This month our Walking Wanderer starts in Tockwith and heads north to the River Nidd. DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PRINTABLE AT THE END.
This easy walk of about four and half miles starts from the main street of Tockwith. Heading north on paths and tracks to meet the river Nidd it then follows its twisting bank for well over a mile. Leaving the river at the site of a long lost bridge, it heads back to Tockwith down hedge lined tracks. One of these, Moor Lane, was lined with wildflowers and alive with butterflies when walked on a summer’s day. With much of the route on firm surfaces this is also a good walk for other times of year. And it’s one that’s easy to follow. There are really only two places were there may be doubt – these are underlined in the directions below.
Getting There
Tockwith is ten miles west of York off the B1224. If driving park considerately on the main street near the pubs and the junction with Kirk Lane. Bus 412 runs from York Piccadilly and the Railway Station to Tockwith via Acomb roughly every two hours Monday to Saturday day time. Alight at the Boot and Shoe. The last bus back from Tockwith is currently at 15.33.
Refreshments
There are two pubs in Tockwith, the Boot and Shoe and the Spotted Ox. The former is only open lunchtimes at the weekend. There’s also a convenience store in the centre of the village near the pubs.
Directions
1/ Take the signposted footpath on the north side of the main street running between the Village Hall and Spotted Ox pub (if arriving by bus this is just a little further along and over the road from the stop). Quickly pass through a metal gate to follow the narrow path along the edge of a field. In the next field go right with the path alongside the hedge. At the field corner go left to continue with the hedge still on the right. Eventually you come to the far corner of the field where, by a large ash tree, the path comes out onto a wide tarmac track.
2/ Turn left here initially heading back towards Tockwith but in about 100 metres turn right at a footpath sign down Whinnythwaite Lane. Continue on this tarmac lane until it ends at a gate in front of a large barn. Turn right here at the footpath signpost along a grassed track between hedges. The track quickly leads to a kissing gate into a pasture field. Cross this straight ahead to a kissing gate on the other side. Through the gate go right alongside the hedge for about 15 metres but then turn left away from the hedge line to head across the field, aiming to pass to the left of some larger trees ahead. At the end of the field, having passed the trees, reach a kissing gate and rise up the grass bank to meet a footpath running along its top.
3/ With the river Nidd below, but not visible when the shrubs are in leaf, turn right along the bank. For the next mile or more keep to the top of the bank as it twists and turns. After a while the surprisingly narrow Nidd should become visible as the vegetation thins. There’s then a stile to the right leading to an access area which you ignore. Yet further on, and with Kirk Hammerton church visible across the river, go over a stile to continue ahead, still on the bank. Pass through a kissing gate and then over more stiles near young trees. Once past the converted mill, and about 200 metres beyond the last stile, finally turn right off the bank as directed by a prominent yellow arrow.
4/ Head across the grass on a slightly raised path to quickly emerge onto a stoned track where you go straight on (left). Follow this track between hedges as it bends until it arrives at a tarmac lane. Turn right here. About 600 metres down this tarmac lane keep a careful look out for an unsigned grassy track (a public bridleway) on the left guarded by a locked metal gate. (For a quicker return to Tockwith keeping on the tarmac will bring you back to point 2).
5/ Pass through the gap to the right of the metal gate and take the dead straight track ahead between hedges (Moor Lane). In about 500 metres the track ends at another locked gate where it meets a car wide track at a right angle bend. Turn right here down the surfaced track.
6/ From here it’s a straightforward walk back to Tockwith along the surfaced track. Ignore a signed footpath off to the left keeping ahead to eventually pass houses on the right as the village is neared. Turn right when the road, the main street, is reached. A ten minute walk along the pavement, passing an unusual air crash memorial sculpture, will bring you back to the pubs at the start. If returning to York by bus here’s no need to go all the way back to the start as there’s a convenient stop about 200 metres along the street.
What to See
Tockwith is a sizeable village with a mix of building styles in the main street. The tracks leading to and from the village have thick hedgerows and wide verges with a good range of wildflowers. There’s conservation areas near the river bank and recently planted woodland at several points on the walk. On the return to Tockwith the flat fields to the east are the site of the 1644 Battle of Marston Moor, a turning point in the Civil War when the Parliamentary army defeated the Royalist forces trying to relive besieged York. A monument to the battle and an information board is situated on the road leading from Tockwith to Long Marston.
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 LocalLink can accept any responsibility for errors or omissions.
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