MORE than 2,000 years ago a strange burial ritual took place at Wetwang on the Yorkshire Wolds.
Amidst great ceremony, a young woman and her chariot were placed in the ground. She seems to have been a woman of high status as remains of red coral and a mirror were buried with her.
As she lay in the grave, a mirror was placed over her legs and for some reason pig joints placed near to her. After dismantling the chariot, it was placed over her with care not to damage her body.
We will never know who this person was or what her status may have been for sure. Perhaps a Parisi Queen, a chieftain or a priestess. I would like to think she was an iron age Princess racing around the Yorkshire Wolds in her chariot showing off her skills to the men.
Maybe she showed off a little too much and was thrown to her death from the chariot at her young age. Who knows?
But if you hear a clatter of hooves and iron wheels behind you when you ride through Wetwang pull over, it might be the ghost of the Wetwang Princess.
Your route
If you would like to visit the church, which is usually open on Sundays, take the first right past the Farmers Arms, then right along Church Lane. It has a unique clock on its exterior wall made of wood with black and white scrollwork. The clock is thought to have been copied from one in an 18th century French chateau. If you don’t want to visit the church, continue through the village, then exit uphill and shortly turn left at the crossroads signed to Huggate.
At the next T-junction turn right uphill, then at the crossroads turn left signed to Millington and Pocklington. Grand views now to the right across the Vale of York, then soon start a long descent.
Keep the brakes handy because half-way down the hill you must turn left signed to Millington. Take care now on the narrow slippery road and soon start another descent. At the crossroads, go left signed to Millington Pastures, unless you would like to visit the café in Millington, in which case go straight ahead into the village to the café then return to this point.
There’s a very narrow road now and soon a slippery, steep descent with two hairpin bends, so beware. If you survive the descent, bear right at the bottom of the hill to ride along Millington Dale.
You will have passed already some stout wooden posts. These are way posts and form a trail of 11 posts along the dale, each having a letter inscribed on them. The letters in total spell the legend ‘Gait in Wolds’. This refers to the land of Millington Pastures that was divided into ‘gaits’ where common grazing was allowed.
Enjoy the serenity as you cycle along the dale, but keep a wary eye open for traffic on this narrowest of roads. In a couple of miles take the short climb to a T-junction. Go left here signed to Huggate and York. Not far now into Huggate, where there is refreshment available at the Wolds Inn. Continue along downhill for a relaxed ride following signs for Wetwang without deviation, keeping a sharp eye out for slippery bends. Eventually you reach a T-junction. Watch out here for the princess’s chariot careering along at high speed. Go right here on to the main road into Wetwang, perhaps for some excellent fish and chips or a pint in the Black Swan.
Turn left at the pub for a short downhill, then a long uphill. Half-way up the hill, at a kink in the road, you have a choice of routes. If you have a stout cycle go left on to the old Roman Road at the bridleway sign. It is a rough grassy track. Then at the next road go right to return to the car park near the roundabout.
Alternatively, continue climbing the hill to eventually reach a T-junction. Go left here to the roundabout and the car park.
View a printable map of the Wetwang cycle ride>>
The facts
Distance – 21 miles/34km
Terrain – Mainly quiet Wolds roads, some steep and slippery
Best map – To view the whole route you will need two maps, for 95 per cent of the route use OS Landranger 106, for the other five per cent use OS Landranger 101
Start/grid ref – Parking area in the trees near Fimber roundabout, grid ref – map 101: 910609
Refreshments – There are cafes at the start, Millington village and on the approach to Fridaythorpe. There is a fish and chip café at Wetwang. Along the way are pubs at Fridaythorpe, Millington, Huggate and Wetwang
Guide book – Exploring Ryedale, Moor & Wold by Bicycle by J Brian Beadle published by Trailblazer at £2.50 contains similar routes. Available from Trailblazer Outdoors in Pickering, book shops, NYMR station shops and tourist information centres
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