Description
I have devised this route to follow the starter route Longshi one quite closely but with a couple of changes to reflect the reality "on the ground".
Longshi three follows field paths between Long Marston and Rufforth, then leaves Rufforth (walking towards York) by turning left off the village street into Milestone Avenue. This turns into a permissive path which avoids some unpleasant road walking at the eastern end of the village. Be aware that to retain its status as a permissive path, rather than right of way, this short stretch is closed for one day each year - the date of closure varies by year but can be found on the Rufforth Parish Council website.
At the end of the permissive path, Longshi three joins a good public bridleway and cycle track that winds around and over Harewood Whin, formerly York's landfill site and now reclaimed for nature and beginning to flourish with wildflowers and young trees.
Between Harewood Whin and Knapton Longshi three follows the new bridleway along Moor Lane all the way to the ring road, bypassing the new Community Woodland, then turns sharp right to run alongside the ring road to the underpass.
Through the village of Knapton and along Beckfield Lane, then the route joins the pavement alongside the York outer ring road as it crosses both the East Coast mainline and then the River Ouse on a high bridge. At the end of the bridge the route leaves the road, doubling back under the road bridge and following the riverside path/cycle route until Skelton, where a detour provides refreshment and bus stop options.
After Skelton, the route rejoins the riverside path and - in order to minimise road walking - stays by the river all the way to the village of Beningbrough (but NOT as far as Beningbrough Hall). The route then turns back east for a mix of field and road walking before crossing the very fast East Coast mainline on the level and arriving into Shipton along a back lane
I have devised this route to follow the starter route Longshi one quite closely but with a couple of changes to reflect the reality "on the ground".
Longshi three follows field paths between Long Marston and Rufforth, then leaves Rufforth (walking towards York) by turning left off the village street into Milestone Avenue. This turns into a permissive path which avoids some unpleasant road walking at the eastern end of the village. Be aware that to retain its status as a permissive path, rather than right of way, this short stretch is closed for one day each year - the date of closure varies by year but can be found on the Rufforth Parish Council website.
At the end of the permissive path, Longshi three joins a good public bridleway and cycle track that winds around and over Harewood Whin, formerly York's landfill site and now reclaimed for nature and beginning to flourish with wildflowers and young trees.
Between Harewood Whin and Knapton Longshi three follows the new bridleway along Moor Lane all the way to the ring road, bypassing the new Community Woodland, then turns sharp right to run alongside the ring road to the underpass.
Through the village of Knapton and along Beckfield Lane, then the route joins the pavement alongside the York outer ring road as it crosses both the East Coast mainline and then the River Ouse on a high bridge. At the end of the bridge the route leaves the road, doubling back under the road bridge and following the riverside path/cycle route until Skelton, where a detour provides refreshment and bus stop options.
After Skelton, the route rejoins the riverside path and - in order to minimise road walking - stays by the river all the way to the village of Beningbrough (but NOT as far as Beningbrough Hall). The route then turns back east for a mix of field and road walking before crossing the very fast East Coast mainline on the level and arriving into Shipton along a back lane
Status
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 1
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (1)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 0
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Long Marston
Grid Ref
SE5019751131
Lat / Lon
53.95386° / -1.23657°
Easting / Northing
450,197E / 451,131N
What3Words
ooze.slamming.playroom
Shipton by Beningbrough
Grid Ref
SE5527858743
Lat / Lon
54.02175° / -1.15777°
Easting / Northing
455,278E / 458,743N
What3Words
motored.clashes.guilty
| Long Marston | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SE5019751131 |
| Lat / Lon | 53.95386° / -1.23657° |
| Easting / Northing | 450,197E / 451,131N |
| What3Words | ooze.slamming.playroom |
| Shipton by Beningbrough | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SE5527858743 |
| Lat / Lon | 54.02175° / -1.15777° |
| Easting / Northing | 455,278E / 458,743N |
| What3Words | motored.clashes.guilty |
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review
Yorkie Christine
11 Feb 2023 (edited 17 Feb 2026)This is an interesting route which starts in a rural village, clips the edge of the York suburb of Acomb, uses a stretch of the busy York outer ring road to cross the River Ouse then proceeds once more into the countryside along unfrequented riverside paths, ending in another quiet but well-connected village.
A perusal of the map will soon show why this route is not very direct, as it needs to proceed a fair way towards York in order to find the first river crossing upstream of the city. North of Skelton, however, there are options to shorten the route if desired, by bearing right towards Overton at GR559555 and staying on the country lane all the way to Shipton, or by using the route of Shiyor one.
At a length of 15 miles it is useful that this route passes through 3 places where food, drink and bus stops can be found: Rufforth, Acomb (Beckfield Lane) and Skelton. I was delighted to find the Blacksmiths Arms in Skelton open.
From Long Marston to Rufforth the route uses a country lane, a farm track and then field edge footpaths, which I’ve walked in both very dry and very muddy/slippy conditions (e.g. see my review of Lonyor one).
There is a lot of tarmac (maybe up to half the route?) but unfortunately this route in its entirety is not suitable for wheeling as there are lots of stiles and narrow kissing gates on the riverside section between Skelton and Beningbrough, though some stretches (for example, between Rufforth and York) are step-free and accessible to wheelers.
There are lots of benches along this route, and just west of Knapton the new Community Woodland provides a lovely place to rest on a sunny day.
The stretch alongside the ring road is busy and noisy but the views from the high bridge are exhilarating.
The riverside stretches north of York, and Stripe Lane where it passes under the railway, are liable to flooding at times of very high rainfall.
Pedants may find the route map not quite accurate enough in places, though good enough to follow.
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