Hull and East Riding were placed in Tier 3 COVID Restrictions whereas North Yorkshire was in Tier 2. This meant no unneccessary travel across County Boundaries of different tiers, which in effect ruled out drives to the North York Moors, Howardian Hills, and the northern Yorkshire Wolds.

Sunday 6th Dec
The weather forecast was cold and overcast, and with COVID-19 restrictions advising no crossing of county borders between tier 3 and tier 2 zones, so I opted to stay closer to home for this Sunday's walk. A walk from Watton, between Beverley and Driffield had been on my 'reserve' list for a while, and although Caroline wasn't keen we agreed to meet there at 10am. This area albeit pretty flat, has plenty of footpaths allowing numerous options for walks. As predicted the weather was cold, damp & misty but with only a light wind. We set off through Watton to join the path alongside the beck near the former mill. Normally a tranquil clear chalk stream, the beck today was a torrent of mud-brown water as a result heavy rain a day or two ago. We picked our way along slippery footpath, and after negotiating some water-logged ground reached the 'safety' of the road into Kilnwick. The redundant phone box had etched into the glass the various spellings of the village name over the centuries, and the names and dates of important people from the village. After visiting the Church and the Park in Kilnwick we joined the Minster Way and headed across squelchy fields towards Cawkeld. I was concerned that path through the trees by Cawkeld Lake might be impassable, so had a plan B ready to go round by the road if necessary. However once through the gate and over the footbridge, which was just above water level, things here were ok. I now assumed the worst was over as our route was to head uphill towards Burnbutts, and as you know water flows downhill. We headed up the tractor track alongside a field of Brussel sprouts. Half-way the track was completely under water and this extended into the sprouts. Other than turning back, our only option was to deviate through the crop to avoid the worst of the floodwater, and the sprouts were very wet from all of the rain - so we were soaked from knees down! Once again we reached the safety of tarmac at the road at Burnbutts. We followed this road then a footpath skirting the former WW2 airfield down towards Hutton Cranswick, where we found a convenient spot to sit for our lunch break. From Cranswick we returned to field-edge paths back towards Watton. Once again on flat low-lying ground I was concerned about possible flooding. Fortunately conditions underfoot were not too bad so no need for plan C. As we approached the site of Watton Abbey the skies began to brighten and the sun tried to put in an appearance. We passed the conserved medieval barn at Watton Abbey and headed along the path, The Avenue, back to our cars, with blue skies and sunshine. Typical! Our walk was only 7½ miles, but the difficult walking conditions made it feel more. Sorry, Caroline!

Sunday 13th Dec
I try to get out every Sunday for a walk with Caroline - she likes the break from spending most of the week in an office in front of a computer screen. The weather forecast didn't bode well for today, and at home about 7.30am, the red sky in the morning was our warning! We met up on Mill Lane near Huggate at 10am and it was raining! Undeterred, in full wets, we set off to join the Hawold Bridle Road towards Nettle Dale - and the rain stopped. It was still very overcast but the views were pretty good. The plan was stay mostly on the tops of the well-drained chalk Wolds and so avoid the waterlogged ground and mud of the last couple of walks, and generally this was the case. We dropped down Nettle Dale to cross the road through Millington Dale then up the other side onto the access land above Frendal Dale. Now the wind and rain picked up, but it was at our backs, as we made our way along the exposed top by Huggate Pasture. At the earthworks of Huggate Dykes we found shelter for a brief lunch stop before continuing to the road to join the Wolds Way down past Glebe Farm into Huggate. Here we paused to check on the start of F1 Grand Prix from Abu Dhabi. Then we continued through Huggate village, where Caroline couldn't resist having a go on the swing. Finally along Mill Lane into the rain, back to our cars to finish a walk of about 7 miles by 2 o'clock, before the worst of the wind and rain arrived!

Sunday 20th Dec
For the first time for a few weeks the weather got it right - Sunday was going to be the best day with cold wet days before and after. With COVID-19 Rules restricting 'cross-county border travel' I agreed to meet Caroline in Fridaythorpe where there are several options for walks on the Yorkshire Wolds. I had several ideas for walks, and was surprised that Caroline agreed to my first suggestion which was the longest I had in mind, being about 9miles. As it was a lovely sunny morning albeit with a brisk wind we decided to make the most of the fine weather. There were quite a few other walkers setting off from Fridaythorpe, but none came our way. Whilst others set off along the Wolds Way, we turned down Church Lane towards Burdale. This quiet single track road heads straight downhill for over a mile with views opening out ahead (... where we actually crossed the border into North Yorkshire, but don't tell anyone!). At the bottom we turned along the minor road through Burdale, parallel to the embankment of the long-gone railway which linked Driffield and Malton. Near the entrance to Burdale House we entered access land which crosses the route of the old railway near the bricked-up entrance to Burdale tunnel. There is a pond here among the overgrown spoil tips from the tunnel excavations, and terraces where railway tracks once accessed the large Burdale Quarry - which although long-closed is off-limits. From the pond we made our way up Fairy Dale, a typical steep-sided Wolds valley, which ends with a surprisingly steep climb to reach the bridle way over Burdale Wold. After the shelter of the dale, it was pretty windy on the top! We crossed the road above the line of the old railway tunnel and headed along the top with views north over Deep Dale towards Warren Percy. For a short distance we were back on the Wolds Way, but we then turned down towards Raisthorpe and found a sheltered spot near trees for our lunch stop. Having hardly seen any walkers since leaving Fridaythorpe, there were now many more people about, who had probably set off from Thixendale or Wharram Percy. After lunch we descended past Court Dale and turned left by Raisthorpe Manor, whilst others all turned towards Thixendale. Our route took us up the track to Paradise Cottage to the Thixendale road. By now the skies had clouded over and the wind increased. Down the road and back into East Yorkshire we turned into Brubber Dale (Access Land) and into the wind. It was hard work against the wind but round the bend and up the incline the wind was more behind us thankfully. The climb out of Brubber Dale (on the Wolds Way again) is long but not too steep and we were soon on the top on level ground for the final leg into Fridaythorpe. The eyesore of ABN's mill was surprisingly busy with truckloads of grain/animal feed coming and going. Back at our cars we discovered we'd walked about 9½ miles!

Sunday 27th Dec
After heavy overnight rain, the forecast for Sunday was cold and bright. Deciding to keep to the higher ground of the Wolds, I met Caroline in Fridaythorpe again. The plan today was to head south linking into the Yorkshire Wolds Way by way of Pluckham Dale and Horse Dale. On a sunny Sunday, but with a cold wind we joined the Wolds Way down through Brubber Dale, up past Gill's Farm and down past the Dew Pond to the Waves & Time Artwork in Thixen Dale. Here we turned left, into the sun, leaving the Wolds Way. We headed south into the shady recesses of Pluckham Dale to emerge by the busy A166 road, keeping to the fieldside of the hedge as far as the driveway for Pluckham Farm. Here we crossed the road to pass the grain store and gained the footpath heading towards Huggate. By now the skies had clouded over and with the wind it was quite cold, so we made brisk progress down into Horse Dale to find some shelter for a lunch stop. After a short stop we continued down the length of Horse Dale to its junction with Harper Dale and Holm Dale. Here we rejoined the Wolds Way for the long drag up Holm Dale to Huggate Lane, and back to Fridaythorpe past the 'Weather Stone' to complete a walk of 8 miles, just in time, as rain started falling!

Links to Photos of these walks can be found at the top of this page or on the Photo Albums page. Click on this link: Photo Albums