Driffield ~ Medium Walk

 

Distance Covered: 7 miles Time to Complete Walk 3.5 hours

Suitable for dog walking: No

Known as the capital of the Yorkshire Wolds, Driffield is an established commuter town. The walk starts on the Driffield Canal path and winds its way to the picturesque village of Wansford for a pitstop next to a stream. Then walk to the village of Nafferton and back to Driffield. 

General Safety Tips: The canal path may be overgrown - take a walking stick to battle the nettles. Be aware of traffic on the road parts of the walk. 

The Driffield Walk

Getting There

From Middlesbrough head towards Stokesley on the A172 and then take the B1257 through Great Broughton. Follow the B1257 all the way to Helmsley. From Helmsley follow the B1257 through Sproxton and Hovingham to Malton. From Malton take the B1248 through Wharram le Street and then onto the A166 through Wetwang. Follow the A166 into Driffield. Parking can be found at the Eastgate car park which is free of charge.

Maps of the Driffield Walk 

The Walk

From the carpark turn right and head down the road.

Follow the road all the way to the end until you come to a footbridge over the railway line.

Go over the bridge and to the end of the road and turn right. Cross over the road and make your way to the start of Driffield Canal. Turn left to follow the canal route.

Pass an information board and a mechanical device next to the canal.

Follow the path as it narrows and passes a goat pen on your right.

Go through a metal gate and follow the path beside the canal. If the path is overgrown use your walking stick to negotiate your way ahead.

Eventually the path runs parallel to the road and ends up at a pair of lock gates.

Cross over the lock bridge and turn right and head towards a path between the canal and the road.

Follow the narrow path until you reach the village of Wansford.

For a short diversion, head across the roundabout and follow the path until you go over a stream on your left.

Turn left and follow the signpost through a gate to the side of a house and through another gate to a lovely calm spot - ideal for a picnic or a pitstop.

Make your way back to the roundabout and turn right to make your way to the village of Nafferton.

Make you way through the village of Wansford - some great highlights including a marvellous church.

The road to Nafferton is a quiet one and straight so keep to the grass verge whenever you can keeping your eyes and ears peeled for any traffic.

Head over a level crossing and through Nafferton and turn right heading to the church which is prominent in the skyline.

When you arrive at the church turn left onto Westgate and follow the road out of Nafferton.

Keep on the road taking care and remaining aware of traffic until you come to the end and as the road veers to the right head to the left of a building into a cornfield.

Follow the path in the cornfield as it turns left head towards a footbridge on your right.

Cross over the footbridge and head towards the woods to the right of roadworks. 

Follow the path to the right in the woods and then look for a left fork and head towards a metal barrier which then emerges onto a housing estate.

Follow the footpath through the housing estate and then turn right and walk up to a roundabout.

At the roundabout turn left and head into Driffield town centre passing a fire station on your left. Eventually when you come to the junction with the Spread Eagle pub, turn left and head back to the carpark on your right.

Driffield

Driffield, also known as Great Driffield, is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield. By road, it is 53 miles (85 km) north-east of Leeds, 70 miles (110 km) north-east of Sheffield, 29 miles (47 km) east of York, 23 miles (37 km) north of Hull and 72 miles (116 km) south-east of Middlesbrough.

Driffield is named The Capital of the Wolds, due to its location sitting centrally within the Yorkshire Wolds.

According to the 2011 UK census, Driffield parish had a population of 13,080, an increase on the 2001 UK census figure of 11,477.

The town was listed in the 2019 Sunday Times report on the Best Places to Live in northern England.

Driffield is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and the name is first attested in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle where King Aldfrith of Northumbria died on the 14 December 705. It is also found in Domesday Book of 1086, meaning "dirty (manured) field".

A Bronze Age mound outside Driffield was excavated in the 19th century, the contents of which are now kept in the British Museum. It includes a knife, a dagger, a beaker and a greenstone wrist-guard all dating to between 2200 and 1500 BC.

The remains of Driffield Castle, a motte-and-bailey castle, sit at Moot Hill.

RAF Driffield was targeted by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. On 15 August 1940, a raid by Junkers 88s resulted in 14 deaths and many injuries. RAF Driffield was the site of the first death in the WAAF during the Second World War.