British Walking Federation
British Walking Federation
YORK CITY & RIVER TRAIL ORGANISED BY SOUTH YORKSHIRE STROLLERS
CONTACT: Brian Whitaker, 25 Rutland Place, Wombwell, Barnsley S73 8PU Tel: 01226 210730 Email: chairman@bwf-ivv.org.uk
DISTANCE:
10km
START VENUE: St John's
Car & Coach Park, York - Landranger Map 105 GR SE604526
APPROACH BY ROAD:
From A1 take the A64 towards York. As you approach
York follow the signs ‘Coach Parking City Centre North - Yellow Triangle’,
turning left onto the A1237. Continue along the A1237 crossing the A19 and
then passing the Clifton Moor Retail Park. Turn right towards York City
Centre on the B1363. After passing York District General Hospital on right,
bear right at traffic lights and in approximately 300 metres reach St Johns
Car/Coach Park on the left. Alternatively use either the Askham Bar or
Clifton Moor Park and Ride Schemes. Get off the bus at York Railway Station
or Leeman Road and follow the directions for arriving by rail
CAR PARKING:
At the start and various other car parks in the city
PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
York is a mainline rail station. On arrival in York,
leave the railway station and see the City Walls immediately in front of
you. Turn left and follow the road to enter the walled city, keep the walls
on your left to reach the river Ouse at Lendal Bridge and join the route
TERRAIN:
Urban area. Not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchair
due to frequent steps to access the city walls. Dogs are not allowed on the
City Walls. The City Walls are closed after dark and may be closed for
repair without notice. It is possible to continue the route by following the
road/s on the outside of the walls
REFRESHMENTS:
As York is a tourist orientated City, there are ample
places to purchase a wide variety of food and drink
ROUTE DESCRIPTION
Leave From car/coach park TR and cross road at Pelican Crossing. Cross Lord Mayors Walk using Pelican Crossing and TL along Lord Mayors Walk, with City Walls on right. Continue to reach Monkgate Bar. Enter the city via Monk Bar. Continue forward along Goodramgate to reach Kings Square. Bear left then right across King’s Square to go down the Shambles. At the end of the Shambles, cross the road and go down Lady Pecketts Yard (to the right of Jones the bootmakers – black & white timbered building). At the bottom of the Yard, Turn left and on reaching road turn left again and then turn right into Stonebow passing ‘The Terrace’ bar/restaurant. At 2nd bus stop sign, turn sharp right into Black Horse Passage.
Continue down Black Horse Passage and at end of buildings, bear right to go down narrow steps to the River Foss. Turn left and follow river. Climb the steps to the footbridge and cross to the former Navigation Warehouse.
Turn left along cantilevered walkway above river to end of building. Descend steps to river level and at end of multi-storey car park turn right and then turn left to reach main road. At main road turn right and in 50m turn right again at the Red Tower. Go round tower and climb steps onto City Walls. Go along walls and descend again at Walmgate Bar, cross Walmgate with care, then exit the walled city and cross Barbican Road at the traffic lights. Turn right along Barbican Road, pass Royal Dragon Cantonese Restaurant then turn left into Barbican Mews. Follow pathway bearing left and then sharp right immediately before bungalows, to reach Heslington Road.
Cross Heslington Road and turn left. After No 103, to go through a little green gate.
Q.1 What is the name of the large building belonging to the University of York immediately before reaching No.103?
Keep forward to go through another larger gate and follow the path downhill to an asphalted cycle track. Bear right on this track, keeping to left hand main track, through a gate/grid, then turn sharp right. You are now enclosed in barbed wire as the path goes through Imphal Barracks. Keep forward to reach Fulford Road. Turn left and cross the road at the Pedestrian crossing, turn left and then turn right down Maple Grove
Q.2 What is the name of the Guest House on the corner of Maple Grove?
Go down Maple Grove and at end keep forward to reach the Millennium Bridge. Cross the bridge over the River Ouse, descend the steps to right, then straight on to the Rowntree Park entrance.
Enter Rowntree Park and turn right to keep parallel with the river. Pass toilets and at end of path exit the park back onto the riverside path. Continue along side of river to reach Skeldergate Bridge. Go under the bridge and turn sharp left up steps to road above. At road turn left and cross over the river. At end of bridge turn left and descend steps to return to the riverside, with river now on your left. Follow river to next bridge. Climb steps to road level, cross road with care and then cross bridge. At end of bridge turn right to return to riverside, with river now on your right. Follow river to reach next bridge. Go under bridge and before next archway, take steps on left to climb to road level and end of the City Walls.
Turn left and cross Lendal Bridge, then continue forward to reach entrance to Museum Gardens. Turn left into gardens.
Q.3 What is the number on the first lamppost on the left?
At V-junction bear right and at next V-junction bear left. Keep forward to exit gardens at gated archway. Turn right along Marygate and at end turn right into Bootham.
Go along Bootham to reach pedestrian crossing and cross to re-enter the walled city at Bootham Bar. Keep forward and then at cross roads bear left to keep York Minster on your left. At statue of Constantine bear left and at end turn right into College Street to reach junction with Goodramgate. Turn left along Goodramgate to leave the walled city by Monk Bar. Turn left and at the end of the road turn right to return to the Car/Coach Park and the end of the walk.
Points of Interest about York
CITY WALLS - The first wall was a simple earth and wood stockade built by the Romans to surround their early fort. The Ninth Legion added stone walls in the 2nd Century, The present wall dates from the 13th Century and stands on an earth rampart built by the Anglo-Danish Kings of York and later enlarged by the Normans. The walls have been extensively restored in the last two centuries.
MONK BAR - The loftiest and strongest of York's medieval gateways, Monk Bar was erected in about 1330 to replace a previous city entrance on the site of an original Roman Gate
THE SHAMBLES - One of the best preserved medieval streets in Europe. Formerly 'Fleshammels' - the street of butchers
RIVER FOSS - William the Conqueror dammed the River Foss in 1069 just south of York Castle close to its confluence with the Ouse in order to create a moat around the castle complex. The damming also caused the river to flood further upstream forming a large lake that would become an integral part of the city's inner defences during the Middle Ages, which explains the absence of a defensive wall in the area today.
WALMGATE BAR - A little out of the main centre of York, Walmgate Bar is the only city gate to retain its outer defensive barbican. It is basically a 12th century structure
WALMGATE STRAY - The Strays of York is a collective name for four areas of open land, comprising in all over 800 acres within the City of York.
YORKSHIRE MUSEUM - The museum houses some of the most important collections in the country. The famous 'York Mystery Plays' are performed in the museum gardens against the dramatic backdrop of St. Mary's Abbey ruins.
BOOTHAM BAR - This is the oldest entrance to York being one of the gates to the Roman Fort. There has been an entrance here for over 2000 years.
YORK MINSTER - York Minster is the mother church of the Northern Province of the Church of England. It is the largest Gothic Church in England. Although the site of a much earlier church, parts of the present Minster date from the late 11th Century. Nowhere else in England can so much Medieval glass be seen in one church.
When you have completed this trail please use the Permanent Trail Entry Form
The organisers are not liable for accidents, thefts and/or damage to property. Every effort will be made by the organisers to make this a safe, enjoyable and memorable event.
This trail is registered until 31 December 2010.