George Wilkinson enjoys a gentle climb or two around Millington, near Pocklington.

MILLINGTON'S swallows were picking up nesting material, we picked up a wide and colourful verge and strolled through a shallow valley of greening trees and racing crops.

After a peacock, a clear stream and some shadows of an ancient moat we took Miller Lane, tramped some chalky fields, passed some fine new farm sheds and climbed up through Pocklington Wood, there to be refreshed by bluebells and garlic flowers.

At the other end of the wood there is a super view over the rooftops of Pocklington to the flatlands York and Selby way. Communication towers broadcast the modern message from Chapel Hill. From here a channel under thorns leads to Spring Wood. At Hunger Hill we should have had our sandwiches but didn't wish to upset the golfers also on the fairway.

There is even more tranquillity just down the road at the Madhyamaka Buddhist Centre. This occupies Kilnwick Percy Hall and the grounds are open access, see the map on the gate and if you like select an idyllic lakeside sandwich spot.

We took a quiet open road through crops hazy with borage to link with the Wolds Way, a track that rises above the leafy depths of Warren Dale and reaches the smooth Whinny Hill.

Big black gnats had been brought out by the sunshine and held their place in a stiff westerly by congregating behind a windbreak hedge of double thickness, thorn one side and elder the other. There was a good view down on to Millington with the treetops of Givendale behind.

The descent, on the Minster Way, links with a crystal stream. Back in the sheltered village, we supped a nice cup of tea at the Ramblers Rest and a smart cart rolled by drawn by a pair of grand black horses.

Directions:

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

1. From church, east along Pocklington Road. On second bend, track on left (sign after 20 yards), 100 yards, gates and switch to field-edge path, young trees on left then hedge/wood for 200 yards then 1 o'clock across corner to stile (wire at knee height to right).

2. Right to track at farm, 50 yards, stile on left, 1 o'clock, stile, keep by fence/trees on right for 100 yards. Stile and footbridge over beck, 2 o'clock, stile, left to road, right at junction to road, 200 yards.

3. Path on left straight across field towards trees, field-edge path by gappy hedge, left when it ends, 50 yards. Right to road, 50 yards, track on left by trees (Mile Field Farm), ignore left forks, uphill through wood.

4. At wood-edge, path on right, left at first sharp corner, i.e. not path through wood, path loops round then goes through wood, snickelgate, 1 o'clock across field, snickelgate.

5. Cross track to path (fence on left, don't descend), 200 yards, left to path at 3-way junction (signed) beside golf course.

6. At end of wood, straight on across golf course (ditch on right at first).

7. At road, EITHER right for a look at or visit to hall grounds OR left on road then at sharp left-hand bend take track uphill (signed).

8. Left at T-junction at end of wood on grassy path, left at concrete post, right along hillside edge.

9. Stile on left before farm, straight downhill to left of fence, stile, stile and left to track. At right-hand bend turn left downhill across grass (waymarked post) to stile, stream, path then track back into village.

Fact file:

Distance: Six miles.

Time: Three hours.

General location: The Wolds.

Start: Millington.

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

Date walked: Saturday, May 8, 2004.

Road route: Millington is two miles north-east of Pocklington.

Car parking: Roadside.

Lavatories: None.

Refreshments: The Gate Inn. The Ramblers Rest tearoom and restaurant

Tourist & public transport information: Beverley TIC 01482 867430.

Map: Based on OS Explorer 294 Yorkshire Wolds central.

Terrain: Low hills.

Points of interest: Open Access at Kilnwick Percy Hall parkland is due to end on September 30 2004; sometimes these arrangements are renewed, update on www.countrywalks.defra.gov.uk

Difficulty: Two gentle climbs.

Dogs: Suitable.

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

Click here to view a map of the walk

Updated: 08:35 Saturday, May 22, 2004