EAST YORKSHIRE - Skidby

'Walking to Walkington'

Distance	12.5km (8 miles)
Time	4 hours
Map	OS Landranger106 or Explorer 293
Start/Parking	Car park near Skidby Mill
Terrain	Field paths and bridleways.
nearest Town	Beverley
Refreshments	Pubs & shops in Skidby and Walkington
Toilets	Skidby Mill
Public Transport	East Yorkshire 180 Beverley - Hessle via Skidby and Walkington
Suitable for	all
Stiles	4

1. (Start) From the car park walk up the roadside pavement passing the front of the Mill House Restaurant. Pause to study the village information map, and then turn into the entrance to the restored windmill. A footpath goes to the left of the mill buildings through a 'kissing' gate. For the first 50m (60yds) the path is enclosed by a new fence, after which it continues straight along the field boundaries. After about 800m (½ mile) you reach the clump of trees at Gallows Hill. A little further, at a junction of paths, turn right and follow the track down the hill to arrive at the western end of Skidby village by a cemetery.

2. (1.6km/1 mile) Turn right towards the village but at the road junction go left up the hill. At the bend take the second of two footpaths on the right. This path follows a track up the field side, which twice swings left and right before dropping down to the minor road at Risby. The earthworks of the 'lost' medieval village of Risby can be discerned in the field to the north of this road.

3. (3.2km/2 miles) Turn left and walk along the road for about 400m (¼ mile) then go right through a gate and follow a track, which skirts the edge of Risby Park. At the bottom of a dip before Risby Park Farm notice a track to the right - you will use this on your return. Continue past the farm, after which the track becomes a metalled lane. You can now stride out with only the occasional farm vehicle to worry about. The lane dips down past Halfpenny Gate Cottages. Ignore the 'Beverley 20' sign - you will return that way, and continue along the lane straight towards Walkington. To your left is open, rolling Wolds countryside, whilst on the right is Risby Park with its woodland plantations.

4. (5.4km/3¼ miles) On reaching the outskirts of Walkington turn right and walk along the lane towards the Church. Turn left either down Kirk Hill, or down through the churchyard, and you will come to the centre of this attractive village with three pubs, shops, and a large duck-pond. For the route back to Skidby you must return to the church and take the path along the side of the churchyard. Turn right at a 'Beverley 20' sign onto a path heading south between parallel fences. This leads into parkland and swings right up past Walkington Plantation to a track. Turn right here and this will bring you out onto the farm road at Halfpenny Cottages. Turn left and walk back along the road towards Risby Park Farm. Ignore the footpath sign pointing diagonally across the field on the left, as the landowner prefers walkers to follow a track around the perimeter.

5. (8km/5 miles) So continue past the farm and at the bottom of the dip turn left through a gate along the track (signed alternative footpath). Walk up a slight rise to a stile, cross and keep along the edge of the field with woodland on your left. Go round the corner of the wood to keep along the field boundary to a gate and stile at a road. Turn right along the road for a short distance to a corner, where a footpath drops down towards Fishpond Wood. The path hugs the edge of this woodland round a couple of bends before coming to the Risby road.

6. (10km/6¼ miles - Cross over the road to the bridleway track opposite. As you top a rise, Skidby village and windmill come back into view. The track drops down into a gully to a gate leading into grassy area, once the site of an old quarry. Leave the track as it swings to the left and keep to a footpath along the bank on the right. This heads straight up to a gate and the main street in Skidby, opposite the church. Turn left there, to walk through the village, passing the Half Moon Inn, and go right at the road junction to return to the windmill.

   Along the Way

   Skidby Windmill dates from 1821, and is the only complete working example of an East Riding windmill in existence. Originally restored in1974, and further so in 2000-1 with the aid of Lottery funding, it is well worth a visit if time permits. Skidby Mill is open from 10am to 5pm on Saturdays & Sundays throughout the year (also Wednesdays to Fridays in summer). Admission: £1.50, with reductions for children & OAPs.

   Gallows Hill - reputedly the site where sheep stealers were hanged at the time of Charles II.

   Walkington is an attractive village, spoilt only by traffic on the busy B1230 road, which various traffic-calming measures have failed to reduce. The large duck-pond has benefited from a 'millennium make-over' and has gained a waterfall.

   Arnold Underwood