GEORGE WILKINSON dons waterproofs for a day exploring becks and woods.

KILNWICK is a village on the Wolds, or rather just off the higher ground, to the east, between Beverley and Driffield. When we got there it was tanking down, and we must have presented a strange sight as we gyrated in the car struggling into our waterproofs. But ten minutes later, as we rustled off north along the Minster Way, the sun came out, a layer came off and life was sweet.

Little rush-filled becks divide rough grass fields, a few hundred fieldfares lifted and settled on the branches, about a hundred per tree, moles were digging for spring and we entered a wet and willowy wood with a big duck pond and a fine brick house.

Next came a straight mile of track through gently rising ground with bare fields washed and battered by all the rain. This brought us out at a stylish farm for a sharp turn west along Burnbutts Lane which, though metalled, was very quiet. It runs along something of a ridge so we could see for miles to villages betrayed by church towers and spires.

The fields around here are enormous; my 2000 OS Explorer map showed one as three plots, each with a pond. However, in mitigation, the landscape looks neat, profitable, and easy on the eye.

We turned south for another long track, caught a strong westerly that took us sideways and also kept the birds down. The turn east back towards Kilnwick occurs just after another impressive farm with yards old and modern.

Here there are obvious earth shapes that tell of a village abandoned in the seventeenth century, and we saw a lovely patch of snowdrops and aconites, the prettiest harbingers of spring.

Next we followed a beck that emerged from Wedding Wood. It was full of watercress which can tolerate the low oxygen levels in water that has been underground. Pond fans can take a short diversion to a one-time square-shaped pool in a copse.

The last mile was the only time we got muddy boots, relevant hereabouts as the clay is most adhesive.

Back at Kilnwick, we had a gander at the church that has a good brick tower, and then a tour of the adjacent walled gardens where, from a colourful blooming of 15,000 primulas, we selected a Harlequin Blue.

Factfile

Distance: Five miles.

Time: Two or three hours.

General location: Near Beverley.

Start: Kilnwick.

Right of way: The complete route is along public rights of way.

Date walked: Saturday January 25, 2003.

Road route: From York A1079, A163 before Market Weighton, left after Middleton-on-the-Wolds.

Car parking: Streets in Kilnwick.

Lavatories: None.

Refreshments: None.

Tourist & public transport information: Beverley TIC 01482 867430.

Map: Based on OS Explorer 294, Yorkshire Wolds Central.

Terrain: Smooth, low arable slopes.

Points of interest: Very well waymarked.

Difficulty: Moderate/easy.

Dogs: Very suitable, stiles have lift up access for them.

Weather forecast: Evening Press and recorded forecast 0891 500 418

Please observe the Country Code and park sensibly. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers set out at their own risk.

Directions

When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.

1.From Main Street, just after leaving Church Lane, grassy track on left (signed Minster Way). Bridge over stream, straight on (4-way signpost), footbridge and stile, 11 o'clock to wood.

2. Stile and footbridge in corner and left to path through wood, stile/fieldgate and field-edge (by fence to right).

3. Right to road, 20 yards, field-edge track on left (signed). Ends at a gap in hedge in field before farm, go through gap, left, 10 yards, path on right across field, skirt farmyard.

4. Left to road.

5. At junction, straight on to track.

6. Track on left (signed Minster Way, before track turns right). Fieldgate and right to road through farmyard.

7. At bend, straight on to track (by Bracken Cottages), dog-leg left then right to pass barn, field-edge path, stile, 50 yards, right to road.

8. At bridge, path on left (so stream on right), plank footbridge (option to look at old pond - turn left, then right 25 yards, path on left into wood). Otherwise after plank footbridge, keep straight on, over side stream, rejoin outward route at waymarked stile.

Click here to view a map of the walk

Updated: 09:57 Saturday, February 01, 2003