Route: Wintringham to Ganton (Yorkshire Wolds Way stage 6)
Area: North Yorkshire
Date of walk: 29th August 2016
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 10.5 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Weather: Sun and blue skies
The Yorkshire Wolds Way is a long distance path from Hessle on the bank of the Humber to the cliffs above Filey. I completed stage 5 a few days ago and having enjoyed a wonderful walk on that occasion felt inspired to explore the next few miles of the trail. This would be the penultimate leg, leaving a 13 mile walk to Filey to finish the job off
Gilly and I drove to Ganton in two cars, leaving one there, and we then drove to Wintringham in the other. The walk started opposite the attractive old village church and after a short distance came a steep and relentless climb up Deep Dale Plantation. The reward for this was the superb views over the Vale of Pickering when we reached Knapton Brow
Once the height was gained it wasn’t surrendered for several miles as we walked at high level along the northern edge of the Wolds enjoying more big views as we followed the easy paths
As we approached Sherburn the route began to descend gently, with a few ups and downs along the way, until we eventually reached the floor of the vale and made our way back to Ganton
It had been another fantastic walk on the Wolds and despite the fact that it was Bank Holiday Monday there was no-one else following our route, and we only passed a handful of folk on the way
Follow the links to see: Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 7
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, opposite the village church in Wintringham
10 miles today will leave 13 for the final leg to Filey
Deep Dale Plantation
Looking back to St Peter’s Church from the edge of the plantation
The start of the steep climb out of the plantation
We emerge huffing and puffing onto Knapton Brow
A dew pond, installed in 2011, and a good place for Bonnie to cool down
Walking along Knapton Brow
Knapton Plantation
The path then follows the edge of the plantation
The Vale of Pickering through the trees
Walking along West Heslerton Brow…
For once there was no waymarking to indicate a left turn here and we carried on for a few hundred yards before realising our mistake
We continue along West Heslerton Brow
More wonderful views of the Vale of Pickering…
Using the zoom lens, the North Sea comes into view 20 miles away. I’m not sure which town that is - possibly Hunmanby
East Heslerton
One of six Spring Benches which adorn the Wolds Way and were specially commissioned for it. “Hazel Tun, Heslerton - the old sounds shift as they settle new mouths along spring line, marsh edge, main road. Parisi, Roman, Saxon, you - who is from here, who takes the path from spring to shrine, from car to here, voices flittering on the breeze?”
Same brow, different name - this is East Heslerton Brow…
There’s a very gradual loss of height as we approach Sherburn
More wonderful views over the Vale of Pickering…
Looking west
Fields near Sherburn
Bonnie
A quiet road section as the gentle descent continues in the direction of Sherburn
For about 10 minutes we follow a busier road out of Sherburn which climbs up to Potter Brompton Brow
Potter Brompton Brow
We pass by a 9 hole golf course as we descend from the brow into the Vale of Pickering
Arriving in Ganton
We walk towards the older part of the village in order to see the church
St Nicholas Church
The end of a superb walk. We’ll be back here - soon I hope - to start the last stage of the Wolds Way
