Beverley walk - Beverley Westwood walk

Route: Beverley and Beverley Westwood

Area: East Yorkshire

Date of walk: 30th March 2025

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly

Distance: 4.5 miles

Ascent: 100 feet

Weather: Sunny

Beverley is an historic market town and home to magnificent Beverley Minster, St Mary’s Church, old market squares and Georgian townhouses. As if that were not enough, the lucky residents of Beverley have the vast grasssy expanse of Beverley Westwood, or Westwood Pasture, on their doorsteps. Today’s walk combines a visit to both the town and the pasture

We parked on the roadside as near to Beverley Minster as possible. Note that this walk could be started from anywhere along the route, including Beverley Westwood. We walked past the massive Minster, regarded as a Gothic masterpiece and a landmark for miles around. We didn’t enter today although anyone following this walk is recommended to do so. The photos of the walk include a few of the interior of the Minster, and St Mary’s Church which is further along the route. We then headed into the town via Eastgate and Wednesday Market following the route of the long distance Minster Way which links the medieval minsters of Beverley and York. We continued through Saturday Market, passing by St Mary’s Church along the way, another historic old church which is well worth visiting. Beyond the church lies North Bar, a Grade I listed building dating back to 1409. We turned left at North Bar and entered the green pastures of Beverley Westwood – a sudden transition from town to country. There are numerous paths and tracks criss-crossing the Westwood and the route shown on the map in only a suggestion. Our route today took us beside Beverley Racecourse, turning left beyond the Grandstand and then heading towards the distinctive landmark of Black Mill. The route crosses a section of the golf course here and enjoys views of the town and the Minster from various vantage points

After passing by Black Mill we headed back into Beverley in the general direction of the Minster, leaving the Westwood via a gate and then returning to the start along Minster Moorgate

For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box

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 from one of the roadside spaces near Beverley Minster

We walk around the Minster

A few photos of the magnificent interior taken earlier this year. The Great West Window

The Organ, originally built in 1767, although it has undergone many changes over the years

We walk along Eastgate

We pass through Wednesday Market...

After walking along Toll Gavel we arrive at Saturday Market

Saturday Market dates back centuries and is a vital part of community life. The market is held in the town centre on Saturdays and attracts thousands of shoppers every week

Beyond Saturday Market lies St Mary's Church. We passed by the church today, but a visit is highly recommended. A few photos from earlier in the year...

The Tudor bosses on the panelled timber ceilings...

A stray bullet from a German bomber in World War 2 passed through the window here...

...and through a pew. Luckily no-one was sitting there at the time

Mouseman carving, St Mary's Church, Beverley

We managed to find one of the "Mouseman" carvings, a signature of craftsman Robert Thompson, who became known as the "Mouseman" for his habit of carving a small mouse into his oak furniture.