The Mile to Bishop Wilton

You can either start from The Mile in Pocklington (please let them know at the cafe that you are parking up and are going walking - and then call in for a coffee when you come back) or start in Meltonby, which shortens the walk by about 3-miles.

1. If you start from the Mile just head out of the gate and turn left. Go up to the left-hand road turning for Meltonby and follow it all the way up (bending left at the corner) until just before you reach Meltonby. You will see a footpath sign on the right just after Meltonby Grange, which is on the corner, that heads out over the fields. You can also park here off the road if going to and from Meltonby.

2. Walk across the field from the public footpath sign to the other side where you will find a small beck. Go slightly to your left and cross over the beck via the wooden footbridge. (do not, as Bill did, just jump in the water!)

3. Cross over the next field keeping to the path, in a diagonally left-hand direction - walking to the left of a hedge which heads right at one point. Across the other side of this field is another beck and a wooden kissing gate. Go through the gate.

8. Just keep following this path through the wood for a short distance and then you will emerge onto the road, where you turn left.

9. Follow the road until you reach the turning on your left for Great Givendale (you could do a slight detour here and visit the tiny St Elthelburga's Church, as this is certainly worthwhile and has a dog bowl and water outside).

10. Walk through Great Givendale until you come out the other side and spot a bench on you right at the signpost for the Minster Way Public Footpath. On the bench is the inscription:

A heart of gold stopped beating, two willing hands at rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best.

Turn right here to follow the Minster Way

11. Follow the obvious footpath it bends around to the left then right and then follows the fence line of a cow field. Don't worry the cows are separated by the fence. The path turns left and then right again, until you come to a gate into another field. 

15. Follow the footpath to some farm buildings where at the corner of one building turn left (blue and yellow way markers on a post and a signpost show you the direction). The farm track takes you out onto a path that runs along the side of a field on your right and Bishop Wilton Beck on your left. You will pass the waterworks fairly soon but just keep going.

16. After 1.25 miles look out for a small wooden bridge over the beck and a gate on your left. After crossing the beck here, the path takes you to a wooden gate next to a metal five-bar gate, where it tells you to keep to the footpath.

17. Keep following the wide grassy path but just after it turns to your right look out for a way marker post (we missed it and carried straight on) and turn left to cross over the middle of the field.

18. At the other side of this field you will see another way marker post pointing straight on. Walk to the right of the hedge here and cross over the next field heading towards a metal gate which leads onto the road. 

19. Turn right onto the road and the left almost immediately on the road back to either where you parked in Meltonby, or follow the road all the way back to the main Mile road, turning right to head back to The Mile cafe for a huge rewarding lunch or cup of tea and slice of cake.