Bishop Wilton Wold

1. Park in Bishop Wilton village being mindful of traffic and access (I parked outside the Fleece Inn), then walk back out the village along the route of the Chalkland Way / Minster Way on the road to Meltonby. Shortly along the road you will find a signpost on the left which indicates an off-road footpath and which heads fairly steeply upwards from the road.

Follow the path up and then to the right with lovely views of the Vale of York laid out before you. The grass, and sometimes stone, path bends around a grassy hummock on your left, around the back of which is a path marked with the Chalkland and Minster Ways through a gap in the fence which you go through.

2. Almost immediately after the gateway, a path on your right takes you up a small rise and then follows the fence line along until you get to a gate to the field on your left.

5. Go down the path on your left, along the side of a field, through a gate and down to the bottom of this next field (where there may be cows), to a 3-way signpost. Take the left-hand way (don't go through the gate straight ahead as this leads down to Worsendale) and follow the fence around Crow Wood to a gate.

6. Go through the gate, down the hill and follow the well-marked-out path along the valley edge of Old Wood. This is a lovely stretch of the walk taking in wide views across the landscape in front of you. Half way around you can stop at a (new) wooden bench on the site of the original Rambling Club bench - a part of which remains with the words:

'A memento from the original seat. Finally beaten by the ravages of time'

There is also a marker which reads:

'Do not put on the ring Frodo' referencing The Lord and the Rings and similarities perhaps between the views here and the Shire. (Weathertop?)

 8. Follow the path through this field keeping to the top of the field (rather than the track which follows the bottom fence line which can get waterlogged). There were sheep in the field when we came through here and this is where I came a cropper, as it was fairly steep, muddy and wet - be warned!

At the far top left of the field there is a gate which comes out in Bishop Wilton along the road from the Fleece Inn, so it is an easy job (unless you were limping like me) to follow it back to where you started. 

If you are hungry or thirsty you can call in to the pub for some refreshments or stop off at the volunteer run community shop and café, which you will also pass by, for cake (or even their own Bishop Wilton wine) and to support this fantastic village endeavour.