Challenge Walk (24.5m approx.): From the village hall go left up the B1253 Bridlington Road taking the first entrance left into the football field (car park) and continue parallel with the road to reach the wood. Go slightly left to the gap in the hedge and the dog walkers' path through the wood to the track at the top. Turn right and cross the B1263 to Cherry Wood and take the track going uphill on the left. Turn right at the top and follow the track to where it swings right and then left to Sledmere Castle. Turn right down the drive back to the village. Cross the B1262 Driffield Road to the wooden double gates and turn right on the footpath alongside the wall to the pedestrian gate into the park. Checkpoint 1 (GR 936648).
Follow the waymarked footpath alongside the fence to reach the first of three high ladder stiles across the Deer Park, At the end of the short woodland track (after the third ladder stile) turn right and then left into a dale, passing the Sykes family dogs' memorial on your right. At the dale end turn right up the road, taking care round the uphill bends. Look for the FP sign on the left. Cross the field and the B1251 York Road to Mill Lane. The path to Mill Lane may have been restored after ploughing and seeding, but if the going looks too heavy carry on to the lane end and turn left along the B1251 to the footpath on the right leading to Mill Cottage. The distance in either case is about the same.
At the end of Mill Lane cross the B1263 to Maramatte. Just after the gate cross carefully over the temporary plastic fencing on the right of the drive to get to the hedgeside. Turn left to follow the hedge to the field end and go half left over the metal gate into the pasture with sheep and lambs. Follow the hedge on the right and cross the gate/fence at the end. Continue ahead and then right on the track overlooking Hog Walk dale. Where the track meets Kirby Lane turn right and then left on to the track alongside the new plantation. At the end of the plantation follow the track as it turns right and continues ahead round the pond to Crow Wood on the left. As the track reaches the end of the wood and turns right, turn left into the wood along a footpath. Follow this unmarked but clear and flower-bedecked foopath as it turns right downhill through the wood. After 200 metres look carefully on the left for a special (straw bale) crossing of the barbed wire fence (opposite a large dead tree in the field). Cross on to the Medieval cultivation strips on the hillside and follow the top strip across to the far hedge and the track leading downhill to Croome Farm and Checkpoint 2 (GR 933633).
From the farm go slightly right across Croome Road to the large field of rapeseed and go along the fieldside as the hedge curves right uphill. Take the tractor tracks in the rape to the opening to the next field. Go along the wide grass :trip on the right of the long hedge going straight up over Croome Wold. Near the wold top take the wider grass strip on the right of the hedge and follow this for just over a mile, passing over one field boundary crossing at right angles. At the end of the hedge, Near the weld top (GR 946668), turn left and follow the tramlines through the crop to the clear firebreak in Croome Dale Plantation. Enter the firebreak and go almost immediately left into the plantation. There is no path, follow the faint deer track to duck and weave your way parallel to the field hedge. Be wary of low branches and fallen logs — roe deer can duck lower and jump higher than humans! Descend to the road and turn left for a few yards to a right turn (FP) alongside a small triangular plantation. Follow the tarmac private farm road for a few yards before turning left (opposite the Private Road sign) along the green dale bottom.
Continue alongside the hedge until a large gap allows a crossover to the right of the hedge on to a wide grass strip. You are now entering one of the country's largest seed potato growing areas and the weather between today and the Marshals' Walk a week earlier will determine what you do next.
As the steep hillside on your right gives way to a larger expanse of wold your objective is Squirrel Hall Farm ahead about 45° right up on the ridge. If rain has not halted potato planting elsewhere on the farms it will be a case of heading up across the stubble to a large clump of bushes halfway up the hill. These mark the end of a green track which goes left to a track going right up the hill to the bridleway (and fp) running along the ridge. If planting has given way to ploughing it will be a case of finding the easiest way to the tracks (according to instructions given at the start).
At the bridleway turn left alongside Kirby Plantation and then right to curve behind the potato warehouses on to a clear but little used green track on the corner of the wood behind the large building. Follow the track to where it exits the wood on to a woodside/fieldside path through to Kirby Lane. Cross and continue ahead on the track alongside Crook Plantation.
Where the track meets the very narrow minor road up from Kirby Grindalythe ignore the bridleway sign and cross the road to continue on the farm track heading just W of N between the two fields. After 600 metres make the sharp left uphill turn to join a wider track, which runs along the ridge before turning right on to a broad chalk track leading down to Low Mowthorpe Farm (Checkpoint 3 GR895670).
Note the Gypsey Race, the only running stream on the eastern Yorkshire Wolds. passes under the farm drive and rises just to the west of Mowthorpe.
From this checkpoint the route continues along a virtually unvisited ancient Welds dale. Crowtree Slack runs from behind the farm and is reached (checkpoint staff will direct) by going ahead from between the farm buildings and doing a U-turn to the left between the next set of buildings towards the tall conifer hedge on the farm boundary. Turn right along the hedge side and follow the farmhouse garden boundary around to the left and then turn right into the overgrown track leading into the dale. When entering the dale through a single wooden gate there is a choice of going along the dale bottom or ascending to a topside route on the left. Be warned that either route is likely to be tough going through natural undergrowth, this is a dale as it has been for centuries. As the dale sides are very steep the top route is recommended as affording the better views.
Where a small fenced off dale comes in from the left descend steeply (take care) to the (sometimes boggy) dale bottom and go slightly right and then left for a rare experience in ascending the inverted "V" to the dale end. Remember any tracks you choose to follow will probably have been made by (wild) animals well adapted to the conditions. At the dale end the barbed wire topped metal gate (long locked and no trace of key) should be climbed with care. Turn right along the right hand side of the hedge dividing the cropped fields to reach the road. Go right again along the read for 200 metres to Stonepit Hill.
Take the farm track on the left opposite a waymarked track coming in from the left and follow it through to the black corrugated iron barns. Continue ahead between the barns and along tramlines or field edge to another quiet and remote Wolds dale (Stonepit Slack), crossing the fence at the dale edge with care and descending equally carefully on the left of the fence crossing the dale. At the dale bottom turn left and continue ahead over a rise to the edge of the next field. Turn right along the field edge and at the field corner follow the field edge uphill to the top right field corner. Take the green track going right along the ridge alongside Towthorpe Plantation. Follow this through to the B1248 Malton Road.
Cross to the public bridleway and follow this for 260 metres to a large post at the start of the second hedgerow running off to the loft. Descend left on the fieldside on the right of the hedge to enter Fairy Dale. Ignore, on this occasion, the no right of way notice and the the right hand side of the dale with its hurdle gate. Carefully cross the wire fence on the left, using the straw bales placed to help you, for the steep, tussocky descent into this little known dale. Look out for the Fairy Stones (a relic of the Ice Age) at the top of the dale on your right. At the dew pond follow the track as it loops right to pass the closed entrance of the Burdale Tunnel on the former Hull to Malton railway line. At the end of the dale turn right under the former rail bridge to Burdale Springs (Checkpoint 4 GR872623).
Go left along the road to Fimber and at a suitable point (opposite the metal gate and farm track ascending on the right to South Heights is probably best) cross the wooden fence on to the dismantled railway. Where the line approaches an embankment and the road alongside starts to swing to the right go through the gap in the fence on to the road. Pass the turning to Fridaythorpe on the right and where the copse on the right ends at a disused waste pit (GR881614) turn right up the track running up the fieldside. At the top turn left through the gap in the hedge and follow the fieldside to the hedge coming in from the right. Turn right along the left hand side of this hedge to the kissing gate leading into Wan Dale. There are cows and calves in the dale so negotiate gate and electric fence (hopefully switched off for today) with care. Take care, too, descending the steep daleside through the hawthorn bushes. This side of the dale is, in fact, a prehistoric embankment which extends most of the length of the dale. Follow the dale as it curves left and ends at a wood. Cross the stile or farm gate to go left then right along the side of the wood and rejoin Burdale Lane as it enters Fimber.
Turn right into Fimber and continue round to the left past the village hall and alongside the village green to turn left on to the B1261. Immediately after the last hose on the left (York House) climb over the double galvanised steel gates into the pasture. There are sheep and lambs in the field, so do not undo the gates. Head slightly right down the field to a similar set of gates on to the dismantled railway line and turn right to Fimber Grange Farm. At the end of the track turn left and then right to take the field edge on the left of the dismantled line. Follow the side of this field through to where the fence turns right. Go almost immediately left through the farm gate along the field side to the B1261. Cross this busy holiday route with care to the picnic area on the site of the former Fimber railway station. The site can be entered by going straight across the road and bearing left through the undergrowth at the end of the fence. Go right into the cleared area to pass the former station platform and turn left round the log cabin (toilets and snack bar) to the main entrance from the B1248. Cross with care and go left along the grass verge to turn right at the roundabout on to the tarmac drive to Fimber Nab farm.
As the drive rises to the farm buildings turn left on to the track running up York Bank alongside the B1261 road to Sledmere from Fimber roundabout. Go straight along York Bank top, through the splendid beech wood, to the edge of a side dale (Egg Dale). Turn steeply right uphill on a primrose bank to a chalk track corning in from the right. Turn left and continue on this clear track to Hanging Fall (Checkpoint 5 GR924629).
From the checkpoint turn left on the track, swinging right and left downhill, to the Wetwang road, Cross left and take the first gate on the right Into School House Dale. Continue along this very picturesque dale past the dew pond to the dale end. Ascend to the gate on the left of the wood ahead and follow the short track to the T-junction with another track. Turn loft to Avenue Farm. Go right on to the tarmac farm drive and then almost immediately left on to a farm track and then quickly right on to a green track through the wood. Turn right at the end of this track and continue along the southern edge of the deer park with its further views of the house. Just before the track reaches the Driffield Road look for the footpath (waymarked Circular Route) on the left which takes you back into Sledmere through a 200-year old avenue of beeches alongside the deer park.
Village Walk (start l pm, 8-9m approx — Route will be marked, but entrants may choose their own routes, using their knowledge of the estate): As in previous years start from Eleanor Cross. This year go through the village and turn up the Bridlington Road to the football field and take the footpath round the wood edge down to Croome House. Turn left through the yard to Croome Road and then right for a few yards to climb the bank on to the flower-lined footpath through Crow Wood. At the path end turn right on to the track to pass the pond and swing left round the plantation to Kirby Lane. Turn right and take the next left alongside another new plantation and the track curving loft to Marramatte.
Go round the farm to the drive leading to the Malton road. Cross into Mill Lane and continue ahead past the entrance to Mill Farm and then past Mill Cottage to the B1261. Cross with care to the footpath opposite and follow this to the Wetwang Road. Turn right and at the bend at the bottom of Keepers Hill take the track on the right up through York Dale wood. Follow this through to the left turn along the edge of Egg Dale and at the dale top turn left along the track (the long walk joins at this point) through to the checkpoint by the bird pens at Hanging Fall. The long route turns left at this point hut, this year. you continue ahead to cross the Wetwang Road and follow the green track to the hunting gate to come into School House Dale by the pond. Turn right along the dale and at the end continue to the gate at the top left corner and the track alongside Pry Corner, turning left at the end on to the track to Avenue Farm. At the track end go right and then half left through the wood to pick up the track along the southern end of the deer park.
Take either the circular route path on the left just before the Driffield Road or cross the road into Castle Wood and follow the track to pass the woodman's caravan. At the castle you may go left down the main drive back to the village or turn right along the grass strip and then left behind the castle to pick up the track through Cherry Wood. Just before the Bridlington Road exit turn left along a track running parallel to the road. Turn right at the end, cross the road to the track opposite and almost immediately, just past the log pile, take the dog walker's path through the spinney to the football field and thence to the village hall.
PLEASE NOTE: that for conservation, land management and safety reasons (especially where livestock is concerned) the access to private land on today's walks is not allowed at any other time without special permission from the farmers and landowners concerned.
The concessionary access today has been arranged with the help and guidance of: