Flat of the Land

Malton's Saturday market was buzzing with early festivities with a North African-flavoured concert courtesy of The Shed. The church clock struck twelve. Five minutes away runs the River Derwent.

I set off down river. Across the water the grand York Road houses are set back, strung along a hillside skyline, spacing out as you go. As they fade, and as you leave behind the prominence of Malton, we settle on the flatness at about 50 feet above sea level. Away to the south and east the ground rises but just a little.

I watched yellowed poplar leaves in the middle of the murky, gentle, swirling flow travel at about half-strolling speed. There are acres of thistle. The spell was broken for a minute by a row of disconnected frozen food containers on the far bank which rumbled to themselves, keeping cool in the unseasonable, prolonged autumn.

Onwards with the Derwent. The flow changes little but there's lots of variation in the associated wildlife. There's the winter debris of the summer's plants, especially the strong gaunt stands of thistles, frizzy wands of rosebay willowherb, and upturned umbrellas of umbelliferae.

Winter water attracts the birds. Something thrush-like scuttled in the centre of a scrub field, a never-stay-still family of long-tailed tits zipped from branch to branch, flights of grey geese circled, splitting and rejoining in the sky, and snowy white ones were on the river.

If, like me, you choose a quiet day with a gentle westerly, you'll be wafted the maximum York Road traffic hum. But it wasn't oppressive, drowned out by the crunch of leather on leaves or by the geese, and gradually effectively vanishing. The railway line crosses the river in solid fashion. A few yards on is the elegant suspension bridge for pedestrians, but not us today.

Now the return, a few nice cottages with stream and well, a fine farm, a hall in scaffolding, and the day's one and only hill. Not one to fear, a speedy mile to all of 200ft on pristine, almost traffic-free, back lane tarmac. You can pick out the tree line of the Derwent. The descent was through beech and elder wood carpeted with fungi, to a channelled section which is 'preferred permissive', where a low-level wire gave my dog a wicked shock.

The finish was recreational, fishing lakes, a golf course with good views of Malton, racing stables, and the sound of music and fairground attractions.

DIRECTIONS

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

1. From Railway Station, towards bridge but left to Riverside View, 100 yards, riverside track then path (a few stiles, gates and footbridges).

2. Pass suspension bridge over River Derwent, stile, steel/concrete footbridge and path uphill, left to lane.

3. Round left-hand bend, over stream and continue along lane, uphill.

4. At right-hand bend, leave lane for track (straight on, signed) through trees. Stile out of wood, head for house (unofficial diversion), stile on left (or fieldgates) and edge of field in front of house, stile on right, 11 o'clock to stile.

5. Left to track and stone bridge, stay on track through golf course, pass clubhouse, 100 yards across car park to stile (at corner with tarmac lane) to hedged path. Round corner into stable yard, stile on left and 2 o'clock (near bungalow), stile, 1 o'clock, stile, squeezer and path between gardens, right to avenue, left to road, left by railway crossing and back to station or riverside path on right to bridge.

FACT FILE

Distance: Six and a half miles.

Time: Two and a half to three hours.

Start: Malton Railway Station.

Right of way: The complete route is along public rights of way apart from

a signed unofficial diversion.

Date walked: Saturday, November 13.

Road route: Malton is between York and Scarborough, bypassed by the A64.

Parking: Car park near station, £2 for six hours.

Lavatories: Malton Market Place etc.

Refreshments: Pubs and cafés.

Tourist Camp; public transport lnfo: Malton TIC 01653 600048.

Map: Based on OS Pathfinders 643 Malton and Gilling East and 655 Barton-le-Willows.

Terrain: Riverside path, back lane, gentle hill.

Footwear: Walking boots.

Points of interest: River Derwent and Malton.

Difficulty: Easy/moderate.

Dogs: Suitable for dogs on leads or under close control.

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.

Click here to view a map of the walk