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National Trail Guides UK
Contents : WOLDS WAY
THE WOLDS WAY SKIRTS THE EDGE OF THE WOLDS
Day 2 :: in the Company of Friends :: 28 miles :: Section 1 :: North Newbald to Nunburnholme I did not run on Sunday. I was quite ill from having over-exerted myself on Saturday and was not capable of running the planned sixteen miles. This meant a rapid change of plan. I had to complete my run by Wednesday and this could only be done by sharing the additional miles between the remaining days. I had, on a a few months earlier, run between Nunburnholme and Huggate with my wife, Carol, and could omit repeating this small stretch of the Wolds Way (6 miles). I therefore decided that today's run would comprise two legs of the journey; the first from North Newbald where we finished on Saturday, to Nunburnholme. Tanya would collect us from here and take us to Huggate where we would run to Wharrem Le Street. In all we would be running 22 miles today and could include an additional 6 miles already run.
My sister, Carol, had traveled up on Sunday and agreed to join Ron and I in our run today. We started where we had finished on Saturday, on the road just outside the village of North Newbald, cutting across Newbald Wold. The path left the road on the corner of a farm building, from which we were amazed to hear a strange banging sound. On investigation we discovered the building to be inhabited by a large pig, that was seemingly aware of our presence and trying to attract our attention. Before setting off Tanya and Carol talked to it for awhile, while Ron and I waited patiently.
The sun was beginning to peep from its morning cloud cover and the day promised to be hot once again. Carol ran in shorts. Ron and I were dressed, as always, to protect ourselves from the sun. Our path began uphill at the side of the farm, along a broad earthy path with a central ridge of grass. At each side of the path was an overgrown hedgerow. We ran uphill for about 500 metres before reaching another minor road, upon which we turned right, crossed over and took another path on our left, climbing more steeply uphill.
As we reached the top of Newbald Wold we were met with a fine view over the fields and in the distance, to our right and ahead of us we could see a copse of tall trees where we knew Newbald Lodge to be. Our track was edged by a low tract of creamy wild flowers and in the fields was wheat or the like. There was a pleasant farm smell present, that was not too strong but pleasant enough to appreciate a good deep breath.
Leaving the parkland area we ran uphill and very soon found ourselves in the village of Londesborough. This was a beautiful small village with very attractive architecture. We left the village by following a road curving gently uphill with grassy fields to our right and then proceeded gently downhill between pasture fields and trees, in what looked like, but was not, a continuation of the park.
We followed the road until it met another road at a T junction, turned right along it a short way and then took a track that led through Partridge Hall, a farm. We sped quickly through the farm and ran along the edge of fields towards Nunburnholme, increasing our pace because the ease of the path allowed us to. We had arranged for Tanya to collect us at Nunburnholme and she was to restock us with liquid and food (well, a banana, at least) and then transport us to the next leg of our journey.
Just before our field side path met the road in Nunburnholme we crossed a small beck, the Nunburnholme Beck, at a footbridge and then ran to Nunburnholme church where Tanya waited for us.
Section 2 of Day 2 :: Nunburnholme to Huggate 
Today (20th March 1999) was the first day of my focused preparation for the running of this long-distance footpath in May. I was apprehensive at first, as one often is when adventuring to a new area and I was more than pleased by the company of my wife and best friend Carol, who ran with me.
We decided to begin our practice run from Numburnholme Church, where the Wolds Way leaves a small section of road and proceeds across fields at Thorney Bank Farm in the direction of Bratt Wood. These fields had recently been dug over by a large agricultural machine, and the path which ran along the hedgerow along the perimeter of the field, was wet from recent rain and had collected large puddles trapped by the cloying mud of the field. Thus we began our run in the manner I was so used to – in water and mud.
The path along the edge of the fields contained a thick hedgerow on our left, a perfect home for many birds who dwell in this type of countryside. Our field-side path contained huge clods of upturned earth and it was necessary to chose with care the places where our feet were to land. There was a noticeable hush all around and the effect was to create a gentle and passive mood as we ran.
In no time at all we were through the field and had joined a small section of road, which we left almost immediately to take a good path through Bratt Wood. The path through the wood was very short and was the only section of woodland we experienced today. At this time of the year the trees were bare, although the woodland floor was garlanded with an exuberant growth of green and there was evidence of a wild hyacinth population preparing to emerge sometime soon. The coldness of the air did not seem to dissuade the birds from their woodland chorus as we ran through their midst.
As we left the woodland and proceeded uphill we soon became confused. The path appeared to leave the field we had entered and turn to the right through a gate. In fact this was the path at Hessey Barn and our path (barely discernible) proceeded directly uphill. We eventually made the decision, correctly, to proceed uphill, following the edge of the field, and soon had our route confirmed at an acorn signed stile (the symbol of the Wolds Way). We came to Wold Farm, a considerable complex, alive with the sound of squealing pigs and other farm stock. The path passed close to a large battery of pig stys and then turned to weave between the farm and a farm house before finding a hard path running slightly downhill.
I took a photograph of the manure store – it was so large and the odour emanating therefrom was pungent. I know I am unusual in liking this smell, but I really do like it. Carol was not impressed, however. Running along the hard track we were soon compelled to leave it to cross a field to our right, alongside a house. This was a short section of field running, and we soon found ourselves crossing the B1246 which runs between Pockington and Warter.
Across the road we entered another field which ran steeply downhill and passed along the edge of a small copse of trees known as the Warter Road Plantation. The steep downhill run was soon met by a steep uphill run. The area was pleasant and despite the cold weather we were both warm. We were running in scant clothing but were comfortable.
Our path next took us through the midst of Low Warrendale Farm. Carol was apprehensive at first, thinking that we might be trespassing, but this was not so. This was a nice farm and adding to its attraction was a densely populated field of ewes and newly born lambs. As we passed by the field many of the ewes ran towards us, obviously expecting to be fed.
The path joined a road, and as it wound steeply downhill, on a bend in the road we were offered a glorious view along Warren Dale, clothed as it was on each side with a think blanket of trees. We soon left the road, turning sharply to our right and steeply uphill to run along the top edge of Warren Dale. Unable to see through the dense plumage of the wood we were aware of our recent vista along the Dale's course before embarking on this part of our route.
We ran uphill to the end of a tree line, which runs the entire course of Warren Dale, where the path turned to our left and then sharply to our right. We were now running along the top of Millington Dale; the wind was very fresh, raging its strength against us as we ran towards Warren Farm. Hardly affording us any protection in our scant clothing was a thin and sparse tree line that stood between us and the ice-cold wind rushing up from the dale below. There was, however, a good view down the steep sides of the dale, where the village of Millington could be seen.
We were now uncomfortably cold, and gritting our teeth we continued to run along the ridge top, circumnavigating Warren Farm and pressing on until reaching a sharp bend to our left at the top of Sylvan Dale which joins into Millington Dale. The view from here was magnificent and we now had the ease of running downhill on an easy gradient. As we ran we came to an old Roman Road, and mistakenly followed its route for some 200 metres towards the road in Millington Dale before realising our error, necessitating a detour across the short cropped side of the dale, weaving between the yellow flowering gorse bushes, to the bottom of Sylvan Dale.
At the foot of Sylvan Dale we were met with an exceptionally steep bank to climb. It was not possible to run this and we found it very tiring just to walk. Carol insisted on pointing out drops of fresh blood which dotted the ground all of the way up the dale side, and seemed to be fascinated by its appearance.
Our path now shared its course with the Minster Way. We were running with a very steep drop to our left, which fell away into Millington Dale. On our right was a field, the edge of which we were running upon. The path was more than a little uneven, which made running slower and more tiring. We reached a stile atop Nettle Dale and proceeded past two sides of Jessop's Plantation and along the field edges atop Pasture Dale until reaching a minor road which we followed into Huggate, our destination.
The return along the same route is never as interesting, but on this occasion we noticed many things we had missed on the way. We had thought that most of our running towards Nettle Dale had been uphill. We now realised it had not been.
When we reached Wold Farm we took an incorrect route between the farm buildings and were able to see in more detail the workings of intensive farming. We were not very impressed.
The temperature had now dropped noticeably as the sun westered towards the horizon, and as we neared our journey's end we looked for somewhere to stretch. We were obliged to do this on cold, wet grass but it at least relieved our stiffening muscles somewhat.
After returning through Bratt Wood we could see Nunburnholme Church, where our car was parked. On the edge of the field, as we neared the Church, we noticed a very interesting tree, which had a hollow bore and which provided a very good photograph.
Upon our return we immediately changed out of our sweat-soaked clothing and ate heartily the sandwiches which Carol had made.
Section 3 of Day 2 :: Huggate To Wharram Le Street 
This is an account of the second leg of our journey on 31st May 1999. After Tanya had collected us outside of Nunburnholme church she drove us to Huggate village, where we commenced running uphill on a road leading to Northfield Farm. After entering the farm's grounds we turned off to our left before reaching the farm buildings. The road to the farm was immaculately presented, having extremely well-maintained grounds. At each side of the metalled road were wide grassy verges festooned with flowering daisies, and interspersed at frequent but spacious intervals were immature ornate trees. To our right were fields of yellow flowering rape seed, whilst to our left there were fields of corn as far as the eye could see. In the distance could be seen the dip of a dale dotted with a contrasting dark mantle of deep green below a deep blue skyscape.
We ran on for a short distance before reaching a fence barrier and viewpoint over Horse Dale to our left and Holm Dale ahead of us. Our route lay through Holm Dale. These two dales fell below us steeply. We crossed the stile and began our swift descent to the grassy dale floor. The top of the dales contained a broken line of trees. The bottom of Horse Dale contained a wooden fence stretching its length, with sheep on the far side. The sheep bleated quietly and the air was full of the excitement and suspense of this wonderful spring day.
After following Horse Dale to Holm Dale we crossed a stile and climbed steeply uphill along the less splendid Holm Dale. At the top of this dale, passing through a wooden gate we met two horses out for a ride with their master, whom we saluted. We then emerged into the village of Fridaythorpe. There was a main road running through the village centre and it was very busy - we were quite a while crossing it.
We left the village, following the Wolds Way signs, near a small and uninteresting village pond. As we left the village and continued on our path we were soon met by another spectacular view over Blubber Dale to our right and West Dale to our left. Above Blubber Dale was a field of flowering yellow rape seed. The dale bottom was a pale green and the steep curving sides were darker with those on one side containing a preponderance of widely spaced low-growing trees.
In contrast West Dale meandered between lower and less steep slopes and contained a much broader bottom. The far side was thickly blanketed with a broad swathe of dark green trees and in the distance were patches of newly ploughed fields and patches of exposed chalk.
We ran quickly down the slope of West Dale at an angle, and up the far side [at a somewhat slower pace!], passing the Ings Plantation and carried on to Gills Farm. Here the footpath was diverted and instead of passing to the left of the copse of trees at Gills Farm, as our guide book had suggested, we were re-routed to the right of it. At the farm we crossed a minor road to rejoin the facing path that would take us to Thixen Dale.
The hedgerow here contained an avid mixture of hawthorn and honeysuckle, and our path, rutted on each side, was lined as far as we could see, with cow parsley.
Thixen Dale was a truly magnificent sight and above its flanks were wide expanses of rape seed. Quickly proceeding along Thixen Dale we encountered a minor road which continued to run along the floor of the dale and into Thixendale village.
We took a respite to admire the village with its beautiful church, cottages and gardens. There was also a youth hostel, and the village was alive with the trilling of blackbirds. From Thixendale our path continued past the youth hostel and up a steep track, climbing Beamer Hill at an angle to attain the top of Cow Wold. We were now running along the field sides until we dipped down Black and Vessy Pasture Dales and through and up the dale opposite.
At the top of this dale, formerly and aptly named “Six Dales”, we turned east on a good track along the edge of North Plantation, and where the plantation turned south we decided to take the alternative route along Deep Dale and visit Wharram Percy Wold and its deserted medieval village. This was by far the most memorable part of our journey thus far, tired though we were, and we spent some considerable time exploring the church and the cottage (and resting). The cottage was beautiful to look at from the outside, but peering through the windows told us that it was uninhabitable in its present condition.
The setting was idyllic. I wanted to live there, as did my sister. The site itself was covered in lush grass and buttercups and I could think of no nicer place in this country to live. The sound of cattle lowing could be heard in the distance. There were large fields surrounding the site which were so full of densely clustered wild meadow flowers as to seem to be painted onto a canvass. There was an attractive pond, from which water could be heard slowly trickling.
The church was open and contained no roof. It had obviously been very attractive once upon a time. The graveyard contained graves and tombs dating to the 1800s. The belfry was attractive but incomplete.
The route out of Wharram Percy took us up a chalky path with sloping banks clustered with a variety of trees to a car park. From here we turned left onto a road and ran into the village of Wharram le Street to complete our journey today and to meet up with Tanya.
