Country walk in the Howardian Hills (From Gazette & Herald)

Country walk in the Howardian Hills

12:50am Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Country walks By Brian Beadle

THERE are many long distance challenging walks across our region ranging from a leisurely 27-mile ramble along the Sheriff’s Way from York to Malton to an exhausting hike of a 190 miles on the coast to coast walk from St Bees Head in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay on the Yorkshire coast.

There are two walks which cross the Howardian Hills. The Ebor Way, a 70-mile trek from Helmsley to Ilkley, takes you from Helmsley via Malton, Terrington, York, Tadcaster, Harewood House on its way to the finishing point across Ilkley Moor to the town.

Another route, which crosses the Howardian Hills, is the 83-mile Centenary Way. The route takes you from York Minster via Terrington, Castle Howard , Malton, North Grimston, Thixendale, Sherburn to the finish at Filey Brigg.

The route was devised to mark the centenary of county council government.

You might ask what are these two great walks to do with the British Heart Foundation sponsored walk?

If you look at the routes of the two long distance walks described above, you will notice they both pass through the Howardian Hills, and more importantly Terrington. This is the connection.

This year’s British Heart Foundation sponsored walk, although not quite a long distance walk, also uses the paths around Terrington.

It embraces stimulating views across the Howardian Hills with its rolling countryside, woodland, farmsteads and ridges.

So let us take a walk through this grand countryside in aid of a good cause, and no, you won’t have to walk very far.

The BHF route LONG trousers are a must for this walk as many paths are overgrown in places. Please wear boots or strong shoes in case of muddy conditions underfoot.

I will give you a brief route description to give you a taste of the walk, detailed route directions and a route map will be handed out at registration.

The walk starts from the village hall in Terrington where plenty of parking is available. The route heads off between the church and Terrington Hall School and immediately you are greeted with fine views across the Howardian Hills.

The route takes you for a short way on part of one of the long distance walks, the Ebor Way, before leaving it behind to turn right where shortly you have a choice of routes.

If your energy resources are becoming depleted and you would like to take the shorter route, follow directions from here to return via the High and Low farms of Baxtonhowe.

If not, continue to walk the longer route for a little more than half a mile before turning right to walk to Thurtle Wood.

Eventually exit the wood turning right to soon join the shorter route on the way back to Terrington and the village hall for some refreshment.

Please remember to sign off and return your route details to the organisers.

The facts

Distance – Long route is approximately 6½ miles (10½km). The shorter route is approximately five miles (8km)

Time – Long route three hours, shorter route two hours

Grading – Easy with one moderate hill, perhaps muddy in places if wet

Start/grid ref – Terrington Village Hall, grid ref 672706

Best Map – Ordnance Survey Explorer 300

Parking – Terrington Village Hall

Refreshments – Soft drinks available at the start and finish of the walk

Toilets – Terrington Village Hall