Walking and Rambling discussion

[Kite159]

I tend to use Street view as some of the canal/rivers have been photographed to give an idea of what's it like on the ground.

Especially when it comes to riverside paths where some landowners decide the right of way doesn't apply and fences off their property. You could expect it for a minor footpath alongside a river but not for a named route such as the Severn Way (or even the Thames Path)

 

[johnnychips]

Thanks

Any idea if the towpath is accessible in the Whitley Bridge area (Templar Close), looking at satellite view and Street view there seems to be something between the canal & the housing estate but can't confirm anything at the images are not great.

I continued my walk along the Aire rather than the canal, so I can’t help, unfortunately.
As a general point, as @THC hints, it is often difficult to work out whether tracks, embankments or towpaths next to rivers which are not public footpaths are walkable or not. Just a few km north up the A19 at Chapel Haddlesey, a track by the lock seems to link two public footpaths. It turned out to be gated with ‘private’ signs everywhere. As it wasn’t a house drive I’m afraid I climbed over them, but when I did regain the public footpath it was fenced off in places.

 

[bspahh]

I continued my walk along the Aire rather than the canal, so I can’t help, unfortunately.
As a general point, as @THC hints, it is often difficult to work out whether tracks, embankments or towpaths next to rivers which are not public footpaths are walkable or not. Just a few km north up the A19 at Chapel Haddlesey, a track by the lock seems to link two public footpaths. It turned out to be gated with ‘private’ signs everywhere. As it wasn’t a house drive I’m afraid I climbed over them, but when I did regain the public footpath it was fenced off in places.

Strava.com has a heat map which shows which routes people have used when they have been using the app. You need to register and log in to view it, but it is free.


It shows where people have been with a GPS that that have uploaded to Strava, and not where there is a public right of way, as demonstrated in by tracks around Bagram air base in Afghanistan

 

[Iskra]

Could anyone kindly recommend some nice (ideally coastal) walks between stations on the stretch of line between Hull and Scarborough?

(Or any other good coastal walks within 2 hours train journey from West Yorkshire)

 

[ChrisC]

Could anyone kindly recommend some nice (ideally coastal) walks between stations on the stretch of line between Hull and Scarborough?

(Or any other good coastal walks within 2 hours train journey from West Yorkshire)

Scarborough to Filey along the cliff top is well worth doing with the highlight being the short detour at the Filey end to walk up Filey Brigg.

The other direction heading south from Filey to Bempton is also a good walk.

Probably the most spectacular is the coastal walk south from Bempton to Bridlington walking around Flamborough Head but that is around 14 miles and very hard going with lots of up and down sections. The hourly number 14 bus from Bridlington to Flamborough North Landing could help shorten this walk by a few miles.

Last summer, when I was staying in Leeds I got the train out to Hull, and then the summer Saturday only 72 bus to Spurn Point Discovery Centre. This was a wonderful walk down the lane to the lighthouse and then beyond to the very end of Spurn Point and then back up the beach. It required an early start from Leeds and a change of bus at Patrington on the outward journey from Hull. Its a much longer walk than it looks on the map but well worth doing.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Could anyone kindly recommend some nice (ideally coastal) walks between stations on the stretch of line between Hull and Scarborough?

(Or any other good coastal walks within 2 hours train journey from West Yorkshire)

They're quite old now but the YCCRP produced some leaflets which are still available on their website of walks from stations on the line.

Our Walks | yccrp

Walks from stations on the Yorkshire Coast line.

www.yccrp.co.uk

I did walk 3 from Bempton to Filey earlier this summer, it's a great walk but as the latter half is on the beach you have to check the tide times before you go. It's also rather disappointing that there's pubs at the start and end but none en route! *


* Unless you include the new Wetherspoons at Primrose Valley holiday park which may or may not be for residents only.

 

[Iskra]

Scarborough to Filey along the cliff top is well worth doing with the highlight being the short detour at the Filey end to walk up Filey Brigg.

The other direction heading south from Filey to Bempton is also a good walk.

Probably the most spectacular is the coastal walk south from Bempton to Bridlington walking around Flamborough Head but that is around 14 miles and very hard going with lots of up and down sections. The hourly number 14 bus from Bridlington to Flamborough North Landing could help shorten this walk by a few miles.

Last summer, when I was staying in Leeds I got the train out to Hull, and then the summer Saturday only 72 bus to Spurn Point Discovery Centre. This was a wonderful walk down the lane to the lighthouse and then beyond to the very end of Spurn Point and then back up the beach. It required an early start from Leeds and a change of bus at Patrington on the outward journey from Hull. Its a much longer walk than it looks on the map but well worth doing.

They're quite old now but the YCCRP produced some leaflets which are still available on their website of walks from stations on the line.

Our Walks | yccrp

Walks from stations on the Yorkshire Coast line.

www.yccrp.co.uk

I did walk 3 from Bempton to Filey earlier this summer, it's a great walk but as the latter half is on the beach you have to check the tide times before you go. It's also rather disappointing that there's pubs at the start and end but none en route! *


* Unless you include the new Wetherspoons at Primrose Valley holiday park which may or may not be for residents only.

Thanks both, I'll report back. Based on your suggestions I may do Bempton to Filey and then head up Filey Brigg too and then back to Filey. The tide times seem to work well on the day I'm planning. It is possible that I do Garsdale to Dent instead, it will just depend how I feel on the day.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Aug 2026 ==

Thanks to both @CaptainHaddock & @ChrisC , I enjoyed a fantastic walk from Bempton to Filey today, it was a little bit of a challenge in the heat, but it was definitely worth it for the great views.

 

[D6130]

Great photos....sounds like a good walk! Where did you drink the pint of Pride?

 

[Iskra]

Great photos....sounds like a good walk! Where did you drink the pint of Pride?

Thanks!

Despite the glass, it was actually a Bradfield Brewery beer (and very nice it was too). The pub was The Station

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Last Saturday I walked part of the Brampton Valley Way, which follows the trackbed of the old railway line from Market Harborough to Northampton. The whole route is around 15 miles but I only did the first four miles south of Market Harborough before turning off to the village of Arthingworth for a liquid lunch. My plan had been to then walk 5 miles east to Desborough but the footpath was very hard to find and, once I came to a field full of cows I reconsidered, returned to Arthingworth and instead followed the slightly clearer field paths to Braybrooke where I was able to catch a Stagecoach 18 bus back to Market Harborough.

I probably walked around 8 miles in all, of which about half was on the railway trackbed. The highlight was Oxenden tunnel which is around 400 metres and unlike many old tunnels is unlit; online guides advise bringing a torch but for a better sensory experience I preferred to do it in the dark! Like many old railway paths lineside vegetation means little in the way of views for much of the way, but it’s quite well maintained and once out of the urban area was pleasantly quiet so I would recommend. Perhaps the whole 15 mile route might be a possible future forum walk, if it hasn’t been done already, @yorkie ?

 

[Techniquest]

@CaptainHaddock I like the sound of that, an epic walk there and certainly a good challenge to do in one session.

@Kite159 has done the whole route already if memory serves correctly. I keep forgetting it exists, I will now have to ensure I get it done. Assuming I do it and remember that this thread exists, I’ll post some feedback.

There’s been a lot of awesome walks that I haven’t ever shared on this thread because I always forget about it

 

[Kite159]

One of the first walks I did which made use of the £2 fare on the bus. The hardest part was reaching the start of the walk in Northampton (from memory one of the bridges underneath the railway was flooded). Certainly a nice walk from memory.

Anyhow on Monday I finally finished the Thames Path with the section from Cricklade to the Source Stone at Kemble, getting to that time of year where rural walking is becoming muddy/waterlogged.

 

[Hadders]

Last Saturday I walked part of the Brampton Valley Way, which follows the trackbed of the old railway line from Market Harborough to Northampton. The whole route is around 15 miles but I only did the first four miles south of Market Harborough before turning off to the village of Arthingworth for a liquid lunch. My plan had been to then walk 5 miles east to Desborough but the footpath was very hard to find and, once I came to a field full of cows I reconsidered, returned to Arthingworth and instead followed the slightly clearer field paths to Braybrooke where I was able to catch a Stagecoach 18 bus back to Market Harborough.

I probably walked around 8 miles in all, of which about half was on the railway trackbed. The highlight was Oxenden tunnel which is around 400 metres and unlike many old tunnels is unlit; online guides advise bringing a torch but for a better sensory experience I preferred to do it in the dark! Like many old railway paths lineside vegetation means little in the way of views for much of the way, but it’s quite well maintained and once out of the urban area was pleasantly quiet so I would recommend. Perhaps the whole 15 mile route might be a possible future forum walk, if it hasn’t been done already, @yorkie ?

I walked the whole Brampton Valley Way on a very hot day in 2021. 28.3km which took me 5h15.

I'm from Northampton so am familiar with where the walk starts, I took a bus to Kings Heath and started there. Lots of building work is taking place in this area at the moment and I'm unsure how this is impacting the path.

Walking the tunnels is an amazing experience, they were nice and cool on a very hot day but I would strongly advise taking a good torch. From market Harborough you can get the X7 back to Northampton or take a EMR train towards either London or Leicester.

 

[778]

I walked the whole Brampton Valley Way on a very hot day in 2021. 28.3km which took me 5h15.

I'm from Northampton so am familiar with where the walk starts, I took a bus to Kings Heath and started there. Lots of building work is taking place in this area at the moment and I'm unsure how this is impacting the path.

Walking the tunnels is an amazing experience, they were nice and cool on a very hot day but I would strongly advise taking a good torch. From market Harborough you can get the X7 back to Northampton or take a EMR train towards either London or Leicester.

You must be a very fast walker to do it in that time. Does the 5h15 include any breaks?

 

[Hadders]

You must be a very fast walker to do it in that time. Does the 5h15 include any breaks?

Looking at my Strava app moving time was 5h15, total time was 6h09. I seem to remember we stopped a couple of times during the walk.

 

[Tester]

You must be a very fast walker to do it in that time. Does the 5h15 include any breaks?

That piqued my interest as I have also done it - so I checked my records.

I arrived at Northampton station at 1337 on 21 June 2021 (scheduled time, as RTT+ only goes back to September 2021) and was on the 1903 from Market Harborough (which I remember only just catching). I walked station to station - the first bit by road.

So that is 5h26. My satnav shows 29km (which means between 29.0 and 29.9km) and 5h52 (which I generally find that I am a little faster than).

I won't have stopped much, but it's clearly doable - and was indeed a lovely walk!

 

[Techniquest]

You must be a very fast walker to do it in that time. Does the 5h15 include any breaks?

My personal record, a couple of years ago now, is 15 miles in 3 hours. It did take some effort in places, I think if I was to do a new attempt it would be around 3.5 hours now.

This is sure spurring me on to do this adventure from Northampton to Market Harborough, something to aim to do next month realistically now. I have a spot in my calendar where I can fit it in in 12th October, that might just be it. Pending the weather of course!