York ~ Easy Walk

Distance Covered: 4 miles Time to Complete Walk 2 hours

Suitable for dog walking: No

Walk the castle walls of the historic city of York with fine views of the spectacular York Minster along the way. After the walk, browse the restaurants and shops, some of which are in the wall!. Or visit the popular Christmas Markets. A great day out in this beautiful city.

Virus Awareness: Take a mask as encounters with other walkers were numerous along the way. Generally make way when you come across an alcove in the wall, of which there are many. If shopping or eating after the walk a mask is essential. A mask is also mandatory if travelling to York by train.

General Safety Tips:  Not for people with a fear of heights this walk as you scale the dizzying heights of the wall. Wear boots with a good grip. 

The York Walk 

Getting There

By Train - Trains run regularly directly from Middlesbrough train station.

By Car -  From Middlesbrough follow the A19 directly to York. Park at Marygate car park which is near the river and museum gardens and a right turn as you approach York city centre. Depending on how long you stay parking can be up to £7.20. Check at the car park for further details.

Maps of the York Walk

The Walk

The walk starts from the railway station. Head out of the station and cross the road and then turn left.

Head to the right of a statue.

Walk through an archway and head up the steps onto the city walls.

At the top of the steps turn left and start the walk on the city walls which soon passes the railway station.

Follow the wall round as it bends to the left.

Soon you come to the first of the walls gateways known as bars- the Micklegate Bar. Keep ahead on the wall after you pass it.

Keep on the wall as it passes houses and flats to your left and a road to your right.

When you come to some steps down off the wall, cross the road, turn right and follow the pavement to the left over a bridge crossing over the River Ouse.

Go left through the riverside gardens and follow the path diagonally onto Tower Street.

Cross over the road towards Cliffords Tower and turn right to follow the road to the left again over the River Foss.

Cross over Piccadilly and climb steps back onto the wall at Fishergate Tower.

Follow the wall until you come to the next big tower/bar which is the Walmgate Bar.

At the Walmgate Bar there is a cafe built within the walls which is a great place for a pitstop.

Continue on the wall ahead. 

At the next stop follow the steps down around the red brick tower, turning left to follow the pavement again with the road on your right and a retail park to your right.

Keep on the pavement with the River Foss on your left.

Cross over the road and rejoin the wall ahead.

Follow the wall and you will have a fantastic view of York Minster to your left.

Continue on the wall until you come to the next bar which is the Monk Bar. Cross over the road and look for a narrow arch with steps leading back up the the wall.

Keep on the wall which offers further views of York Minster until the wall ends. 

Leave the wall and cross over the road towards the Art Gallery ahead.

Turn left before the Art Gallery and head down a path to the left of Kings Manor.

Head onto the path which enters Museum Gardens.

Turn right passing Yorkshire Museum and follow the path as it curves to the left past the Abbey remains.

Exit the Abbey through an arch and then turn right onto Marygate which is where you parked your car. Turn left onto the road before the car park.

Follow the road down to the river and turn right and follow the riverside to steps up to the railway bridge. (If you travelled by car you dont need to complete this part as the car park is to your right before the river on Marygate)

Turn left and cross the bridge and follow the path back to the railway station. 

After the walk, visit the Christmas markets or York Minster. There so much to see and do in this brilliant city.

York

York is a cathedral city and unitary authority area, at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss, in England. The city has long-standing buildings and structures, such as a minster, castle and ancient city walls.

It is the county town of historic Yorkshire and was a county corporate, outside of the county's council and the ridings. City of York Council is a unitary authority responsible for providing all local services and facilities throughout the city and rural areas around the outside of the old city boundaries. The city is in ceremonial North Yorkshire and a non-constituent member of the Leeds city region.

The city was founded by the Romans as Eboracum in 71 AD. It became the capital of the Roman province of Britannia Inferior, and later of the kingdoms of Deira, Northumbria and Jórvík. In the Middle Ages, York grew as a major wool-trading centre and became the capital of the northern ecclesiastical province of the Church of England, a role it has retained. In the 19th century, York became a major hub of the railway network and a confectionery manufacturing centre, a status it maintained well into the 20th century. During the Second World War, York was bombed as part of the Baedeker Blitz; although less affected by bombing than other northern cities, several historic buildings were gutted and restoration efforts continued into the 1960s.

The city had a population of 153,717 in the 2011 census[8] and is in the Yorkshire and the Humber region. The unitary authority district, governed from the city, had a mid-2019 est. population of 210,618, the 87th most populous district in England.