood.
Is This Walk For Me?
This is a short walk, easily accomplished in half a day. There are no hills, just two minor slopes to ascend. Paths are generally well-walked and defined, but several cross fields which can be ploughed and cropped. There are some stiles and grazing animals, mainly horses, are likely to be encountered. Winter mud may be a hazard. One section of path (Direction Point 6) had a deep puddle when walked, but this can easily be avoided.
Getting There
The recommended starting point is the cross in the centre of Dunnington, where nearby roadside parking should be available. Dunnington is just under four miles from York, turning left off the A1079 shortly after Grimston interchange. An alternative starting point is Holtby, but parking may be more difficult. Buses 10, X46 and X47 provide frequent services to Dunnington, reduced on Sundays. Alight Reading Room for the 10, or Cross Keys for X46 and X47. Bus 10 also stops at Panman Lane, where a short walk leads to Holtby.
Refreshments
The Cross Keys, reopened in late December, is the only pub on the route. The other option is the new Brew and Bruch café on Dunnington’s main street, which is open daily until early afternoon.
Directions
1/ Starting at the cross in the centre of Dunnington with the Cross Keys pub ahead, go left (Church Street). Follow the road as it bends left and right passing the church, but at the next left, go right (Eastfield Lane). After about 200 metres, opposite no.35, cross the road and climb the stile by a tree and partly hidden footpath sign. Head uphill towards the powerline pole, maintaining direction to the field corner. Exit the field over a stile and turn left. Continue on the old road alignment to metal gates and the main road.
2/ Cross with care, going left on the verge to the end of the wooden fence. Go through the gate, following the grass track with a hedge to the right. At an easily missed footpath sign by a tree, turn left, heading over the field towards the hedge end opposite. Reaching this, turn right to the double power poles. At these, go left with a ditch and hedge to the right, continuing to a footbridge. Beyond this, follow the obvious path, now with a bushier hedge right, until you reach a track. Keep ahead (right) to a road.
3/ Turn right on the right side, which has a wider verge. Pass a pond to the left and continue into Holtby. Stay right at the road junction until you reach the church. At the end of the churchyard, turn left on a driveway (footpath sign). Go left at grand gates on a grass path, with bungalows to the left. Enter a field through a metal gate and head up it to reach another gate. Here, bear slightly left across the field to a stile in the left corner.
4/ Cross the main road to the field entrance almost opposite. Walk right over the field towards a prominent tree. At this, turn right along the field edge to reach a tarmac lane at a sharp right-hand bend. Follow the lane ahead (left) for about 400 metres to a gravel track on the left (bridleway sign). Take the track, but as it approaches the bottom of a dip, find a gap in the hedge right between the wooden fencing. Through this, walk ahead along the narrow field near the hedge. Maintain direction in the next field, exiting through a metal gate.
5/ Turn left on the lane, but where this soon turns left into buildings, go through a metal gate on an enclosed path. Climb the stile at the edge of Hagg Wood, walking ahead for a few metres before forking left into pine trees (for a shortcut, keep ahead). Remain on this path, ignoring all ways off until you reach a wider track at a path crossroads by a seat. Here, turn right (signed ‘South Entrance’), continuing ahead (the shortcut path joins on the right in 500 metres) to exit the wood over a footbridge.
6/ Follow the field edge path alongside the hedge to the right, turning sharply left at the corner. About 100 metres later, turn right (‘Private Road’ sign ahead) by double gates to pass houses to the left. Join the tarmac, passing Primrose Farm at the right. Beyond this, by a waste bin, take the signed path right. Follow this as it skirts a small pond, then continues between hedges to a signpost at an open field (if the path is flooded near the end, divert into the field left through a hedge gap). Follow the path left over the field as signed, aiming to the right of a tree. Continue in the same direction over a further field to a gate. Through this, go across another field, still on the same line, to join the house access track.
7/ Turn left, but in about 200 metres, go right, as signed over a footbridge. Follow the enclosed path, which soon joins a track leading from the camping site. At the road, turn left. As the grassy area right widens, keep right on a tarmac path beside houses. Join the roadside pavement remaining ahead to return to the start.
What To See
Dunnington has an interesting mix of buildings on its older streets. The church, which dates from the 11th century, has been extensively modified and extended over the centuries. Part brick constructed Holtby church also has ancient origins. The pond on the edge of Holtby has been recently restored as a wildlife feature. There are extensive views to the Wolds and Minster from the hill near the start of the walk. 100-acre Hagg Wood is gradually being restored to mainly broadleaved trees. There are good spring displays of bluebells and wood anemones, especially in the north east corner.
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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