Car park near then end of Castle Howard lake
This year we all met at 12.00 at the little car parking area near the end of Castle Howard lake on the long straight avenue that runs through the estate. There were already around 30 cars there when we arrived. |
After eating far too much on Christmas day we usually have a family walk on Boxing day. It was a bright crisp winter's day, just right for a walk.
Part of Coneysthorpe village
|
The 19th century Georgian chapel at Coneysthorpe village
Track along the foot of Coneysthorpe Banks Wood
Woodland track heading back to the road through Shaw Wood
The air was very clear and there was a really clear view over to the Yorkshire wolds to our right and across to the North York Moors straight ahead. |
There were 8 of us, my daughter, my son & his fiancee, my sister & her husband, my nephew & his wife and me. We set off along the Centenary Way through Coneysthorpe village to the ridge at the edge of the wood overlooking the vale of Pickering.
Treading the Centenary Way from Coneysthorpe
Centenery Way climbing up through Coneysthorpe Banks Wood
|
Castle Howard seen from the road through Coneysthorpe
Back at the car park at the end of the walk
The whole route is about 5 miles and took us about two and a half hours. We all drove back to York for a meal at my mother's house. She is 81 and loves to gather in as much of the family as she can at Christmas. It was a lovely day.
|
We turned left to follow the Centenary Way along the ridge continuing across the Castle Howard avenue to The Firth Wood. Here we turned left down a bridle way. After the foot & mouth disease, the path has been officially open to walkers for over two months but there were still a couple of home made signs intended to deter walkers. From the Centenary Way, we continued for about a mile to the road and followed the road for about half a mile back to our starting point.
Impressive stone pillar opposite the car park
|
