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Discover the serenity and beauty of the Yorkshire Wolds Way

Discover
Long Distance Hikes

Discover the serenity and beauty of the Yorkshire Wolds Way

alh1 (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Discover the serenity and beauty of the Yorkshire Wolds Way

Hiking Collection by Dan Hobson

5

days

5-8 h

/ day

126 km

1,930 m

1,920 m

The Yorkshire Wolds Way is a hidden-gem hike that explores some of the most peaceful and gentle countryside that England has to offer.

The charming landscape boasts tranquil dry valleys and dales, wildlife and wildflower-rich chalklands, vibrant market towns and sleepy villages, abundant history and a sumptuous sense of solitude.

From the banks of the Humber Estuary, the trail winds for 78 miles (126 km) around the western edge of the Wolds; along wooded hillsides, through serene valleys and pretty farmland, and eventually onto the northern escarpment to the coastline at Filey.

The Yorkshire Wolds is typically quite flat; there are no gruelling ascents. Whilst there are hills, they are small, gentle, and afford breathtaking views. The trail is well-maintained and well-signposted, too.

Despite the beauty and utter peacefulness of this hike, it is not as well-known as some of its peers. The upshot of this is that you often have the landscape all to yourself.

The downside is that accommodation options and places to eat and drink are not always abundant. Whilst every stage in this Collection finishes close to accommodation, even if there are only a few options nearby, it’s worth planning in advance and scheduling any rest days accordingly.

The most common way to walk the Wolds Way is from south to north, as per this Collection. Whilst there is nothing to stop you from completing it the other way, starting from the urban landscape of Hull and finishing on the golden Yorkshire coastline is widely agreed to be the most rewarding way.

In this Collection, I split the route into five stages of between 12.6 and 18.6 miles (20.3 - 29.9 km). Of course, you can split up each stage into as many days as you are comfortable with. You can also walk any single stage, or a couple of stages, in isolation.

If you are planning to arrive by public transport, you can catch a train to Hessle, which has connecting services around Britain, typically with a change in either Hull or Doncaster, depending where you are coming from. It is then a five-minute walk from the station to the start of the trail.

To get home, you can catch the 555 bus services from Filey to Scarborough, which has direct trains to York, Manchester, and Liverpool, and connecting services around Britain.

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Yorkshire Wolds Way

124 km

1,910 m

1,880 m

Last updated: May 3, 2024

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Tours

  1. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

    Stage 1: Hessle to South Cave — Yorkshire Wolds Way

    05:31
    20.2 km
    3.7 km/h
    320 m
    270 m
    Expert
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    The Yorkshire Wolds Way begins its epic journey in the shadow of the Humber Bridge.

    

    When the Humber Bridge was completed in 1981, it was the longest of its kind in the world and was not surpassed until 1998.

    

    The trail follows the Humber, an estuary formed by the rivers Trent and Ouse, for the first couple

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  2. 08:07
    29.9 km
    3.7 km/h
    440 m
    390 m
    Expert
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    You climb high onto the Wolds on this stage and experience great views over the Humber.

    

    To begin, the trail ascends through serene farmland and woodland out of South Cave before descending through Swin Dale.

    

    When you reach Spring Dale, the Wolds Way splits; with one path following the Hudson Way into

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  4. 05:45
    20.7 km
    3.6 km/h
    400 m
    380 m
    Expert
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Exploring valleys, dales, patchwork fields and sleepy villages, this stage is classic Wolds walking.

    

    You rejoin the trail north of Pocklington and hike through Warren Dale, Nettle Dale and Pasture Dale before reaching the village of Huggate.

    

    At 558 feet (170 m) above sea level, Huggate is the highest village

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  5. 07:20
    26.7 km
    3.6 km/h
    450 m
    420 m
    Expert
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    A deserted medieval village, wildlife-rich countryside and Norman architecture await you on this enchanting hike.

    

    From Thixendale, the trail climbs onto the Wolds and soon reaches Wharram Percy, one of the best-preserved deserted medieval villages in Britain. Situated in a remote and picturesque valley

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  6. 07:36
    28.1 km
    3.7 km/h
    320 m
    460 m
    Expert
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Signs of ancient civilisations are everywhere along this stage, which brings you to the trail’s conclusion on the Yorkshire coastline.

    

    From Sherburn, you continue through the rolling landscape; over Staxton Wold and Flixton Wold, and along Camp Dale and Stocking Dale.

    

    Along the way, you will notice many

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Collection Stats

  • Tours
    5
  • Distance
    126 km
  • Duration
    34:19 h
  • Elevation
    1,930 m1,920 m

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