We set off to the scent of new mown grass, past Temperance House and the Crown and Cushion and left the village of Welburn down Water Lane for a super true blue walk.

Others were strolling over Primrose Hill and a couple from Norfolk were here for the bluebells. East Moor Banks were solid with them, as far as the eye could see, a few out.

We were in the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and closing on Castle Howard. The other side of the wood is the fabulous display - the Mausoleum, the Pyramid and the great Vanbrugh house, the southern faade. The estate tarmac provides a perfect half-mile long viewing platform for free.

At the Gate House we strolled a short length of the arrow-straight four-mile avenue and entered Brandrith Wood, which was refreshing for more bluebells and shade from the mid-day sun. Here we dug for our sandwiches, but someone had left them in the boot. However we had seen a sign to the tearoom in Bulmer and that's where we were headed, the village was visible just a few fields away from the edge of the wood. Bulmer has lovely old houses, but the tearoom/shop/post office was shut. So we chewed our emergency rations, noted a poster advertising The Road To Perdition and set off under the cherry blossom for Wandales Lane, a dead-end road.

That was pleasant. The ground here was deeply cracked from a rainless month, a pair of courting brown butterflies climbed high into the sky. For us a 100ft climb brought views of Sheriff Hutton Castle four miles away in the Vale of York heat haze.

Then we entered Bulmer Hag where, to our delight, was our third dose of bluebells. Not many at first, a little bright for them under the pine fringed larch, but here we found the insect of the day, a black shield-shaped beetle with a brown head, handsome and a passing mimic of a bit of pine cone. As conifers gave way to broad-leaved trees, the plants solidified and were the furthest advanced in flower, whole clumps in bloom, acres ready to burst into blue.

We cut across the Castle Howard avenue again at a point that will be brilliant with garlic. Less pleasing was the cluster of very out-of-date "Foot and Mouth" signs, a spring-clean due.

A dirt track took us to a view-point above Bulmer and over Castle Howard, and another dirt track called Whitwell Road dropped us down to the village, where we headed straight for the Crown and Cushion, too late unfortunately for lunch, but we were warmly welcomed and sipped shandy in the pub's lovely evergreen back garden.

Fact File

Distance: Six miles.

Time: Three hours.

General location: Howardian Hills.

Start: The village of Welburn.

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

Date walked: Friday, April 18, 2003.

Road route: From the A64 between York and Malton.

Car parking: Roadside.

Lavatories: None.

Refreshments: The Crown and Cushion at Welburn, tearoom at Bulmer.

Tourist and public transport information: Malton TIC 01653 600048.

Map: Based on OS Explorer 300 Castle Howard and Malton.

Terrain: Low hills.

Points of interest: The entrance to the Castle Howard Arboretum is en route, near the Gate House. It is ace but warrants a couple of hours. £3.50 adults, £1.50 children. Tel: 01653 648333.

Difficulty: Moderate. Good paths, gates and waymarking.

Dogs: Suitable.

Weather forecast: Evening Press and recorded forecast 0891 500 418

Directions

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

1. From pub, left, left to Water Lane, 200 yards, left fork to track (signed), cross a track, path to wood, gate to woodland path, gate out at tracks junction.

2. Left to tarmac track (signed Bulmer). Left to road/avenue (wide verge), 200 yards. Track on right, stile/field gate (signed), main track through woods until 100 yards before far edge then leave track as it curves right and take path out of wood (waymarked post).

3. Field-edge path for 20 yards, left to path, right at field corner, switch to other side of hedge at waymarked post. Left to road, 100 yards, path on right, gate on left, 1 o'clock across field, metal gate/fieldgate, right to hedge gap, gate on right to path between gardens. Gate, cross grass and left to lane.

4. Right through village, left to dead-end lane between Scatterpenny and Wandale Cottages (no road sign).

5. Leave main track/road at right-hand bend, dog-leg to track/path ahead (fence on right), left steep uphill to top corner of field, gap on right and left to field-edge path, two corners, gate on left to path into wood.

6. At dip in woods, near clearing, left to path uphill at waymarked post, swings right, footbridge. Gate out of wood and 2 o'clock across field.

7. Left with hedge to right for 250 yards to gateway on right, however easier (bales, nettles and wire) to walk inside the avenue.

8. Cross road/avenue to track (not signed though footpaths are). At right-hand bend, near large stone gate pillars, path/track on left downhill (signed), pass church, back into Welburn.

Click here to view a map of the walk

Updated: 09:10 Saturday, April 26, 2003