Yorkshire Walks

The A19 at the exit from our layby

Footpath/cycleway beside the river Ouse

Today the weather was cloudy with a few light snow flurries. There are some photos from both days in the following description of the route. From the end of the layby we walked towards York along the verge of the A19 for about 100m to map ref. SE572553, where we turned right to walk along a little access road towards the River Ouse. Approaching the river the access road became part of a "Sustrans" cycle route.

The snow and ice is still with us and today we met a group of friends for our regular monthly walk. The main roads have been kept clear so we met at a layby on the A19 at Skelton, map ref. SE571554, just outside the York northern ring road. I had walked the route last Thursday, 7 January when the weather was clear and bright, a lovely walk in the winter sunshine.

Access road off the A19 to the river Ouse

Footpath/cycleway beside the river Ouse

Footpath/cycleway heading away from the river

Footpath/cycleway heading away from the river

The east coast main line from the lane into Skelton

It was heading in a northerly direction away from the river to a minor road at map ref. SE564560. We turned right to follow this road for about 350m to the A19 at Skelton.

We followed the cycle route up stream by the river for about 1km to map ref. SE566554. Here we continued along the cycle route.

Footpath/cycleway heading away from the river

Footpath/cycleway heading away from the river

The lane into Skelton

The church on the village green in Skelton

The village green in Skelton

After about 300m we came to a school on our left. We took a track down the edge of the school site at map ref. SE572563.

We crossed the main road and followed the road into the village. About 100m beyond the village green at map ref. SE570565, we turned right to walk through a housing estate.

The church on the village green in Skelton

Track out of Skelton by the school

Track leaving Skelton

Footbridge over the stream approaching the York northern bypass

We continued along this track for about 1.3km to the York northern bypass at map ref. SE580552.

After about 200m the track crossed a small stream and turned right following the stream.

Track following the stream from Skelton

The footpath crosses the York northern bypass

The frozen lake in the Rawcliffe housing estate

The lake is used to store rain water from the estate as a flood prevention measure. From the lake we made our way through the estate via Greystoke Road, Eastholme Drive and Westholme Drive to the main road (A19) at map ref. SE581542.

We crossed the bypass and followed the path into the head of a cul-de-sac in the Rawcliffe housing estate. Where the cul-de-sac met an estate road we turned left and after another 100m we turned right off the estate road to follow a path though an open space through the housing for about 1km to a lake at map ref. SE585545.

The frozen lake in the Rawcliffe housing estate

Sledging on the embankment at Clifton Ings

We found a long bench under some trees where we stopped for a drink. There were families having a great time in the snow, sledging down the embankment. It was all quite entertaining whist we had our break. There was a light snow shower but it didn't interrupt any of the activity.

We crossed the main road and followed the track across the allotments to a footpath and cycleway at map ref. SE578539. We turned left to walk along this path towards the centre of York. The path runs along the bottom of the flood embankment that surrounds the Clifton Ings.

Sledging on the embankment at Clifton Ings

Making a snow angel

Path along Clifton Ings

The sluices allow the flood water that has been stored on the ings to return to the river as the river levels go down.

After our break we continued along the path to the sluices, at map ref. SE587530. The sluices are set in the floodbank near Clifton Bridge over the River Ouse.

The finished snow angel

Outlet sluices from Clifton Ings

Following the floodbank along the River Ouse

Farm machinery recycled as a seat

These sluices allow flood water from the river into the ings. From there we continued along the path back to the access road at map ref. SE572553.

Here we turned right to walk along the top of the floodbank heading upstream for about 3km to the sluices, at map ref. SE571549.

Hardy angler waiting for a bite - fish or frost?

Farm machinery recycled as a seat

Inlet sluices to Clifton Ings

River Ouse near Skelton

We had a coffee and bacon roll in their cafe. It had been a very pleasant walk in the snow without any problems getting there on the main roads which had remained clear.

Here we were near the start of our walk and retraced our steps back to the layby on the A19. Before heading for home we called into the garden centre, on the A19 in Skelton.

Fearless robin came to see us

Sign on the cycleway at Skelton