Introduction

There are a number of walking routes in Britain that have caught my attention over the years and for various reasons: the Ridgeway and the Hadrian's Wall Path which appeal to an interest in ancient history; the Cotswold Way which appeals to my love of that part of the world; the Pennine Way because of the rugged and beautiful part of the world it covers; the South West Coastal Path because of the distance and the coastal beauty; and Offa’s Dyke covering the Welsh border, a different part of that country to those I have explored extensively by bicycle. It was only when looking at these in more detail I realised these six routes are all part of the group of fifteen National Trails in Britain, long distance walks through some of the best landscapes the UK has to offer. It led to the obvious question: if I have six in my sights why not another nine? It may prove optimistic but as they say, if you aim for the stars you might just reach the moon.

Initially I had my eyes on the Cotswold Way, its proximity to me making it easily accessible. But a telephone call from Shaun - a week to spare and, although now fit, having the need to liberate himself from the cabin fever and frustration induced by medical issues and a broken ankle - had me agreeing to the Yorkshire Wolds Way, one of the shorter National Trails and hopefully an easy one to tick off the 'to do' list I seem to have now created.

The Yorkshire Wolds Way is an 80 mile walk from Hessle near Hull to Filey on the east coast. It is an area unknown to me, one of cultivated fields, isolated villages and steep sided grassy dales, all on a bedrock of porous chalk, the most northern and eastern part of the same chalk structure that forms the South Downs and the White Cliffs of Dover. Those 80 miles should take six relatively easy days to walk, taking us on a curving path inland and then back towards the east coast. The biggest challenge was likely to be accommodation and its impact on the walking day; there is little directly on the route and that which can be found is not spread equally along the trail meaning potentially a mix of short and long stages.

So with a week agreed in March and a mutual hope for good spring weather we planned to meet in London, me coming from the West Country and Shaun from Paris, and then head north to start the trail.

Route of Yorkshire Wolds Way