The full-day walk in May, on Saturday 17th, began at Masham and followed the Ripon Rowel walk along the banks of the River Ure towards Hackfall Woods. This beautiful wooded landscape was created by William Aislabie in 1750 and has many interesting features such as follies and waterfalls. The group stopped for lunch near the lake and enjoyed the spectacle of a surprise fountain which erupts from the middle of the lake about every 10 minutes. We were glad of the shade from the trees, on the hottest day of the year so far. After a walk of about 7½ miles we returned to Masham and had chance to walk around the market place and church before enjoying a delicious afternoon tea in the Town Hall, prepared by Feerby WI.
York Association of the National Trust
Walks 2014
YANT Walks 2014
Walks Organiser: walks@yant.org.uk
YANT Walks Group half-day walk 30th December, 2014
December 30th. Not that deep, but quite crisp and even, the frost lay all about as 28 walkers (yes, 28!) decided enough Christmas cheer was enough, and it was time to get fit again! Joyce Costello led us on a brisk walk in two parts – first, setting off from Tadcaster Road and heading south alongside the racecourse, passing through Knavesmire Wood.
Passing through the dappled sunshine amongst the trees we soon warmed up and chatted about our Christmas experiences. Across Middlethorpe Common and heading north again, along the “Trans Pennine Trail”, no less, circling the racecourse and diagonally traversing the stray, we reached Tyburn, site of former gallows on the Tadcaster Highway, for a refreshment break.
The second part of the 4.5-mile walk took us across the road and along Hob Laine (some medieval spelling howler perhaps?), and through Little Hob Moor. Beside the path lay two stones of historical significance. Hob Moor has a long and fascinating history. During the visitations of the plague in the 16th and 17th centuries, victims were taken from the city and accommodated in wooden lodges on Hob Moor. Plague victims would pay for the food that was brought out to them by placing money in water or vinegar in the central depression in the Plague Stone.
Beside the Plague Stone is the Hob Stone, the effigy of a knight of the de Ros family, sculpted onto an old 14th century coffin lid.
Then on to Hob Moor itself, passing under the East Coast main line. We circled round the perimeter of this moor, one of the ancient common lands of York, before heading back to our starting point, refreshed happy and invigorated for the coming New Year.
YANT Walk Saturday 17th May, 2014
YANT Walk Saturday 26th April, 2014
On Saturday 26th April, 25 walkers travelled by coach to Addingham where we started an eight mile walk along the River Wharfe to Ilkley then back along the Dales way towards Bolton Abbey. We were treated to an astonishing display of bluebells in Middleton Woods, then enjoyed a picnic lunch and ice-creams in the park at Ilkley. The walk finished at the ancient Friends Meeting House at Farfield where the coach picked us up and took us to Embsay for an excellent tea prepared by members of the Methodist Church.
