Minster Way
Encyclopedia
The Minster Way is a 50-mile/80-kilometre walking route between the Minsters of Beverley
and York
. It crosses the chalk
hills of the Yorkshire Wolds
, as well as a wide variety of East Yorkshire
countryside. Part of the route follows the Yorkshire Wolds Way
National Trail across Sylvan Dale before diverting to Millington, Bishop Wilton and Stamford Bridge
, where it follows the River Derwent
into the Plain of York as far as the River Ouse
.
The Minster Way links to other paths, namely the Beverley Twenty; Blackpool
to Bridlington
(Aerospace Way); Chalkland Way; East Riding Heritage Way; Jorvic Way; Trans Pennine Trail; Wilberforce Way and the Yorkshire Wolds Way
National Trail.
and heads north through the town and crosses the A164, Hessle
to Driffield
road, and the A1035 before entering open countryside. It heads towards Molescroft Carr Farm before it heads north over Black Hill to Leaconfield Low Parks and the edge of Leaconfield Airfield. The walk follows the Hull to Scarborough railway line and the Catchwater Drain on the left towards New Arram. The walk continues north and crosses a level crossing and follows the railway to the next level crossing where it crosses back again. The way heads west along the road to Scorborough
and the A164 the path turns north west to Snowclose Plantation before passing Hall Garth and entering Lockington
.
. After leaving the village, the path curves to the west passes the west side of a small lake called Cawkeld Sinks before running along the northern end of Wedding Wood and passing Kilnwick New Farm. The path leaves the road heading north over farmland before heading west along Oldfield Lane, a green lane, and finally turns north along the B1248 and into Bainton
. In the village the route heads west out of Bainton
along West End and over open farmland, past Westfield Farm, to North Dalton
.
climbing all the time to pass in a northerly direction through Blanch Farm and along the farm road to get to a minor road. The way heads north west onto the Hawold Bridle Road and west on another green track along Huggate Heads. Near Cobdale farm the path meets the Wolds Way and heads south along it and the two ways climb steeply up onto Cow Moor above Millington Dale before making a steep descent into and out of Sylvan Dale onto the Becks. At Warren Farm the two paths separate and the Minster Way heads west down into Millington
via Millington Bottom. The path heads north westerly out of Millington
and climbs again crossing a road and onto the track to Little Givendale Farm passing it on the left before reaching Great Givendale
itself. From the village of Great Givendale
the walk heads north and west above the West Pasture to Bishop Wilton
.
along the main street and heads north on Thorny Lane to Bray Gate and then heads west again to Youlthorpe
. The walk passes to the north of the village and on to Full Sutton
. The Minster Way follows the road from Full Sutton
past the prison and all the way past the historic battlefield site
into the centre of Stamford Bridge
. It then crosses the bridge and southwards alongside the River Derwent
downstream to Kexby
.
The walk enters Kexby
from the north and exits north after the bridge. The path heads west along the southern edge of Millfield Wood and then through it to emerge at the A1079 at Scoreby Lodge. The path crosses Kexby Stray southward past White Carr Farm, along Rabbit Warren Wood and on to Kexby Stray Farm. The path heads west and then south across Kexby Common over the B1228 to the north of Elvington Airfield
. The path then meanders in a north west direction over Heslington Common to cross over the A64
York Bypass by way of the bridge.
The path heads north to Fulford
on the outskirts of York
and crosses the A19
and joins a footpath leading towards the river. The walk follows the edge of the flood barrier then onto the bank of the River Ouse
into York
to meet the Foss Walk at the footbridge over the River Foss. The path heads north to Lendal Bridge where the walk climbs a set of steps and turn east to York city centre and to the Minster
.
Beverley
Beverley is a market town, civil parish and the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, located between the River Hull and the Westwood. The town is noted for Beverley Minster and architecturally-significant religious buildings along New Walk and other areas, as well as the Beverley...
and York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. It crosses the chalk
Chalk
Chalk is a soft, white, porous sedimentary rock, a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite. Calcite is calcium carbonate or CaCO3. It forms under reasonably deep marine conditions from the gradual accumulation of minute calcite plates shed from micro-organisms called coccolithophores....
hills of the Yorkshire Wolds
Yorkshire Wolds
The Yorkshire Wolds are low hills in the counties of East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire in northeastern England. The name also applies to the district in which the hills lie....
, as well as a wide variety of East Yorkshire
East Yorkshire
East Yorkshire could be:*East Yorkshire Motor Services*An alternative name for the East Riding of Yorkshire*East Yorkshire , a former district of Humberside*East Yorkshire...
countryside. Part of the route follows the Yorkshire Wolds Way
Yorkshire Wolds Way
The Yorkshire Wolds Way is a National Trail in Yorkshire, England. It runs 79 miles from Hessle to Filey, around the Yorkshire Wolds...
National Trail across Sylvan Dale before diverting to Millington, Bishop Wilton and Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire
Stamford Bridge is a village and civil parish on the River Derwent in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, approximately east of York.-Location and history:The village sits astride an ancient ford on the River Derwent....
, where it follows the River Derwent
River Derwent, Yorkshire
The Derwent is a river in Yorkshire in the north of England. It is used for water abstraction, leisure and sporting activities and effluent disposal as well as being of significant importance as the site of several nature reserves...
into the Plain of York as far as the River Ouse
River Ouse, Yorkshire
The River Ouse is a river in North Yorkshire, England. The river is formed from the River Ure at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, about 6 miles downstream of the confluence of the River Swale with the River Ure...
.
The Minster Way links to other paths, namely the Beverley Twenty; Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
to Bridlington
Bridlington
Bridlington is a seaside resort, minor sea fishing port and civil parish on the Holderness Coast of the North Sea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season...
(Aerospace Way); Chalkland Way; East Riding Heritage Way; Jorvic Way; Trans Pennine Trail; Wilberforce Way and the Yorkshire Wolds Way
Yorkshire Wolds Way
The Yorkshire Wolds Way is a National Trail in Yorkshire, England. It runs 79 miles from Hessle to Filey, around the Yorkshire Wolds...
National Trail.
History
It was established in 1980 by Ray Wallis of the East Yorkshire Area of The Ramblers. The route is waymarked by white symbols depicting a view of an ecclesiastical building representing the two minsters and the words Minster Way. A badge was created by the founder of the walk for hikers to display as proof of completion of the walk. It is similar to the waymarks, except the picture and words are in yellow on a red background.Settlements on walk
The route passes through the following towns & villages in order from the start point:- BeverleyBeverleyBeverley is a market town, civil parish and the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, located between the River Hull and the Westwood. The town is noted for Beverley Minster and architecturally-significant religious buildings along New Walk and other areas, as well as the Beverley...
- ScorboroughScorboroughScorborough is a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the A164 road, about north of Beverley and south of Driffield.It forms part of the civil parish of Leconfield....
- LockingtonLockington, East Riding of YorkshireLockington is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north west of Beverley town centre.The civil parish is formed by the villages of Lockington and Aike and the hamlet of Thorpe....
- KilnwickKilnwickKilnwick is a village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated in the Yorkshire Wolds approximately south of Driffield town centre and north of Beverley town centre....
- BaintonBainton, East Riding of YorkshireBainton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately south-west of Driffield. It is located on the A614 road.According to the 2001 UK census, Bainton parish had a population of 282.-External links:...
- North DaltonNorth DaltonNorth Dalton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately south west of the town of Driffield and north east of the town of Pocklington. to the north west lies the village of Huggate. South Dalton actually lies some to the south east,...
- Bishop WiltonBishop WiltonBishop Wilton is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north of Pocklington and east of Stamford Bridge....
- MillingtonMillington, East Riding of YorkshireMillington is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north east of Pocklington.The civil parish is formed by the village of Millington and the hamlets of Great Givendale and Ousethorpe....
- Great GivendaleGreat GivendaleGreat Givendale is a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north of Pocklington.It forms part of the civil parish of Millington....
- Stamford BridgeStamford Bridge, East Riding of YorkshireStamford Bridge is a village and civil parish on the River Derwent in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, approximately east of York.-Location and history:The village sits astride an ancient ford on the River Derwent....
- YorkYorkYork is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
Beverley to Lockington
The walk starts at Beverley MinsterBeverley Minster
Beverley Minster, in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire is a parish church in the Church of England. It is said to be the largest parish church in the UK....
and heads north through the town and crosses the A164, Hessle
Hessle
Hessle is a town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, situated west of Kingston upon Hull city centre. Geographically it is part of a larger urban area which consists of the city of Kingston upon Hull, the town of Hessle and a number of other villages but is not part of the...
to Driffield
Driffield
Driffield, also known as Great Driffield, is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield....
road, and the A1035 before entering open countryside. It heads towards Molescroft Carr Farm before it heads north over Black Hill to Leaconfield Low Parks and the edge of Leaconfield Airfield. The walk follows the Hull to Scarborough railway line and the Catchwater Drain on the left towards New Arram. The walk continues north and crosses a level crossing and follows the railway to the next level crossing where it crosses back again. The way heads west along the road to Scorborough
Scorborough
Scorborough is a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the A164 road, about north of Beverley and south of Driffield.It forms part of the civil parish of Leconfield....
and the A164 the path turns north west to Snowclose Plantation before passing Hall Garth and entering Lockington
Lockington, East Riding of Yorkshire
Lockington is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north west of Beverley town centre.The civil parish is formed by the villages of Lockington and Aike and the hamlet of Thorpe....
.
Lockington to North Dalton
The walk heads north on the main road past the Post Office and turns towards KilnwickKilnwick
Kilnwick is a village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated in the Yorkshire Wolds approximately south of Driffield town centre and north of Beverley town centre....
. After leaving the village, the path curves to the west passes the west side of a small lake called Cawkeld Sinks before running along the northern end of Wedding Wood and passing Kilnwick New Farm. The path leaves the road heading north over farmland before heading west along Oldfield Lane, a green lane, and finally turns north along the B1248 and into Bainton
Bainton, East Riding of Yorkshire
Bainton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately south-west of Driffield. It is located on the A614 road.According to the 2001 UK census, Bainton parish had a population of 282.-External links:...
. In the village the route heads west out of Bainton
Bainton, East Riding of Yorkshire
Bainton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately south-west of Driffield. It is located on the A614 road.According to the 2001 UK census, Bainton parish had a population of 282.-External links:...
along West End and over open farmland, past Westfield Farm, to North Dalton
North Dalton
North Dalton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately south west of the town of Driffield and north east of the town of Pocklington. to the north west lies the village of Huggate. South Dalton actually lies some to the south east,...
.
North Dalton to Bishop Wilton
The path heads west out of North DaltonNorth Dalton
North Dalton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately south west of the town of Driffield and north east of the town of Pocklington. to the north west lies the village of Huggate. South Dalton actually lies some to the south east,...
climbing all the time to pass in a northerly direction through Blanch Farm and along the farm road to get to a minor road. The way heads north west onto the Hawold Bridle Road and west on another green track along Huggate Heads. Near Cobdale farm the path meets the Wolds Way and heads south along it and the two ways climb steeply up onto Cow Moor above Millington Dale before making a steep descent into and out of Sylvan Dale onto the Becks. At Warren Farm the two paths separate and the Minster Way heads west down into Millington
Millington, East Riding of Yorkshire
Millington is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north east of Pocklington.The civil parish is formed by the village of Millington and the hamlets of Great Givendale and Ousethorpe....
via Millington Bottom. The path heads north westerly out of Millington
Millington, East Riding of Yorkshire
Millington is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north east of Pocklington.The civil parish is formed by the village of Millington and the hamlets of Great Givendale and Ousethorpe....
and climbs again crossing a road and onto the track to Little Givendale Farm passing it on the left before reaching Great Givendale
Great Givendale
Great Givendale is a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north of Pocklington.It forms part of the civil parish of Millington....
itself. From the village of Great Givendale
Great Givendale
Great Givendale is a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north of Pocklington.It forms part of the civil parish of Millington....
the walk heads north and west above the West Pasture to Bishop Wilton
Bishop Wilton
Bishop Wilton is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north of Pocklington and east of Stamford Bridge....
.
Bishop Wilton to York Minster
The path heads through Bishop WiltonBishop Wilton
Bishop Wilton is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north of Pocklington and east of Stamford Bridge....
along the main street and heads north on Thorny Lane to Bray Gate and then heads west again to Youlthorpe
Youlthorpe
Youlthorpe is a hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the civil parish of Bishop Wilton. It is situated approximately east of York, north west of Pocklington and just south of the main A166 road from York to Bridlington....
. The walk passes to the north of the village and on to Full Sutton
Full Sutton
Full Sutton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately east of the village of Stamford Bridge.According to the 2001 UK census, Full Sutton parish had a population of 977....
. The Minster Way follows the road from Full Sutton
Full Sutton
Full Sutton is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately east of the village of Stamford Bridge.According to the 2001 UK census, Full Sutton parish had a population of 977....
past the prison and all the way past the historic battlefield site
Battle of Stamford Bridge
The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place at the village of Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire in England on 25 September 1066, between an English army under King Harold Godwinson and an invading Norwegian force led by King Harald Hardrada of Norway and the English king's brother Tostig...
into the centre of Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire
Stamford Bridge is a village and civil parish on the River Derwent in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, approximately east of York.-Location and history:The village sits astride an ancient ford on the River Derwent....
. It then crosses the bridge and southwards alongside the River Derwent
River Derwent, Yorkshire
The Derwent is a river in Yorkshire in the north of England. It is used for water abstraction, leisure and sporting activities and effluent disposal as well as being of significant importance as the site of several nature reserves...
downstream to Kexby
Kexby, North Yorkshire
Kexby is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the A1079 about east of York....
.
The walk enters Kexby
Kexby, North Yorkshire
Kexby is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the A1079 about east of York....
from the north and exits north after the bridge. The path heads west along the southern edge of Millfield Wood and then through it to emerge at the A1079 at Scoreby Lodge. The path crosses Kexby Stray southward past White Carr Farm, along Rabbit Warren Wood and on to Kexby Stray Farm. The path heads west and then south across Kexby Common over the B1228 to the north of Elvington Airfield
RAF Elvington
RAF Elvington, located at Elvington, south east of York in Yorkshire was a Royal Air Force bomber base which operated from the beginning of World War II until 1992.-History:...
. The path then meanders in a north west direction over Heslington Common to cross over the A64
A64 road
The A64 is a road in North and West Yorkshire, England which links Leeds, York and Scarborough. The A64 starts as the A64 ring road motorway in Leeds and then is a dual carriageway for the rest of its route, except parts of the road from Malton to Scarborough.The road approximates a section of the...
York Bypass by way of the bridge.
The path heads north to Fulford
Fulford
Fulford is a historic village and civil parish on the outskirts of York, England. Situated to the south of the city, on the east bank of the River Ouse, it was the site of the 11th century Battle of Fulford...
on the outskirts of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
and crosses the A19
A19 road
The A19 is a major road in England running approximately parallel to and east of the A1 road, although the two roads meet at the northern end of the A19, the two roads originally met at the southern end of the A19 in Doncaster but the old route of the A1 was changed to the A638. From Sunderland...
and joins a footpath leading towards the river. The walk follows the edge of the flood barrier then onto the bank of the River Ouse
River Ouse, Yorkshire
The River Ouse is a river in North Yorkshire, England. The river is formed from the River Ure at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, about 6 miles downstream of the confluence of the River Swale with the River Ure...
into York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
to meet the Foss Walk at the footbridge over the River Foss. The path heads north to Lendal Bridge where the walk climbs a set of steps and turn east to York city centre and to the Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
.
Image gallery
Sources
- Ordnance Survey Explorer 293 Kingston upon Hull & Beverley
- Ordnance Survey Explorer 295 Bridlington, Driffield & Hornsea
- Ordnance Survey Explorer 294 Market Weighton & Yorkshire Wolds Central
- Ordnance Survey Explorer 290 York