A hilly route on the western edge of the Wolds, on grassy tracks and quiet roads.Route Description
Introduction
The route starts on the edge of the Wolds, and then dives into and out of the local chalk valleys, before returning to the start along the edge of the Wolds. In clear weather there are great views out over the vale of York. Much of the route is on grassy farm tracks, linked by a series of minor roads. The area is very pretty with small unspoilt villages and deserted dales and woodlands
Conditions
Like most of the Wolds, conditions can be very muddy in winter. There are some climbs, although most are not excessively long, or technical. In summer conditions most of the ascents can be ridden.
Alternatives
Some of the worst sections for boggy conditions can be bypassed. The rather boggy valley floor from SE 856 568 to Millington Dale, can be missed by using the bridleway which descends from Millington Heights. The section from SE 848 540 to the road can be avoided by taking the valley floor bridleway that heads east, and is the recommended choice in winter, as the other BW can be churned up by cattle. For a shorter route, simply start the route in Millington, and head north from Millington to rejoin the route.
Hazards
No particular hazards, bar getting very muddy in winter.
Route Description
Park in Great Givendale, either by the church (just make sure it's not a day when there is a service), or in the village. Head towards the chuch at the top end of the village and pickup the track which descends through the trees past the church. Follow the track through the wood, and past a gate and into a field. Follow the muddy track along side the stream until you reach a small bridge at SE 822 534. Past through the gate, and head up the very steep hill. The climb soon eases off, and you need to keep going in the same direction towards a gate. After the gate, take the left hand fork of the bridleway and climb up to the road on the narrow path to the left of the hedge. You can also follow the right hand fork past the farm, and up to the road, and turn left to rejoin the route. At the road turn left and head up the gently climbing road until you reach a crossroads at Millington Grange. From up here, on a clear day there are amazing views over the vale of York. In clear weather you can see views stretching from the Yorkshire Dales, to Flamborough Head and the Humber Bridge. At the crossroads, take the right hand fork, and carry on along the road to further junction, where you again turn right. At at crossroads with a road to the left (signposted for Huggate), look for a BW to the right, heading down into the woods.
Turn right onto this BW, and follow the steeply descending track into the woods. At the bottom of the descent the track will emerge from the woods into a field, before entering the woods again. At the junction with another track in the woods, turn left (which is waymarked) and carry on down the muddy track. The track will come out of the woods into a grassy dale. Keep on following the valley bottom, which can be very muddy in winter, until you pass through two gates and arrive at a minor road. Turn right onto the minor road, and after 1/4 of a mile, you will see a bridleway signpost on the left. The area around the gate is very muddy. In dry conditions, follow the BW which climbs to the left, up to a wood. This signposted for the 'Wolds Way'. In wet conditions follow the BW which heads due east up the valley, and carry on until you reach the road. Climb up the side of the valley along some nice but steep singletrack, and keep going until you reach a small wood. Follow the BW around the side of the wood, and then into the wood. You will leave the wood at a gate, where you need to turn right and follow the path just below the fence. At the time of writting, the ground was very churned up by cattle, and was impossible to ride in places. Keep following the bridleway along the fence, past the coniferous wood to the right, until you reach a road.
Go through the gate, and turn right on the road, and head gently downhill for just over 3/4 of a mile, until just before you reach a farm house, there is a BW on the left (the wet weather route rejoins the route here). Turn left onto the grassy track and follow it for a mile or so until you reach a minor road. Cross the minor road and carry on along the continuation of the BW. Eventually, you will reach a road at SE 896 544. Turn right on the road, and follow it for 1/4 of a mile, until you see a farm drive way on the right with a BW waymark. Turn right onto the driveway and follow it down towards the farm. Just before the farm, the BW turns right, and heads around the side of a narrow wood. After passing along the wood, you will reach a track. Turn right on the track and follow it to a gate, about a small valley. Go through the gate and head down into the valley, ignoring the track which crosses the valley. Carry on along the grassy surface of the dry valley, until you reach a well surfaced gravel track, besides the wood. Carry on down this track, until at the end of the wood, you will see a sign pointing right, confusing labeled footpath. It's actually a BW, so turn right, and head up the steep side of the valley, next to the end of the wood, until you come to a small gate. Go through the gate and keep going in the same direction, until the BW take you to a further wood. Turn left at the wood, and then immediately right , to follow the edge of the wood. Follow the obvious grassy track west. A few hundred yards short of where the BW reaches the road, there is a track along side a hedge on the left (at the time of writting there was no waymark). Turn left and follow it downhill, until the BW turns right, and onto a different track. Follow the track until it reaches a road at SE 877 512.
At the road turn left and head down the hill towards the village. At the junction with the B1246, turn left, and head towards the pretty village of Warter. After 250 yards you will come to a stone cross War Memorial. Slightly further on there is a post office with a shop, which keeps limited opening hours, but there is no pub in the village. At the junction by the War Memorial, turn left and head through the village, past the school and houses, until you reach a junction just outside the village. Turn left and follow the road downhill. After crossing to the other side of the river, the road meanders along the valley, until 2 miles from Warter you come to a junction. Turn right and head into the small village of Nunburnholm, and follow the road through the village until you come to another junction. Take the left hand fork, and start to climb towards the woods. 300 yards after the speed limit signs, look for a BW on the left. It's marked as part of the Wolds Way. Turn right and head up the short, but very steep rough track until you reach a gate. Carry on in the same direction, on the right hand side of the field. This section can be very boggy, as there are underground springs here.  After 3/4 of a mile of not particularly pleasant riding, you will reach a farm. Past through the farm, following the waymarks until you reach a tarmac drive on the left. Carry on along the drive, until just before the bungalow, there is a way mark pointing right and uphill. Follow the BW uphill for a 100 yards, and then turn left, along the edge of a field until you reach the B1246 at SE 837 496.
Cross the road, and go through the gate on the otherside to the countinuation of the BW. Descend the BW towards the corner of the wood, before climbing again. After going down and up again, the BW suddenly turn right and then left at the corner of a field. Shortly after this you reach Warrendale Farm. Pass through the farm and head steeply downhill towards the wood, before climbing again and reaching a junction with a minor road. Carry on in the same direction towards Millington. 1 mile later, after descending and climbing again you will reach a cross roads in the village of Millington. There is a pub, and a tea room called the Rambler's Rest, which seems not to mind muddy mountain bikers either. Just after the tea room, pass through the village, and follow the road around to the left, until you reach a crossroads on the edge of the village. Cross over the junction and follow the road up a draggy climb until you reach a further junction at the top of the hill at SE 826 524. Head over the junction and join the rough farm track. Follow the track downhill and past the cottages. At the farm yard, look for the waymarks pointing you towards a grassy track. Follow the track until you reach a gate. At this point you have reached part of the route you have already ridden. Simply go through the gate, and follow the track back towards the church and the village to return to the start.
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