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Dales Trails

View across the Wolds from Paradise Cottages /photo by Arnold Underwood,Feb 2008

Walking through West Dale/ from a photo by Arnold Underwood, Feb 2008

YORKSHIRE WOLDS - Fridaythorpe & Thixendale (8¼ miles)

'Wolds Access Land'

The opening up of parts of the Wolds to open access has created the opportunity of a new circular route between Fridaythorpe and Thixendale.

Fact File

Distance 13.2km (8¼ miles)
Terrain Field paths, tracks & minor roads Access Land Symbol
Time 4 hours
Stiles 5
Grading *** Moderate
Suitable for all
Start/Parking Fridaythorpe near the village pond. Grid Ref. SE 875591
Nearest Town Driffield
Refreshments Pubs at Fridaythorpe (currently closed) and Thixendale, shops in Fridaythorpe (Garage) and Thixendale (PO). Seaways Café at Fridaythorpe. Tea/coffee & cakes are also served in Thixendale village hall (Sundays 11am – 4pm)
Toilets Thixendale village hall (for patrons only)
Public Transport East Yorkshire 135 from Driffield (not Sundays)
Map OS Explorer 298 & 300


Route created using TrackLogs Digital Mapping

Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

  1. (Start) Walk past the pond (with its Wolds Way Anniversary board) along the narrow lane that leads to Thixendale. Turn left at the Wolds Way sign along a track by the side of the ABN animal-feed mill. Cross the mill access road and continue along the field side. Go through gate/stile and drop down into West Dale. Swing right towards Brubber Dale (our return route) but then go left following the Wolds Way up towards Gill’s Farm. Cross the road to continue along the tractor track to a gate. Go through and follow the track diagonally down to a signpost at the convergence of several dales. Turn right to continue on the Wolds way down the dale through several gates and arrive at the road coming down Fotherdale.

  2. (5.1km/3¼miles): Turn right along the road soon to reach a junction of several roads. Take the left turn into Thixendale. About 100m from the junction our route goes right (footpath sign) into a cul-de-sac passing The Cross Keys public house. However if you want to see more of the village, to visit the shop or have a cup of tea in the village hall, continue straight on. Outside the village hall are display boards giving information about the history of the village. You must then retrace you steps and head out the village past the pub.

  3. (6.4km/4miles): Through the gate you come to the cricket field. Walk past the portakabin pavilion and on through the next field along the top of a bank by some horse jumps. Do not go through a gate, but turn right down a muddy track to the road. Turn left along this minor road for about 200m until reaching a farm track leading diagonally up the hillside on the right. Head up this track, from which there are extensive views across the Wolds. Go through a gate to pass Paradise Cottages and walk along the access road over the hill to reach another minor road. Turn left and walk down the hill.

  4. (9.6km/6miles): At the bottom a new gate on the right gives access into Brubber Dale. Walk along this typical Wolds valley and you arrive at its merger with West Dale where you cross your outward route. You could go left here up the side of the dale and retrace outward route back to Fridaythorpe. However, open access provides an alternative so continue along the bottom of West Dale. The right-hand side of this dale is densely wooded as far as the next corner, after which it becomes more typical of a Wolds valley - deep, steep-sided with only the occasional scrub. Walk up the dale until at a slight rise you reach a fence across the valley. Do not go through the gate but turn left up the hillside into gully to reach another new gate (for wheelchair access!). Walk along the field side to the busy A166 York road.

  5. ( 12.4km/7¾ miles): Turn left towards Fridaythorpe keeping on the wide grassy verge for about 100m as far as the ABN mill access road. Going along this access road avoids the busy main road, but beware of HGV’s on weekdays. Near the works entrance you meet the Wolds Way and there go right back into Fridaythorpe. Don’t miss out on visiting the tiny St. Mary’s Church, tucked away behind the barns on the left. (13.2km/8¼ miles)

    Along the Way

    Fridaythorpe
    Fridaythorpe is a small village on the main York to Bridlington road. Its main claim to fame is for being the midpoint of the 80-mile Wolds Way national trail from the Humber Bridge to Filey. It was here that the Wold Way was officially declared open in October 1982. A new sign, by the pond, commemorates the 21st anniversary of the Wolds Way.
    The Pub (unfortunately closed at present) is on the left near the main road, and the Seaways Café, popular with bikers, is on the edge of the village at the junction with the B1251

    Thixendale
    One the most charming of the Wolds villages, is tucked away in a chalk valley away from all the hubbub of the 21st century. The valley slopes, hedges and woodland attract a wide variety of flora and fauna – keep an eye up for red kites which are making a comeback on the Wolds.

    Robert Fuller, a local wildlife artist, has set up a studio and gallery at Fotherdale Farm and stages major exhibitions there in June and November.

    For details of Gallery & Exhibition opening times click this link ...Robert Fuller Arnold Underwood (Feb 2008)

This page was created by
Arnold Underwood

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