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Aike Waterways
Start / End: Aike Village
Distance:3.6 miles
Time: 1.5 hours
Map: OS 295
Flat easily navigable paths, lots of accessible water for a doggy-dip and the chance to encounter some fabulously furry highland cattle. Even better with a visit to Laurel Vines Vineyard at the end of it.
The Walk
Start from: YO25 9BG · /// those.fermented.eaten
1. Park with care in the small hamlet of Aike - make sure you are not blocking access or the road or park further out.
2. Locate yourself at the entrance to Laurel Vines Vineyard on your right and continue straight ahead, leaving Aike via the road that leads straight out of the village via the footpath at the far end . The path curves around left then right, with a small pond on your left and the vineyard on your right.
3. Continue to a metal gate which opens onto open fields - you’ll see some yellow way marker arrows here. Pass through, turn left, and follow the field edge as it swings right, gradually leading you toward Barmston Drain and the River Hull straight ahead
4. As you reach the drain or beck , turn right (keeping it on your left), then almost immediately turn left across the grassy infill to the opposite side. Once over, turn right, with Barmston Drain on your right and, over the other side of the steep bank, the River Hull on your left.
5. Walk beside Barmston drain. Dogs can splash or swim, but be cautious as banks can be steep, muddy, and unstable — and on one occasion we found a dead swan here unfortunately, so just watch out if your dogs want a swim.
The Beast of Barmston Drain (Old Stinker):
While you are at this point you may want to ponder on some local folklore which says that the drain is haunted by a monstrous creature sometimes seen moving along its banks (or in silhouette) — half-man, half-wolf. The beast, sometimes called “Old Stinker or the beast of Barmston Drain,” is described as a wolf-like monster that can stand on its hind legs. Reports actually date back to the 1100s , though there are more sensational modern sighting telling of a monster that is 8 ft tall, with fur, glowing eyes, and bad breath. Some witnesses claimed to see it shift from upright posture to running on all fours, leaping banks, or vanishing into river shadows. Regardless of truth, the legend adds a spooky atmosphere to the walk — keep your ears open for rustling reeds or low growls in the twilight …
6. Continue beside the drain until you approach a a bridge over the drain but don’t turn to cross over, continue straight ahead to a metal gate. Go through it and climb up the bank ahead to the River Hull, now opening before you.
7. Here, the river stretches wide and calm with Pulfin Bog Nature Reserve over the other side — another lovely spot for dogs to swim (if conditions allow). after a dip, turn right and walk along the riverbank, keeping the river on your left.
8. After about ¼ mile, the path gives a turn to the right over a small bridge. ( you can go straight on) but cross the bridge and continue on the footpath ahead along the edge of Arram Beck to your left.
9. Arriving at a stile (after a short distance, dogs can slip beneath or around), follow the path as it curves around the side of a field (sloping down to your right). Be alert for electric fencing and cows grazing — so keep dogs on a lead
10. You then come to a wooden kissing gate on a bridge. Pass through with Arram village and White House Farm to your left, but turn right on the farm road passing alongside fields belonging to Dumble Farm. Here you may certainly glimpse beautiful Highland cattle grazing and if you are lucky their little teddy bear like calves — placid but sometimes adventurous, so keep your dog close.
11. In the hedgerow or copse to your right you might spot the spooky Stick Man and friend (a Dumble Farm art feature). If you keep straight ahead you’ll meet up again with Barmston Drain and recognise the bridge that you did not cross on your way out. Here , ignore the bridge again and follow the path as it turns left, then at the next corner go through a gate and immediately keep left again.
12. Continue a short distance until the path turns right along a narrow part of the path with a wire fence to your right and a hedge on your left - take care not to miss the turn as you can go straight on here. There are often cows in the field on your right and Barmston drain runs parallel beyond this field in the distance.
13.This path leads you to a wider track. Cross a small wooden bridge and continue straight. You’ll see interpretation boards along here that highlight local East Yorkshire wildlife.
14. The path runs between fields, aligned with telegraph poles. Ahead, the vineyard returns to view. Turn right along its boundary path until you reach the metal gate you passed through earlier.
15. Then just follow the footpath back into Aike village, ending your walk at Laurel Vines.( if you’ve an event booked with them)
As you walk, there’s plenty to observe in this stretch of East Yorkshire. Here’s what to look for:
- Birdlife & waterfowl:c Expect mallards, mute swans, and moorhens along the drain and river. Look overhead or on fence posts for common buzzards, red kites or kestrels, as well as swifts and swallows dipping and diving over the fields and waterways.,
- Insects & dragonflies: In summer, dragonflies (e.g. common darter, southern hawker) and damselflies are often seen darting over still water. Butterflies such as meadow brown, speckled wood, or small tortoiseshell may flit along hedgerows.
- Mammals & small creatures: Bats may emerge at twilight — species like pipistrelles or common bats hunting insects over water. Look near hedges or undergrowth for field voles, mice, or shrews. Badgers , hares, deer or foxes might be glimpsed in low light, though they are shy.
- Flora: Look for yellow flag iris, and reed mace (bulrush). Hedges edges will host nettles, hogweed, cow parsley, and, in season, wild flowers such as cowslip, primrose, or oxeye daisy. Elder, hawthorn, and blackthorn may line the boundaries — early season blackthorn blossom and later sloe berries.
Photo Gallery
