Hessle Cliff, River Humber, Welton, Skidby, Bentley and Beverley (The Beverley 20)

As I drove my car from home to the Humber Bridge I clocked the mileage at 11 miles, and yet the distance to be walked was over 16 miles — how so? Looking at the map on the top of the page will give you one of the answers: the first three miles are spent following the river estuary upstream in a westerly direction. I began the walk in hazy spring sunshine and followed the muddy brown river from Hessle to North Ferriby. It was delightful walking on the grassy banks and a little more difficult on the few occasions I was forced onto the sandy banks of the river, though luckily this was not for too far.

After the three miles of walking alongside the River Humber I took a right-angled turn to my right and followed a northerly route through two woods: firstly Long Plantation, and then, after precariously crossing the A63(T), walking through the second wood, Terrace Plantation. In both woods the birds were feverishly singing their spring courting calls, and in both plantations there were lots of male blackbirds strutting on the woodland floors trying to impress the brown females. The smaller trees in the woods were also taking the benefit of shelter from their taller companions by sprouting into blossom and leaf earlier than their guardians, and spring flowers were also taking advantage of the assistance. It is a great time of year to do woodland walking!

After the pleasures of the woods I broke for elevenses in yet another wooded area, this time Bow Plantation near Welton. This plantation skirts the massive Melton Bottom Quarry, the underlying foundation of many roads and buildings in the area. After suitable refreshment I set out again, and after over 4 miles of woodland soon hit the open land of Welton Wold which is effectively the start of the Yorkshire Wolds on its southern edge. If you wished you could now follow the Wolds Way on its entire length to Filey. The sun was blazing on me now and I enjoyed a pause by the scenic pond at Wauldby Dam. The sun continued to shine and bless my early-season walk as I ambled in the quiet Wolds landscape towards Skidby.

Today's glorious weather was a continuation of a settled high-pressure system we had enjoyed for about a week. This lucky break had dried the ground out superbly, and all the walking I had done so far — riverside, woodland and open Wolds — had all been done in excellent walking conditions. This was to be the theme for the whole walk! Since Bow Plantation I had walked six miles in glorious sunshine to the village of Skidby. A good deal of this section of the Beverley 20 route was also on the Wolds Way and the High Hunsley Circuit — there are quite a few named routes in the area.

The village of Skidby, just south-west of Beverley and north-west of Hull, is noted for Skidby Mill, an English Heritage supported working windmill. You can see the windmill from miles around and I focused on it as I approached the village. The mill is not visited though, as you turn left when you reach the church in the picture (the mill is another half mile straight on). After Skidby I stopped for lunch in a lovely little dale (pictured) before setting off on the final six miles to Beverley. After lunch I moved out of the dale up to open Wolds and then down to Risby Park and Bentley village. From here on it's level walking all the way to the Minster — oddly you have to walk away from Beverley after Bentley before walking towards it! This is only for about half a mile to reach a footbridge across the busy A1079.

Once over the bridge you follow a bridleway to Model Farm (where I met and quickly avoided a grumpy Hereford bull!) and on to Old Hall before crossing the last few fields that lead you to the outskirts of Beverley. After a few streets you reach the Minster. Have an inspired look, take breath and congratulate yourself — you have done the Beverley 20! Today had been brilliant due to the extraordinary spring weather. I recalled my thoughts during the walk about tackling the Wolds Way; in fact I did it soon after this walk — it must have inspired me!