Walking with the wanderer: Marton cum Grafton

Marton cum Grafton

This walk offers a tour of the undulating farming countryside around the twin villages of Marton and Grafton. It includes a circuit of the hillocks around Grafton, providing long-distance views.

Is this walk for me?

There are two sections where the route isn’t apparent and therefore is mildly challenging. Approaching the old A1 (see Direction Point 2), a lake blocks the original path. The official route after the wood (Direction Point 4) is also unclear. There are also cropped fields and several rudimentary stiles. Although undulating, there are only a few short climbs, some with steps.

Getting there

The recommended starting point is the small green in Marton. This is 16 miles from York via the A59 and B6265 then Gallabar and Reas lanes. An alternative is off the A168 at Rabbit Hill where there appears to be non-private parking on the abandoned carriageway of the old A1. Bus no. 22 runs to Marton cum Grafton six times daily from Piccadilly and the railway station taking about 50 minutes. The last return bus is at 16.58.

Refreshments

The Punchbowl pub/restaurant in Marton is open from Wednesday to Sunday. Spellows shop nearby offers takeaway food and drinks. There’s also a café in the business park at Rabbit Hill (closed Sunday).

What to see

Marton and Grafton have an array of attractive buildings. The small hills between the villages have an interesting mix of woodland and open ground. The atmospheric abandoned cemetery (Direction Point 1) is a haven for wildflowers.

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Directions

1. From the village green, take Church Lane. Pass the church and continue to a staggered crossroads. Go across down Legram Lane. In about 200 metres take the easily overlooked signed footpath on the right. Walk on the left edge of the cemetery to a gate hidden in the far left corner. Through this, go across the field to a gate opposite continuing beyond to another gate leading to a lane.

2. Turn left and continue for 500 metres until farm buildings at Mickledale Farm. Here, walk between buildings as indicated by a footpath sign on a telegraph pole, continuing between hedges to two gates. Go through the right hand gate to walk alongside the hedge. At the large open field, head straight across as signed aiming towards a higher fence post opposite. Clamber over the fence (broken stile) then head half right to the right corner of the field climbing the fence next to a gate. Continue in the same direction with the lake on the left. At the lake tip, curve left on an unclear route keeping near the slope top. Keep going to walk near the rear of the Rabbit Hill business park buildings using gates to cross fences. Soon after the buildings end, with a metal gate ahead, find a stile about ten metres before a prominent tree. Go over this and walk towards the kissing gate.

3. Turn left onto the abandoned A1 road for about 600 metres. Immediately beyond concrete barriers, turn left on a track (‘Public Bridleway Only’). Keep ahead, soon passing a farm left then ignoring a bridleway turning right. 

4. After about 1000 metres, where the track kinks left, take a signed footpath left (metal gate). Follow the track with a hedge right. Approaching the farm keep left with a hedge right and young trees left over grass to join the farm access track with barns to the right. Continue ahead on the track to a tarmac lane.

5. Turn right, passing buildings. Where the tarmac bends slightly left near the wood corner, take the narrow enclosed footpath right. Continue to the far end of the wood. Here, the official path heads straight on towards farm buildings ahead at which the route turns sharp left before the first buildings across the field. However, most walkers seem to turn left alongside the wood then right at the wood/hedge corner. Whichever route is taken, reach a prominent tree where a hedge gap gives access to a stile. Beyond this, follow the narrow path with a hedge/ditch left and fence right. Keep on through a dogleg to a track. Follow this to a road.

6. Cross the road and head down Reas Lane, opposite. Pass the school but at a red telephone box go right, then right again in a short distance. Almost immediately after this turn right into the carpark of the Punchbowl. Walk across to a gate leading to steps. Go down these to another gate after which take the left path ascending further steps. Keep ahead at a cross path. Approaching the white obelisk (a trig point), climb the steps then descend more steps to keep ahead to reach an earth track. Turn left passing tennis courts.

7. Just before the houses, turn left off the track on a path through trees. Don’t ascend steps on the left, keeping ahead passing the back of houses to a wooden gate. Through this go over grass to the field corner stile. Do not cross, but head sharp left up the grassy slope, then walk alongside the fence on the left. Continue to the rear of house gardens to a wooden gate leading to a road. Turn left uphill to the Punchbowl. Keep right passing Spellows shop to return to the start.

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.