The Mile to Kilnwick Percy

4. Just before the waterworks take the path which heads right (there is a footpath that also goes straight ahead). Follow this path up to a fence line, where there is another footpath sign and turn left.

5. Follow this path with the wire fence on your right and trees/ bushes on your left along. There are some lovely views out to your right here and on your left you will come to the fairways of Kilnwick Percy Golf Club, which is where Bill disgraced himself by running off and interfering with play! So, if you have a dog that is very poor at recall when balls are involved, put them on a lead as it's open access here and very embarrassing if they run off - take my word for it!

6. The footpath eventually comes out onto the golf course, and continues across the middle of it. First skirt the wooded area on your right (there is a sign pointing into the woods for a nature trail) but keep going, heading straight across the course and following their own public footpath signs, being mindful of any flying golf balls - plus keep dogs on a lead for all of this bit!

 The history of Kilnwick Percy goes back to the Bronze Age. One mile away are the remains of a Roman road. William the Conqueror took the land at Killenwick and gave it, with a hall, to Robert de Bruis. (His great-great-great-grandson was to become Robert the Bruce of Scotland). Later that century, Ernald de Perci married into the family and the anglicised name Percy was added. The estate and hall have subsequently been owned by several different families, which you can learn about in a house tour if you have the time.

One such owner was Robert Denison, a wealthy Leeds wool merchant, who bought the estate in 1784. In 1790, he started work on a new mansion to replace the Elizabethan hall. Leading York architect John Carr (who also designed Castle Howard), was employed to build it, which took ten years to complete. Interestingly, the idea for what is now The Great Yorkshire Show was first put forward by Robert Denison (son of the above) at a dinner party here on 28 August 1837, and as he was more interested in horse breeding and farming than in the family business, he increased the estate to 2600 acres, until by 1840 he had run into financial difficulty and was forced to auction the whole thing.

13. At the fork, on the other side of the car park take the right-hand road and follow it (past housekeeping) all the way to the T junction at the top and turn right (past lodges 30 & 31). The tarmac road runs out into a gravelled path past more of the lodges (32-35) and onto the start of the nature trail. 

(I have added the route through the Golf Club to the Route Information Sheet - for extra reference)

14. Follow the nature trail path along the side of the fairways, taking the path as it turns into the woods and heads right for a short distance.

15. The path emerges onto a roadway where you turn left, and then follow the road downhill all the way back to the main Mile road.

16. At the Mile turn left and then just walk along the pavement back to the Mile Farm shop where you can grab a bite to eat or a drink to finish off your day.