The majority of this walk is on well signposted public rights of way (including large sections of the Wolds Way) so this is a general guide rather than a detailed description. It should be read in conjunction with OS Explorer 292 (Kingston upon Hull and Beverley).
A very small section on the western leg is on OS 291 but is not significant for the purpose of this description.
From the start at Brantingham village pond go SW along Burrill Lane to the T-junction and turn right towards South Cave. Where the road turns sharp left (Checkpoint 1) turn right into Woodale Road. The path bears left round the back of Woodale Farm where it joins the Wolds Way. Continue left along the edge of Woodale Plantation and on meeting the farm track at Mount Airy Farm turn left past the farm and onto the farm road. The road straightens after a sharp right bend through a plantation. On the straight stretch take the waymarked path to the left, dropping steeply down through fields to a short track and Checkpoint 2 on the Beverley road out of South Cave.
Cross and turn right to the lane on the left. Follow this uphill and to the right, as it becomes a track into Little Wold Plantation. Just past a seat on the left take a narrow but distinct footpath twisting through the wood to Low Newton Lane. Turn right to Checkpoint 3 and then follow the track alongside the wood to rejoin the Wolds Way as it emerges from Little Wold Plantation. Look for the steps and stile on the left leading to Comber Dale and, at the dale bottom, go left over the stile to the wood side field path which soon develops into a clear track. Keep ahead as the track becomes a tarmac road passing Drewton Manor.
At the road junction (take care, busy road) turn right for a short distance to the marked track on the left. Follow this through to North Cave, making sure after a right turn to take the fieldside path to the left rather than following the other waymarked path straight ahead. Where the path emerges on a bend in the road leading into North Cave cross to the pavement and go into the village to Checkpoint 4 in the recreation ground opposite the church.
From the recreation ground cross to the lane opposite and go straight ahead through the gates to Hotham Hall. Follow the track through the Park to Hotham village, turning left along the main street and following it left and right to the church at the end. As the road turns right Checkpoint 5 is at the start of a track continuing straight ahead. Where the right of way turns left off the track on to a fieldside path it also runs off Explorer 293 onto Explorer 291, but this is not critical. Where the path joins a cinder farm track turn right along the track and keep ahead past the farm on to the fieldside path leading to Houghton rhododendron woods.
Ignore all turnings to right or left and follow the track ahead through the wood and across two fields to the lane (stile) into Sancton. Turn right into the village and Checkpoint 6 (12 ¾ miles) at the Star Inn (currently closed for alterations).
From the inn cross the road left to the track (Dale Road) opposite the nursery school and follow the main track, soon heading slightly uphill over Arras Wold to the SELF CLIP Checkpoint 7 at the fingerpost where the track meets Hessleskew Lane and the Wolds Way (which can now be followed, except for a small detour at Mount Airy, to Brantingham Church). Turn right along the road and where it bends to the right continue straight ahead (ignoring track to the left) on the marked track (Wolds Way). Keep ahead, past the trig point, to the road to turn right and then left on to a track dropping down over Newbold Wold to Checkpoint 8 at Wrangmandale Farm.
From the checkpoint continue west along the road to a track on the left where the Wolds Way turns into Swin Dale. Follow the waymarked path to the dale end where it turns sharply right up the dale side and then left along the fieldside to a minor road. Turn right, cross the road leading to North Newbald, and continue on the minor road for a short distance to the footpath on the left leading to the millennium beacon at High Hunsley and the busy B 1230 road.
Turn right along the verge, which has been extended with fine chippings to provide a hard shoulder for walkers for the 200 yards or so to the waymarked Wolds Way (and traditional Rudolph's Romp route) on the left. Currently this path is marked as closed, although the closure (for safety reasons) only applies to a short section of eroded pathway at Weedley Springs in the dale bottom. This area can, in fact, be quite safely negotiated by taking a line higher up the hillside, which will be the line of a bridleway to be created (at great expense to local ratepayers in litigation and other costs) during the coming year. Use this at your own risk.
The alternative route from the beacon is to go a further 5-600 yards along the road (taking particular care at the bend) to the next marked footpath on the left which drops down over Drewton Wold past Diamond Cottage to the Drewton Dale track used earlier in the walk. There a left hand turn leads, as does the Wolds Way route, to the foot of Comber Dale.
Reversing the earlier route it is then up the dale to the stile and steps and a right turn along the track to Long Plantation, this time entering the wood via the waymarked track on the left. Shortly after leaving the wood take the marked path on the left going steeply downhill alongside a willow coppice to a footbridge and a short path to the Beverley Road out of South Cave. Cross left to Great Wold Lane (Checkpoint 9) leading to Mount Airy faint Where the lane turns right carry on left up the steeper hill on the footpath leading through a plantation.
Shortly After Leaving The Plantation On A Fieldside Path Turn Right On To A Track Leading Past A Private Airstrip And Then Right Again To Mount Airy Farm And The Wolds Way Path On The Left Used At The Beginning Of The Walk. At Woodale Farm Follow The Wolds Way Uphill To The Left And The Kissing Gate To The Path Down To Brantingham Dale And Checkpoint 10. Then Ifs Right And Straight Along The Road To The Finish at Brantingham Village Hall.
Well Done! We Hope You Have Enjoyed Your Day In The Yorkshire Wolds.