Wednesday, Dec 3rd.
It may have been overcast in Leven, but at Wharram Percy there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Me and Suzie set off from the car park there to explore access land in nearby Burdale. We walked up the road and turned left along a bridle track. From here there were great views down into the elusive Fairy Dale towards Burdale. Turning right we dropped down to a gate into the head of this dale, which is access land. It was pretty steep descending to the valley floor where we came to route of the long-gone Malton railway. We turned right to explore the entrance to Burdale Tunnel. Then back past a pond to rejoin the road. We walked along the road towards Fimber, then took a permissive path into Whay Dale (access land) then headed towards Burdale Farm where another permissive path brought us back to the road. Then up the hill above the railway tunnel turning left at the top to return via Wharram Percy 'lost' village (7¼ miles) On the journey home we called in for tea and cakes at the Wolds Village Tea Room at Bainton.

Sunday, Dec 7th.
On a bright, sunny but very windy day, about twelve of us set off from South Cave on this month's short walk. Our route took us alongside the main road then up the lane past Swinescaif Quarry. Near the top above South Wold Plantation we stopped for a coffee break. Then it was onwards along the verge of a quite busy road towards Riplingham before turning right, into the wind, to take a path over the summit of Great Wold. Near Mount Airy we found shelter for lunch by the aircraft hangers at the airfield. After lunch, the main group headed back down to South Cave, but as it was quite early, me and Caroline did an extra loop. This took us down to Woodale and along the road to Ellerker. After looping round this pretty village via the church, footpaths brought us back to the main road and along the pavement into South Cave, arriving just as the others were leaving after their drinks in the Fox & Coney. (8 miles).

Sunday, Dec 14th.
Today was the HDWC Christmas walk and dinner. Fifteen of us set off at 11am from the Black Horse in Little Weighton on a 6 mile walk to work up an appetite for our Christmas dinner later. Our route took us up the road to Rowley Manor, then across fields of brussels sprout to join the lane down to Skidby. The top end of this lane was very muddy but things improved once past the old railway bridge. Alas it was muddy again across the fields to Risby, but after that it was easy going along the country road back to the Black Horse. There we were joined the non-walking family members and friends so that there were more than thirty of us at the Christmas Dinner, and a good time was had by all. (6¼miles).

Friday, Dec 19th.
I had devised a walk to explore an area of access land near Nunburnholme. So having found our way by car to Nunburnholme, me and Suzie set off on foot along the road towards Warter. After about a mile we turned onto a bridleway that climbed onto Nunburnholme Wold. Here we met horse ridings coming down, then farm workers bring a flock of sheep off the exposed hill, where it was very windy. We then followed a minor road towards Londesborough but turned off to explore Cleaving Coombe - a hidden dale and the object of this walk. On a sunny but very windy day there were views west across the Vale of York. As we descended into the coombe it became rather boggy, so to avoid the worst we kept to the left-hand side. This was a mistake, because at the bottom, the exit gate turned out to be on the right, so we had to cross the boggy ground to reach it! We then followed minor roads via Burnby, with its historic Norman church, back to Nunburnholme (7miles). On the journey home we again visited the Wolds Village for tea & cakes.

Sunday, Dec 21st.
Today was the LWC Christmas walk - no dinner at the end, but instead the traditional sharing of Christmas delicacies and mulled wine at lunchtime. Again we were blessed with fine weather as about eighteen of us headed from Folly Lake at Risby towards Walkington. In Walkington we took a coffee break near the pond. Then it was back through Risby Park and into Skidby where we stopped for lunch in a spot sheltered from the wind. The last leg took us up a sunken lane then alongside fields back to the Risby fishponds and cafe. Me and Caroline did a little extra loop around Folly Lake to explore the ruined folly itself. (8½ miles). We ended an enjoyable day with tea and cakes in the cafe.

Monday, Dec 29th.
Another cold but sunny winter's day - ideal for a walk. So Suzie came through on the bus from Hornsea, meeting me and Betty for the walk back to Hornsea. This familiar route heads out of Leven past the fishing ponds and across fields to the bypass. After a quick dash across the dual-carriageway we were back into fields passing the pig farm to Catwick. After pausing by the church we continued across more fields towards Sigglesthorne. So far the going had been ok, because of the frost, the ground was quite hard. However halfway across a large field we came to where it was being ploughed - the firm path vanished into freshly ploughed furrows! We decided to deviate round the field edge to avoid this, eventually coming to a road where we picked up our route onwards to Sigglesthorne. After a coffee break by the church we continued to Wassand, where we visited the Walled Garden, as Betty and Suzie are both members and have keys to the gate. From Wassand we headed towards Hornsea Mere, but the stretch of path that can be boggy at the best of times was an impenetrable frozen swamp! Another deviation was called for - this time up the field-side to Southorpe to join Hull Road back down to Hornsea (9 miles). In Hornsea we had tea and cake at the Crafty Cafe before me and Betty caught the bus back to Leven.

**************************************************************************************

	Welcome to the Trans-Dales Trails These Trails, Trans-Dales Trail 1, Trans-Dales Trail 2 and Trans-Dales Trail 3, are each about sixty miles in length and can be comfortably completed by anyone that is reasonably fit in five days, with four nights Bed & Breakfast accommodation. The routes establish links across the Yorkshire Dales using some of the public rights of way that are less frequently walked. There are three booklets in the Trans-Dale Trail series, each giving a detailed description of the route. The booklets are now out of print, but it is intended that the routes will be downloadable for FREE as PDF files. Currently only Trans-Dales Trail 2 is available as a PDF file. Arnold Underwood (Dales Trails) 41 The Orchard Leven East Yorkshire HU17 5QA e-mail: arnold.underwood@dalestrails.freeserve.co.uk
	The Author Arnold Underwood is an experienced walker and a leader of his local walking club. He lives near Beverley and is the East Yorkshire correspondent for Country Walking magazine. He has walked the Ridgeway (1983), the Pennine Way (1990), the Dales Way (1993), and A Bowland - Dales Traverse (1994), the latter two with Peter Tomkinson. He has walked much in the Yorkshire Dales, Moors, and Wolds, including completing the Three Peaks, Lyke Wake, and Saltergate challenge walks - the last two again with PeterTomkinson. Arnold devised the three Trails with the help of Peter Tomkinson, and together they walked each of the routes - Trail 1 in 1995, Trail 2 in 1996, and Trail 3 in 1997. Peter Tomkinson is a former Scout Leader, and as such has done much walking in all terrains and in all conditions. In addition to those walks mentioned above he has also completed the Cleveland Way, Minster Way and the Ebor Way.
	Leven Walking Club Leven Walking Club is a long-established club. Members suggestions result in a varied programme of walks on the Yorkshire Wolds, North York Moors and elsewhere. Go to Calendar for walking programme. For further information contact Arnold Underwood on 01964 543883 or 07989 292522, or Dave Fox on 01964 542564 Read Nomad's report in each issue of Leven Life.
	Hornsea District Walking Club Hornsea District Walking Club is an independent club relying on its members for suggesting and leading the variety of walks. Go to Calendar for walking programme. For further information contact Club Chairman Graham Hadfield or Walks Secretary Arnold Underwood (07989 292522) *********************** Visitors to Dales Trails since August 1st 2007 ************************* This page was created by Arnold Underwood | Home | Calendar | Trans-Dales Trail 1 | Trans-Dales Trail 2 | Trans-Dales Trail 3 | Walking with Underwood | Photo Gallery | Useful Links