A ‘G-nother GNU’ in the East Riding

I would guess that most of the 32 walkers would have given this walk 10 out of 10, writes Peter Rowsell, of Doncaster Ramblers.

Many thanks to David Lee for planning and impeccably leading it.

We started from Sancton, in the Yorkshire Wolds, and walked in a north-easterly direction up the magnificent typical Wolds dry valley, in the cold shade for the first half, then warmer as we came into bright sunshine.

At the head of the valley, we turned south along a minor road for five minutes, then, as the road turned to the west we continued on a track southwards and then west until we reached our lunchtime destination of North Newbald.

The Gnu Inn – the Flanders and Swann song comes to mind for some of us of a certain age – was most welcoming, opening up especially for us as well as providing free teas and coffees and a warm welcome.

The afternoon walk took us eastwards towards Houghton Moor and a lovely, occasionally muddy, walk through the woods to a point where David offered us a short option back to Sancton or a slightly longer route, which most took.

A brilliant day for walking and for photogaphy – visit our website to judge for yourself – with grateful thanks for David for leading and Neil for his impeccable back-marking.

Point of Interest

North Newbald - located on the communal village green is the whipping post used in the last public flogging carried out in Britain.

The parish church of St Nicholas was designated a Grade I-listed building in 1968 and is now recorded in the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England.

Built about 1140, it has been described as the “finest Norman church in East Yorkshire”.

It has a cruciform plan without aisles and with a tall central tower.

Three Norman doorways make the building rare.

For more information about the Doncaster Ramblers and future activity please visit its website and download a full copy of the group’s walk programme – www.doncasterramblers.org.uk/walks/walks-programme-printed-version.html

Also, follow the group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/doncasterramblers, where GPS Maps of many of its past walks can also be found.

Doncaster Ramblers produces a comprehensive brochure of planned walks every six months. This includes all the meeting arrangements for walks, distances, difficulty and a contact number for the walk leader. There is also a wealth of useful information about the group for newcomers.

Its website contains a wealth of up to date information, walk reports and photographs. For more information, see www.doncasterramblers.org.uk