Yorkshire Walks

Ancient monolith in the churchyard at Rudston

This morning I met a group of friends in Rudston on the B1253 a few miles inland from Bridlington in the Yorkshire Wolds. We met at a little roadside parking area next to the recycling skips and opposite the playing fields at map ref. TA095680 at about 10.30 am.It was a lovely clear sunny day, perfect for a good walk. My brother-in-law who lives on the edge of the wolds was leading our walk today.

Leaving Rudston at the start of our walk

The survey team at work

There are workmen laying a vast network of cables all over the countryside - it covered the whole of our route today. They are using a six-wheeler all-terrain vehicle to get around and that combined with the recent rains have turned the fieldside tracks into a series of muddy ruts, very awkward to walk on.

We left the churchyard and continued along the main road for another 200m to map ref. TA100677, where we turned left on to a track across the fields. In the village there is a road sign informing everyone that a seismic survey is in progress - it's for oil and gas exploration I think.

Survey cable network for miles around the village

The survey team at work

Track across the fields leaving Rudston

At the road we turned right and followed the road for about 1km to map ref. TA114698.

We followed these tracks between the fields for about 2km to a farm access road at map ref. TA106692.

Track across the fields leaving Rudston

Heading for the road near Littlethorpe

We walked southwards along these tracks for almost 2km back to the B1253 at Low Caythorne.

Just before we reached High Caythorpe farm we turned right on to more field tracks.

Wolds farmland in the autumn sunshine

Walking along the main road at Low Caythorpe

We followed a path around the edge of West Lawn Wood and across the fields to the southern edge of Boynton at map ref. TA136679.

We walked along the main road for about 1km to a sharp bend at map ref. TA127678. We left the road at the bend.

Path around West Lawn Wood

Approaching Boynton across the fields

Free range poultry near Boynton

From Boynton we followed the track for about 1km until we reached a minor road at map ref. TA139671. At the road we turned right and walked along the road for about 250m.

Here we turned right to head southwards again. After about 200m we crossed stream called Gypsey Race which flows out to the sea through the harbour at Bridlington.

Crossing the Gypsey Race at Boynton

Free range poultry near Boynton

Tree lined track near Carnaby Temple

We continued along the tree lined track for about 1km to a road at map ref. TA138660.

Here we turned left on to a tree lined track between the fields. We had a good view of Carnaby Temple in the large stubble field to our left.

Cluster of snails already hibernating

Another track across the fields

More muddy track

I think that most of the mud today was the result of the activities of the seismic survey team but the off-road club certainly did not help the situation. We continued along the track to a minor road at map ref. TA120664.

We crossed the road and turned right to follow another track between the fields heading roughly westwards with a view of the sea out to the east. Part way along the track we were overtaken by a convoy of four wheel drive off-road vehicles.

Off-road club

Heading back to Rudston

Plaque on a house in Rudston

We then made our way through Rudston back to our starting point. The whole route had been about 16km and it had taken us almost 5 hours to walk icluding a couple of stops for refreshments.

Here we turned left and walked along the road for about 600m. Here we turned right off the road on to yet another track across the fields. We followed a series of these tracks for over 2km back to the edge of Rudston at map ref. TA095672.

Returning to the start in Rudston