ELEPHANTS are supposed to be the animals that never forget, but border collie Barney showed remarkable powers of memory on the Yorkshire Wolds Way.

When I last walked the circular Wolds route from Fridaythorpe to Huggate about three years ago, Barney took exception to the number of bird scarers detonating all around him.

We had only been walking a few hundred yards on our recent return when he seemingly realised where he was and sat down on the pavement, refusing to budge.

When stubbornness kicks in, there is no moving him. The slamming of a car door in Wetwang is enough to scare him witless.

Deciding against dragging him all the way to Huggate and back, I opted for the "carry him until he forgets the way back to the car" option.

The downside of this policy is that 25kg of reluctant dog can be difficult to manhandle while walking.

It took about three-quarters of a mile for the benefits to be revealed, when Barney finally yielded and trotted along in our chosen direction.

With our four-legged friend now on board, we descended into Holm Dale.

The magic of a Wolds walk is the way in which the scenery is gradually revealed around a series of glacial curves in the high sided valleys.

This is the case a flotilla of butterflies accompanies us along the lush green base of Holm Dale to its junction with Horse Dale.

Now, we experience another delight as we gain height to reach the ridge of the Dale. Despite being only 180 metres up, the views are tremendous across neat, seemingly manicured fields on the chalky tops.

The driveway of another impossibly tidy farm delivers you to the threshold of Huggate, a short detour away from the Yorkshire Wolds Way.

Huggate is a perfectly manicured village, one resident we spoke to revealing that the challenge of keeping up with the neighbours ensured it stayed that way.

The anticipation of refreshment grew as we approached the far end of the village, the site of the historic Wolds Inn.

On arrival at the 16th century watering hole, our hopes were crushed by news that the bar closes for a few hours on a Saturday afternoon.

Barney's name was mud. Again. It had closed 20 minutes before we arrived, roughly the amount of time is took to shift him earlier.

Having regretfully retraced our steps through the village and rejoined the Wolds Way, we instead took a scenic tea stop on the ridge of Horse Dale. An ideal spot to contemplate the idiosyncrasies of the canine species.

The route back to Fridaythorpe takes us up onto Huggate Wold through the immaculate yard of Wold House Farm, which falls under the gaze of a striking statue of David Midgley, a bronze tribute to the farm's foreman from 1957 to 1988.

The view over fields of cereal crops stretches far and wide in all directions on a virtually cloudless mid-summer day.

Idyllic. Until we are brought quickly to our senses by a herd of inquisitive cattle back at the head of Holm Dale, attracted like a magnet to our companion collie.

After spilling safely back through the gate onto the lane into Fridaythorpe, we can reflect on a superb walk that might never have been if Barney had got his way.

In fact, he had sent us into such a lather at the start of our walk, we missed the Wolds Heritage plaque to Lance Moxon on a cottage near the A166.

The plaque bears the words: "The first person in the Wolds to start collecting vintage washing machines. Resident here since 2009."

A fitting end to a pleasant spin round the Wolds.

ROUTE DETAILS

* From pond in Fridaythorpe, head to A166, turn right and in 200 yards turn left at Yorkshire Wolds Way sign. After passing several houses, road becomes a track between hedges. When you meet a three-way junction, go ahead through a gate into a field (1).

* Continue straight ahead down into Holm Dale. At the end of the dale, go ahead through a gate and follow clear path diagonally uphill to a gate on the ridge (2).

* Follow the hedge on the right-hand edge of a field until you reach the drive of Northfield House. Turn right and head downhill to the end of the drive, where you join the road.

* As the road starts to rise (3), ignore the drive to your right and continue uphill into the village of Huggate. Continue through the village and, at a T-junction, turn left to the Wolds Inn.

* To continue the walk, retrace your steps through the village, looking out for a gate in the hedge on the left just after the last house. Go diagonally downhill across the field to a gate in the far bottom corner.

* Turn left along the lane, rejoining the Yorkshire Wolds Way. After 300 yards or so, look for a narrow path to the left of the road between fields and gardens. Continue uphill to join a drive and turn left away from the houses. After a short distance, turn right off the Wolds Way to follow a hedge at the edge of a field.

* Go through a gate and turn left to follow the ridge of Horse Dale (4). The path gradually drops to the bottom of the dale. Go through a gate and follow the path uphill, gradually bearing right to a gate.

* Continue uphill at the edge of a field until you reach the drive of Wold House Farm. Turn right and, as you approach the farmhouse, turn left (5). Aim for the gap between buildings to your right and head away from the farm under a line of trees.

* Follow the farm track across fields on Huggate Wold for just over a mile before emerging at a gate into the field at the head of Holm Dale. Follow the boundary back to a gate, then follow the track back to Fridaythorpe.

FACTFILE

Distance: six and a half miles Parking: Roadside parking in Fridaythorpe, just off A166 Refreshments: Wolds Inn, Huggate Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer 294 Market Weighton and Yorkshire Wolds Central