Starting from Bramham, this walk crosses the southern half of Bramham Park before taking newly created paths through woodland and farmland to return to the village.
Is this walk for me?
This is an easy walk. There are climbs but none are long or steep. Most of the route is on good tracks and there are no stiles to cross. At Direction Point 6, it is necessary to step across a small stream on rough and slippery stones. It’s also important to note that the route from Direction Point 5 onwards is almost entirely over ‘permissive’ paths. These can be closed at times: reportedly, the path across the field at Direction Point 6 is occasionally shut if cattle are grazing. Should this be the case, divert to the nearby road.
Getting there
The starting point is the centre of Bramham village by the war memorial. Bramham is 16 miles from York via the A64, Tadcaster, and Toulston Lane. There is ample street parking in the village. Bramham is difficult to reach by public transport from York. The best route is the infrequent 412 bus to Wetherby, then the hourly number 7 bus to Bramham.
Refreshments
Unfortunately, there are no options on this walk as the only remaining pub in Bramham, the Red Lion, is currently closed.
What to see
The main attraction of this walk is the grand landscaped parkland of the Bramham estate. Although the main house is not clearly visible from the walk, a number of monuments are passed. There are also several areas of woodland and a quiet country track at Direction Point 4. This is a good area to see a variety of wildlife, especially in the woodland at Direction Point 6 which seems to be much frequented by red kites.
Directions
1. With the war memorial behind you, go left (signed to A1M) passing the former Bay Horse Inn, and with new houses right. At a T junction, cross the road ahead and take the narrow path opposite into trees. Turn left alongside the motorway. At a road go right over the bridge then turn sharp right downhill. At the gates to Bramham Park enter through the side kissing gate then keep ahead on the track.
2. At a track junction, go left (public footpath sign). In about 100 metres, with a wood yard ahead, turn right at a broken footpath sign into trees, soon turning left with a hedge right. In about 125 metres, emerge onto an earth track and continue ahead between hedges, then young trees. Now remain on the clear track going through kissing gates. At a T junction, go left as signed. Approaching a white fence and gate, turn off right as signed.
3. Continue with a wood left staying with the track as it curves right then left to half circle the ornamental building on the left. Continue with a wood left to another track T junction. Here turn right downhill into a dip. At the bottom turn left as signed on a track alongside woodland left. At the end of a grassy area on the left be sure to take the signed footpath left through a kissing gate. Follow the track through a dip to a T junction at the top of a slope. Turn right. Keep ahead under pylons to a kissing gate giving access to a track.
4. Turn right on the track (ignore the footpath opposite). Now continue on the track for about 1200 metres to a road.
5. Turn right but in 20 metres, just beyond blue gates, go through a kissing gate into a field. Walk left alongside the hedge to another kissing gate. Through this, cross the road (caution – blind bend) and turn left for 20 metres to a kissing gate. Go through and walk away from the road to follow the right side of the hedge to enter the woodland at a gap. Turn immediately right with the wooded slope left. Remain on the clear path soon forking left to descend to the valley bottom. Continue until just before the path meets a road.
6. Do not join the road but instead go left on a footpath that crosses the dam of the pond on the left. At the stream cross using the rudimentary stepping stones to continue ahead up the slope. Turn right along the edge of the wood. When the path descends, take the left fork to a kissing gate. Through, follow the faint path across the grass with the road about 50 metres away to the right. Climb beside bushes to find a kissing gate by a telegraph pole. After this, go right along the field edge to another kissing gate giving access to a road.
7. Turn right and cross the road ahead to the kissing gate opposite. Turn left to follow the path as it curves through the trees then head left alongside them with fields sloping to the right. Continue with the trees left until a kissing gate. Pass the house and go through a further kissing gate ahead. Now, go left to follow the wall parallel to the road. At the end of the wall go through another kissing gate and turn right to cross the motorway on a bridge. Over the bridge, turn left for a few metres then cross the road by the Bramham marker stone. Turn right on the other side (not ahead) as signed soon dropping down steps to a road. Turn left, then keep ahead to arrive back at the war memorial.
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, some changes may have occurred since publication. Neither the walk author nor Your Local Link can accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions.
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