British Walking Federation
British Walking Federation
YORK TOURIST WALK 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 (Updated 15/08/2010)
KEY:TR – Turn right BR – Bear right RH – Right Hand TL – Turn left BL – Bear left LH – Left Hand
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.
Q1. What is the name of the first street to the right as you go along Lord Mayor's Walk?
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.
Continue to traffic lights and TR to enter walled city at Monkgate Bar. Go through RH pedestrian archway and immediately turn back on yourself to climb narrow steep stairway onto City Walls. At top TL and walk along the walls. At the end of this section descend to street level, TR and TR again through Bootham Bar into High Petergate.
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.
In approximately 50 metres, immediately before the Hole in the Wall Public House, TL through narrow roofed passage to reach Precentors Court. TR towards York Minster.
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.
At Minster TL through metal gate into Deans Park. Keep to LH
pathway around edge of park passing Minster Library. Leave Deans Park through
metal gates and TR along cobbled road. After passing through next metal gate TL
into Chapter House
Street. At end TR into Ogleforth. At cross roads TR into Goodramgate and at ‘Cross
Keys’ Public House BL to continue along Goodramgate. Shortly before
Goodramgate bends to the right note ‘Our Lady Row’ on right. This is the
oldest row of houses in
York.
At end of our Lady Row, turn right through metal
gate Signposted 'Holy Trinity, Goodramgate.
(Holy Trinity Church is closed on Mondays - keep forward and at cross roads TR
into Low Petergate).
At end of passageway enter grassed area and cross with church on right.
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - This church hides in a small, secluded, leafy churchyard, it is York’s hidden gem, a tranquil haven among the busy city streets. There has been a church on this site since the time of the Domesday book. The present church dates from the15th Century with most of the exterior dating from the 17th & 18th Centuries. The box pews are unique in York. Two boards in the church record the names of York's Lord Mayors
Leave area through another passageway and at end of passageway TR into Low Petergate. At next cross roads
TL into Stonegate. Immediately before reaching ‘Old Starre Inne’ (sign
overhead), TL into roofed alleyway – Coffee Yard. Pass Barley Hall and emerge
into Swinegate. IKeep forward and in 50m TR at first road into Back Swinegate and at next corner
TR into Little Stonegate. At end TL back into Stonegate. Pass American Express
Office on right and at end of Stonegate TL into Davygate (Betty’s Café on
right). Keep forward to cross St Sampsons Square (the
original site of
York’s Market) and
enter Parliament Street. Keep to LH side of Parliament Street and TL at first
entrance, into Jubbergate, to enter Newgate Market. Keep to LH side, going
forward at next junction and keeping black and white timbered building on your
right to enter Newgate.
After passing edge of market
keep forward and TR into the Shambles. Go down the Shambles and after last shop
on left and before church TL into roofed passage (La Crux Passage) to reach
Whip-ma-whop-ma-gate (This is the shortest street in
York
- See plaque on church to right as you turn).
TR and cross Pavement into Fossgate. Keep to LH side and in 100 metres TL into
roofed Strakers Passage (shortly before reaching Merchants Hall on right). At
end TR and keep forward. Where road bends to left, at end of building, BR to
corner of small Car Park and descend steps to reach River Foss. At river TL and
continue between multi-storey car park on left and river on right. Climb steps
to cross river by footbridge and then TL along cantilevered walkway above river
to end of building. Descend steps to river level and at end of multi-storey car
park TR
Q.2 At the car park entrance there is a sign. It reads ' ??? Wharf' What is the missing word?
TL to reach main road. and at main road TR and in 50m TR at Red Tower.
Go round tower and climb steps onto City Walls. At end of
this section of wall, descend to street level at Walmgate Bar. Cross road and
then continue along City Walls to end of section at Fishergate Bar.
At bottom of steps TL through archway and TR along Paragon Street with City Walls
on your right. At T-Junction cross road at Pelican crossing and TR. At end of
last building on left, TL down steps to River Foss. Keep forward with river on
right passing lock and then flood barrier to reach footbridge over River Foss
shortly before the River Foss joins the River Ouse. Go over footbridge and TR
along footpath with St George’s Field car park on right and River Ouse on left.
Go through archway under next bridge and continue along riverside to reach next bridge. Climb steps and at top TR. At road junction, cross and keep straight ahead into High Ousegate. TR down path immediately before church on right, cross next road and go down Coppergate Walk passing Jorvik Viking Centre.
JORVIK VIKING CENTRE - This is an exact reconstruction of life in Viking York based on the results of five years of painstaking archaeological excavation. The sights, sounds and smells of a bustling Viking community are recreated as you journey back a thousand years in a special ‘time car’).
Keep forward and leave the Coppergate Centre with ‘Fenwicks’ store on your left. At end of passageway, head across car park towards Clifford’s Tower.
CLIFFORDS TOWER - Built on an artificial mound erected by William the Conqueror. 150 Jews took their own lives during anti-jewish riots in the 12th Century rather than surrender to the mob.
CASTLE MUSEUM - This is England’s largest and most popular folk museum. It contains authentically reproduced streets of the Victorian and Edwardian ages together with period displays.
TR keeping Clifford’s Tower on your right and Castle Museum on the left to descend slight hill. At bottom, cross road and TL. Continue on this pavement to cross over bridge and at first road on right, keep forward and climb steps onto walls. Continue along walls, crossing over road at Micklegate Bar to eventually return to river at Lendal Bridge.
# About 10m before reaching road, TL and descend steps to riverside. TL on riverside path and go forward with river to your right until you reach the next bridge.
Q.3 What is the name on the first large brick building on your left?
If you wish to visit the National Railway Museum turn left at this bridge and follow signs. Then retrace your steps to rejoin the route.
NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM - One of the largest railway collections in Britain with over two hundred years of railway history on display.
Go through barriers, climb
steps to bridge, cross river and descend to riverside path. Keep forward with
river to your right. Note flood barriers in front of houses. At end of
houses, just before archway TL left Signposted – ‘Marygate, Museum Gardens’. Go
through flood barrier and forward on RH pavement. At sign, TR through archway,
to enter Museum Gardens. Keep forward on path. Where path divides, BL climbing
to reach York Observatory on your right.
Note the ruins of St Mary’s
Abbey (home of the York
Mystery Plays) behind you and the Yorkshire Museum to your left.
YORKSHIRE MUSEUM - Some of the rarest archaeological treasures in the whole of Europe are housed here. Of especial interest is the Middleham Jewel, an exquisite 15th Century gold pendant adorned with a magnificent sapphire and found in 1985 near Middleham Castle.
TL at first path and then TR (S.P. York Art Gallery, York Minster), swing R and go through arch in wall and descend steps. The wall to the right is one of the last remaining portions of the Roman Wall around Eboracum.
At end of path TL through gate and then TR to reach road. TL and at cross roads TL left into St Leonards Place keeping to LH pavement (passing Tourist Information Centre on opposite side of road). After passing the Art Gallery cross the road into Gillygate. Continue along Gillygate to return to car/coach park.
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.