Yorkshire Walks

Barmby Barrage on the River Derwent

Start of our floodbank path at Barmby Barrage

Disused railway bridge abutment by the Ouse

After that we set off along the top of the floodbank beside the River Ouse. The whole area is flat and low lying. The River Ouse and the River Derwent are contained within large floodbanks and rain water is pumped from the surrounding land into these rivers. It is a rural area but with an industrial feel to it. The scene is dominated by the huge presence of Drax coal fired power station only 1km away across the River Ouse.

The weather forecast for today was for heavy showers. Ever optimistic we thought we would probably avoid the worst of the rain and four of us drove to the public car park inside the Environment Agency compound at the Barmby tidal barrage on the River Derwent at map ref. SE682286, about 7km West of Howden town centre. When we arrived it was quite sunny. First we had a look at the barrage sluice gates.

Barmby Barrage on the River Derwent

Path along the River Ouse floodbank

Path along the River Ouse floodbank

Drax coal fired power station across the River Ouse

Path along the River Ouse floodbank with wind turbines along the far bank

Path along the River Ouse floodbank

Newly erected wind turbines across the river Ouse

We had only been walking for about half an hour when the rain started in earnest and we had to put on our waterproofs.

As we walked along the floodbank we could see a large wind farm under construction on the other side of the river. The towers of these wind turbines are very impressive at close range.

Path along the River Ouse floodbank

Path along the River Ouse floodbank

A sheltered spot for our lunch

It was still raining hard so we stood in the shelter of some trees near the floodbank for a sandwich and a drink. As we stood there watching the rain we could see the traffic on the M62 bridge over the River Ouse about 2.5km away to the Southeast.

We followed the floodbank by the River Ouse for 5km to map ref. SE718269. Here we turned left off the floodbank to follow a track across the fields to the village of Asselby.

Track over the fields to Asselby

The track into Asselby

Comfry growing by the track

The track to Asselby is officially a "Public By Way"

This brought us to the access road off the A63 (about 2.5km from Hemingbrough) to Yorkshire Water's works where water is abstracted from the River Derwent for treatment.

After our break we continued into Asselby village. Just through the village at map ref. SE713282, we turned right off the road to follow a track across the fields for about 2km.

Wild geranium or cranesbill

Scarecrow in a field at Asselby

A back lane through Asselby

Path along the River Derwent Floodbank

Path along the River Derwent Floodbank

We followed the floodbank for about 2.5km back to the Barmby Barrage where we had started.

We crossed the access road to follow the path on top of the floodbank by the River Derwent.

The water treatment works by the River Derwent

Path along the River Derwent Floodbank

Pens of quails being reared next to the River Derwent floodbank

Swan on the River Derwent

Returning to the Barmby Barrage on the floodbank

The whole walk had been almost 12km and it had taken us a little over four hours to walk including a short wet break.

As we approached the end of the walk the rain eased off and we were able to get our boots off without getting any wetter.

Warning to vessels approaching the barrage

Returning to the car park at Barmby Barrage