Route: Ganton to Filey (Yorkshire Wolds Way stage 7)
Area: North Yorkshire
Date of walk: 23rd September 2016
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 12.8 miles
Ascent: 1,900 feet
Weather: Mostly sunny
The Yorkshire Wolds Way is a long distance path from Hessle on the bank of the River Humber to the cliffs above Filey. We completed stage 6 last month and today would be the last leg of an 80 mile journey
Gilly and I drove to Filey in two cars, leaving one in the Country Car Park near Filey Brigg, and we then drove to Ganton in the other and parked it near the beautiful old village church. We set off across the fields, gradually gaining height, to reach a high level section of the walk which took us across Staxton and Flixton Wolds
The rest of the route was up hill and down dale – typical rolling Wolds landscape – and it was a thrill when the North Sea and distant Filey at last came into view
After walking through the outskirts of the town we arrived at the beach and walked along the seafront for a short distance. For anyone who hasn’t visited Filey, it’s well worth a visit. Unlike many seaside resorts it’s quiet, relatively unspoilt, and often overlooked thanks to its location between its better known neighbours Bridlington and Scarborough
As we strolled along the promenade (with obligatory ice creams in hand) we looked back over our long journey from the Humber Bridge to this point and agreed that it had been a superb walk and one we’d happily repeat tomorrow
Follow the links to see: Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The start of the walk - St Nicholas’ Church Ganton, seen across the Garden of Reflections
A view back over The Carrs as we start the climb up to Staxton Wold
Looking back to St Nicholas’ Church
More views back over The Carrs as we continue the easy climb…
Some welcome shade provided by an ancient hedgerow
On Staxton Wold now, and heading along a private road towards RAF Staxton
Speckled Wood butterfly
It’s a relief that the razor wire, warning signs and functional buildings of RAF Staxton are now behind us and we can enjoy the views of Cotton Dale…
On Flixton Wold
Navigation is rarely an issue on the Wolds Way - it’s superbly waymarked throughout
Looking down into lovely Lang Dale…
We descend into Lang Dale - only to have to climb up the other side of it
Looking back
North Dale
We reach the tops of Flixton Wold again and from here we follow a quiet lane for a short distance
After leaving the lane, we follow a delightful path above Camp Dale
The measure of our progress from the start of the Wolds Way
The last one of six Spring Benches which adorn the Wolds Way and were specially commissioned for it.“Find the barn's astounding echo, the space between your hand and shadow, beacon and leaf, this sprung wood and the axis of that spire. And in this place you've made, this hidden dale, let nine chalk springs compose their Whitestone harmony”
Looking down into Camp Dale
We walk along a wooded valley beyond Camp Dale
Track near Stockendale Farm
A thrilling moment as the North Sea comes into view - this is zooming in on Scarborough Castle
Muston ahead and beyond it journey’s end - Filey, a 3 mile walk from here
Approaching Muston
We walk through the attractive village
All Saints’ Church Muston
After walking across the fields out of Muston, we’re now approaching Filey
We walk through Filey towards the seafront…
The end of the Wolds Way
We walk above the cliffs to the Country Park, where we’d left one of the cars earlier in the day
A last look back over Filey at the end of a wonderful journey spanning 7 days and 79 miles across beautiful countryside
