Hall the way

NEWTON-on-Ouse makes a good start, two pubs to set you up for our short flat and gentle route just north west of York. An avenue of cherry trees leads you to parkland gates, turn of the century redwoods catch the eye in the park, and at the end of an avenue of limes stands Beningbrough Hall, 1716 perfect, not a red brick too high not a red brick too wide.

The estate road takes us another half-mile and here there is a two-way fingerpost. I had intended to go on to the village of Beningbrough. If you try this, within twenty yards you will be shin deep in slurry and then a yard further on is a wire fence followed by a vanished track. This has been reported.

I do find it strange that one can travel for days on the Moors or in the Dales without an obstruction, but come near the city and, despite the walker density, there is so often a glitch, as if you were stepping on someone's sensibilities, leaving footprints on their bank balance.

What happened next was more than a glitch. I heard a shout and turned to see a blue Volvo estate car a hundred yards away, and pouring out a pack of Golden Retrievers, six, seven, maybe more.

They hurtled towards us, I shortened Random's lead, lengthened my trekking pole, we took up defensive positions. The pack milled around us, some growled and snarled, no damage was done. Random was very cool, a month ago he was gored by a Retriever to the tune of a £60 vet's bill. When the reprobate owner arrived, he got an unrepeatable piece of my mind, and by now more I hope from the police.

Shaken but not deterred we continued to the river and had a nice stroll along the floodbank. Swans cruised serenely upstream at a good four mph, a woodpecker hammered for a second and flashed iridescent green down to the water, and a buzzing little boat washed away the glassy surface. The horse chestnuts are laden with conkers.

After the confluence of the Nidd and the Ouse there were fishermen snuggled down in the willows whiling away the sunshine hours. A big colony of sandmartins zipped chirping over the water, with nests drilled two to the square foot in the top flood free horizon of the sandy banks, the chicks peering out, ready to go. On our bank is a water tower (for the Hall).

I have given a short route option for the finish but you will miss celebrating one of the great walker victories of recent times hereabouts, namely the reinstatement of the riverside route through Newton-on-Ouse.

The fine houses are set well back and elevated, with long narrow gardens down to the water. We cross the bottom of about 20 gardens, each with a sign about dogs - a weird experience.

DIRECTIONS

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

1 From Dawnay Arms, south through village, gates to Beningbrough Hall drive (permitted path, no sign). NB: This section of path only open when Hall is.

2 Left fork if not visiting Hall.

3 On joining lane at park exit (after lodge), track/path on right by trees (stiles).

4 Stile and right to path through trees then by riverside (stiles).

5 At waymarked post, either follow line of trees across field back to Newton-on-Ouse heading for spire OR continue along riverside path (stiles), turning right back into village through metal fieldgate to road/pavement.

FACT FILE

Distance: Nearly four miles.

Time: Two hours.

Start: Newton-on-Ouse.

Right of Way: The complete route is along public rights of way and permitted path.

Date walked: Friday, July 28, 2000.

Road Route: Newton-on-Ouse is west of Shipton and the A19.

Car Parking: Roadside.

Lavatories: None.

Refreshments: Two pubs. Caf/restaurant at Beningbrough Hall for visitors to gardens and/or house.

Tourist & Public Transport Information: Boroughbridge TIC 01423 323373.

Map: Based on OS Pathfinders Tollerton 654 and York (west) 664.

Terrain: Mostly riverside and park.

Footwear: Walking boots.

Points of interest: Beningbrough Hall (restaurant, gardens and fabulous portrait collection. Admission fees). Hall and path through park open from April 1 to October 29, Sat-Wed plus Friday in July/August. House 12pm-5pm (last entry 4.30pm), Gardens, shop and restaurant 11am-5.30pm. Park, last entry 4.30pm.

Giant hogweed: There are dead giants (grow up to 18 feet high) at a distance in the last (most northerly) riverside garden at Newton-on-Ouse. They, and some other Hogweeds, have a 'blistering agent', so do not dive into the undergrowth with naked skin. There is some Hogweed regrowth, and one cannot easily tell which species. Anyway, shorts are generally a bad idea in countryside - toxic plants, ticks, UV, pesticides...

Difficulty: Easy.

Dogs: Suitable for dogs but keep on leads or under close control but no dogs in Hall gardens.

Weather Forecast: Evening Press and recorded forecast 0891 500 418

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