Also the path should turn off one turn earlier from the river Ouse to make it easier and more accessible...

Dave Lamb

Not many dog bins along the route...

Kathryn White

We walked this route in November 2023 on a sunny day preceded by several days of rain which made some sections of this walk a bit boggy. In Escrick we turned right and passed the church before turning left and following the path past Crabtree Farm and out onto the Naburn Lane before joining the original route heading through the fields to Gillrudding Grange. We took the path down to the river and followed this under the ring road, through several fields and re-joined the original route at Millennium Bridge before finishing in York. The Slow Ways route was accurate, and the route was safe to walk - though care is needed after rain or when the rivers are in flood....

James

Navigating the route required assistance via phones/apps even with people in the group reasonably familiar with the area, and other than the spiky narrow path it was a reasonably easy walk/trek/hike, and was enjoyable....

Elaine Lok

This was a great route apart from the last closed off section of footpath. I followed the cycle route to Overton. I'm sure once the works are finished the complete route will be fine....

Philip Le Marquand

Some stretches alongside a road, but felt OK, road not too busy and a verge to jump on when cars do come by....

Andrew Gray

Used the route for a pacy run, nice and flat and mainly on paths so this worked really well. Managed the whole route in just over an hour, walking back in about 2.5 hours. Would use it again....

Douglas Kell

The detour into the woods in Acomb takes longer, but gives you the peace away from the main roads....

Rob Orr

As mentioned in the previous review the route seems a little long but I tried a more direct route on the way back and it meant walking along a long section of road with no path and limited grass verge so I can’t recommend that (for info, this involved walking along the road towards Crockey Hill, turning north to join the footpath leading up to Heslington Tillmire and then using footpaths to return to York). The route turns right up towards the racecourse a little bit after the Millennium bridge and follows the trans Pennine cycle route (first photo). Alternatively you could continue straight on through fields along the river on the Ebor Way and re-join the route by Bishopthorpe Crematorium if you prefer. The alternative river route I mentioned re-joins just after this. At the end of Bishopthorpe you need to go left uphill back to the cycle path but the sign can’t be read from this direction (photo below). The route turns right just past the gap and follows the curves of the treeline to Deighton. I continued past where the route turns off the A19 as the road was very busy and I thought there was an alternative route which looked nicer on the map. If you want to follow the standard route I expect it’d be easiest to either cross immediately at Deighton traffic island or walk a bit past the turn off and cross near the Shell garage (photo below)....

Dan

On footpath there is a small section which is very narrow and overgrown with nettles - this would be extremely difficult if you had mobility issues....

Bec

The access is easy, if there are a few of you be prepared for skinny pathways near the fields....

Chloe Aldous

Like the previous reviewer mentioned (Yorkie Christine's review), it was a long walk and we were definitely tired when we got to Wilberfoss, we also had a break in Dunninington, which was around the half way mark. The walk was mostly tarmac starting from York going through Osbaldwick heading towards Murton, once we got to Murton heading towards Dunnington, we encountered a similar issue where the public footpath sign leads us to a field where we couldn't get through and we had to turn back and go around it....

Andy

We did this walk in August 2023, This is a great walk, lots of cycleways, farm tracks and paths, mainly very dry despite lots of recent rain. We have made a slight change to this route (and created YorSta3) as I wouldn;t walk the Osbaldwick Link Road, A1079, Grimstom Bar Roundabout bit....

Fraser Clarkson

The beginning bit of the walk was lovely, walking through the corn fields towards the back of Haxby and down the river....

Vanessa Powell

We started this walk in Shipton by Beningbrough after getting the bus from York. The buses aren't very frequent, so we decided it was easier to get the bus to Shipton by Beningbrough and then we had no time pressure for completing the walk. After a pleasant walk down Burrell's Lane, the next couple of miles were on country lanes which had a surprising amount of traffic. If there has been heavy rain then there is a chance that the flood plain is underwater and you may not be able to walk alongside the river, this is more likely in the winter....

James

Overall, this is a good walk for all ages and abilities and buses run regularly from Haxby back into York for the return journey....

Lynn Szpak

Some parts of the walk were particularly overgrown and difficult to get through, but this may be typical for the time of year. The walk down the side of Rufforth runway was particularly fun, light aircraft occasionally take off from here but the walk down the side is safe....

James Hewer

A very similar route to Yorhax one but with the exclusion of the busy road crossing, it makes for a much safer walk. It is an enjoyable route that brings you through nice fields and stretches of the river. A bit overgrown in places but nothing too major....

Ciaran Mooney

However, apart from this, it is an enjoyable route that is not too overgrown and provides a variety of nice scenery to look at while you go past. The part of the walk where you go on the walls is particularly enjoyable but would not be suitable for wheelchairs or prams due to the steep narrow staircase you have to descend....

Ciaran Mooney

The route is easy to navigate, with the only drawback being the ring-road crossing near the start of the walk. However, I continued this walk beyond Long Marston and onto Tadcaster, so breaking off here was very timely....

Martin

The route passes under Skeldergate Bridge, and then out along Terry Avenue, which is initially a road, but later turns into a mixed use cycle path and pedestrian route past Rowntree Park and under Millenium Bridge. The route then continues along a grassy footpath alongside the river and passes under the A64 as it crosses the Ouse, before emerging in Bishopthorpe, passing along the main road road and then residential areas. From Copmanthorpe, the route follows the old Roman Road from York to Tadcaster (or Eboracum to Calcaria if you prefer). The route then crosses the A64 via the road bridge, continues on the pedestrian/cycle path for a while before turning off to continue following the Roman Road. The route then joins the quiet road from Catterton, follows the A64 for a while along the cycleway, and then heads into Tadcaster along the road and over the bridge....

Duncan Woodhall

We took about 2.5 hours to reach Rufforth, then about another 40 minutes to reach Long Marston....

James

The route into Askham Bryan was straight forward (photo 3 - church). We followed the road through Askham Bryan along a very quiet road north as it narrows to a farm. The airfield is surrounded by wheat fields (photo 4) but has always been cut to show the footpath (I have done this route many times). From Rufforth to Hutton Long Marston we turned left opposite the Rufforth church and followed a small lane all the way to Hutton Wandesley. After this point the footpath opened up to a track which we easily followed all the way to Hutton Wandesley and then turned onto the main road to Long Marston. at Long Marston - making the break at Rufforth Cafe more important * Walk from Askham Bryan to Rufforth (this is unique due to the runway) * Rufforth to Long Marston...

Paul Br1366

The first part of the route from Long Marston to Rufforth is not very accessible, but the rest of the route from Rufforth to York is on tarmac surfaces. The route starts in Long Marston and follows the road through the village and past the church, before turning off through the Hutton Wandesley Estate towards Rufforth. It's fairly short though, and the route soon emerges in Rufforth after passing through a few gates....

Duncan Woodhall

This route is lovey apart from the awful crossing over York ring road....

Anne Walkington

Well trod paths that were easy to follow, with great scenery including along the riverside....

Jacob Hebditch

The main challenges were one busy road that was hard to cross (we were waiting maybe 2-3 minutes) and quite a lot of overgrown nettles on narrow paths....

Jacob Hebditch

I walked this route in reverse from Haxby to York and it was a nice route mostly along the Foss river with a couple of sections through fields and finishing along the city walls when I arrived back in York....

Tom Craven

From Huntington onwards the route was plenty wide enough with a nice section through a field just after New Earswick....

Tom Craven

I can imagine that at a rainy time of year, the riverside track might be muddy, and thus rather difficult to traverse- possibly even dangerous....

Richard Stell

I can imagine that at a rainy time of year, the riverside track might be muddy, and thus rather difficult to traverse- possibly even dangerous....

Richard Stell

This time I found early parts of the riverside section bordered by tall vegetation which narrowed the path somewhat, and had to watch my step here as the ground is uneven underfoot and the drop-off into the water quite close!...

Yorkie Christine

The walk starts off in the centre of Tadcaster following the main road heading towards York and briefly along the side of the A64 before heading off on a minor road and then very quickly on to an easy to find path that goes along between two fields....

Darren Southwell

After crossing a couple of busy roads at pedestrian crossing the route takes you onto a cycle path which you remain on all the way to Osbaldwick. Once passed through the pretty town of Osbaldwick, the route requires you to cross a main junction at a pedestrian crossing and walk the path alongside the busy A1079. The route then turns off the A1079 onto York Road which lacks a pavement and so requires you to walk on the road....

Luke Murray

I've run this route twice recently (May 2023), and it's a good route that takes place on mainly quiet roads....

tom

We left the Aviva office at 9:30 and made it to Stamford Bridge by 1:45pm with c30mins break at the lovely Balloon Tree farm shop and Café in Gate Helmsley. Next there is a short walk along a busy (and fast) main road into Stamford Bridge, aided by some lovely views....

Gemma Perry

This is a well thought out route that is easy to follow using a walking app....

Holly

Traversing farmland, three delightful rural villages and the suburban streets of Acomb, the route resembles an old "steeplechase" or "point-to-point" as the towers and spires of Long Marston, Rufforth and Acomb parish churches form the most prominent landmarks. Other points of interest include passing under the flight path of Rufforth airfield, the artificial hill at Harewood Whin nature reserve (formerly landfill site), York's new community woodland, Fishponds Wood nature reserve in Acomb, and a panoramic view of York's railway heritage. The route follows the same route as Lonyor one as far as Rufforth village, using a country lane, a farm track and then field edge footpaths....

Yorkie Christine

Its only downside (but not enough to drop a star in my opinion) is that the riverside footpaths can be muddy/slippy in places, and the lowest parts of the route are subject to flooding when the river is high....

Yorkie Christine

After leaving the suburbs of York the route passes through the pretty villages of Askham Bryan and Rufforth before arriving at its attractive final destination. There are few views to speak of, owing to York's flat terrain, but points of interest along the way include York city walls, Hob Moor, the 3 villages and their lovely old churches, Rufforth pinfold and an operational airfield....

Yorkie Christine

These include Cawood swing bridge which dates from 1872, Kelfield village with its Viking boat bench, the delightful village green at Stillingfleet, the York-Selby cycle track (formerly railway line) with its scale-model solar system, Bishopthorpe Palace (home of the Archbishops of York), York racecourse, the former Terry's chocolate factory and York's Millennium Bridge. There is also a path closure in York along Terry Avenue for flood defence works, so (walking north) you'll need to leave the route at the Millennium Bridge and make your way to York railway station along Bishopthorpe Road and Nunnery Lane, a less pleasant if slightly shorter way than staying by the riverside....

Yorkie Christine

The route was easy to find; the only time I hesitated was in Deighton village where the turning off the residential road onto the footpath through a farm is not marked (turn left beside a tall yew tree). On reaching the busy A19 I'd suggest crossing straight away using the grassy traffic island (limit 50mph) as there is a pavement on the other side; however, if you choose to continue up the verge on the right side of the road there is another crossing point opposite the White Swan and just before the turning into Deighton village (limit 40mph)....

Yorkie Christine

It follows a mix of urban pavements, tarmac cycle tracks, farmland, country lanes, gravel farm tracks and finally some river walking (this stretch will be impassable when the River Derwent is in flood). Apart from the interest involved in walking through the streets of historic York at the beginning, the most enjoyable parts for me were striding along the edge of Hagg Wood and the short walk along the River Derwent towards the end....

Yorkie Christine

At the bridge the route meets the Ebor Way and then follows it all the way to York, with just one slight variation in Bishopthorpe village. It winds through the large villages of Copmanthorpe and Bishopthorpe (crossing the East Coast main railway line on the level between the 2 villages - only cross when the light show green!) Once through Bishopthorpe, with views through the gatehouse to the impressive Bishopthorpe Palace, home of the Archbishops of York, the route follows the bank of the river Ouse all the way into York city centre, ducking under the A64 road bridge with its uplifting graffiti and passing the haunt of the rare, protected tansy beetle....

Yorkie Christine

Highlights on the route for me were looking at some of York's industrial heritage, the open farmland above Gate Helmsley, and the lovely old stone road bridge and brick railway viaduct at Stamford Bridge....

Yorkie Christine

A bit difficult to navigate in some places because of wheat planted over the public right of way leaving quite a narrow path, and quite poor waymarking at other points. However, it is manageable, and it would be difficult to find a substantially better route between Cawood and York....

erussell42

The diversion in place (take farm track north then turn right onto Overton Road to pass under the railway at Folly Bridge, the right again to join National Cycle route 65) adds about half a mile to the route....

Yorkie Christine

However, for safety reasons I'm giving this route only 2 stars as it crosses the A1237 ring road on the level - this is a very busy road now and there is no island in the middle at that crossing point....

Yorkie Christine

Public footpath to Gate Hemlmsley very easy to follow but followed by a noisy walk along main road for 10 minutes to pick up the cycle way into Stamford Bridge. Cycle way into Stamford Bridge easy to follow and you can drop down to walk in along the river bank....

Ruth

This is a great route that gives you a bit of bustle in York and then increasing quiet most of the way to Haxby which has plenty of places to grab a treat and to catch a bus back to York should you need to....

Andy Mulholland

Most of the walk hugs the Foss and the water gets clearer the nearer you get to Haxby....

Caroline Lewis