Route K 06 Thixen Dale from Kirby Underdale

Map and directions

Route K06 from Kirby Underdale through Thixen Dale

A walk to Thixendale village and Thixen Dale. Total length about 7 miles but with a lunch break in the middle. Agricultural and Wolds dale scenery, some parts rather exposed. Distant views looking back from between points 4 & 5. Some moderate gradients and some road walking. Animals (cattle, sheep, horses) may be in many of the fields on this route.

Start from Kirby Underdale, by entrance to churchyard (Explorer map 294 “Market Weighton and Yorkshire Wolds”, ref SE808585; the walk crosses onto Explorer map 300 “Howardian Hills and Malton”). There is a gravel parking area beside the churchyard but, if there is a church service, it is better to park just up the hill in the village where the road is wider.

Walk directions

1.      The walk starts (map reference 808585) from the church at Kirby Underdale, alongside a stream through the churchyard to a (slippery when wet) footbridge, then slightly left across a field to another bridge at the far left corner. [total 300 metres]

2.      (810588) Continue slightly left across the corner of a field, through a gate and uphill to meet a road to the left of a farm (edge of Uncleby). Turn left onto the road and 150m down the hill, turn right onto a track. [500m]

3.      (808590) Follow the compacted gravel track for 450m to where the track turns right uphill. Go through a gate straight ahead and follow a line of hawthorns to another gate where the paths divide. [650m]

4.      (807596) Go through the gate and turn right with fence and hedge on your right. Continue uphill, diverging from the boundary to a gate at the top of the field. Go through the gate and follow a field edge path to a gate and stile. Go over the stile and continue uphill to a gate. [650m]

5.      (812599) Go through the gate, turn left along a field edge and right along the long edge of this narrow field to a road. [450m]

6.      (815602) Turn left onto the road towards Leavening. Walk along the road for 650m (good views to left) to a track on the right with a Chalkland Way bridleway sign. [650m]

7.      (811607) Follow the track for 700m to the entrance to Thixendale Grange farm then right through a gate into Milham Dale. Continue down into this dale and then bear left into Thixen Dale. [1400m]

8.      (826608) Follow Thixen Dale for 1300m, curving to the right where Water Dale joins and through a gate onto the road into Thixendale village. Continue through the village to The Cross Keys at the far end of the village, just to the left at a road junction. [1950m]

 The Cross Keys is a convenient place for lunch (but check opening hours in advance).

9.      (844610) Turn left out of the Cross Keys and turn left onto the village street, then right at a road junction and keep to the right at subsequent road junctions. This narrow road along the west side of the valley is part of the Wolds Way. Thixen Dale is wide enough here for cultivation. [900m]

10.   (841603) After about 350m, turn left off the road following a Wolds Way sign across the dale and continue along the path on the east side of the valley. Continue through Thixen Dale for 1150m to the point where the Wolds Way turns back on itself to climb the east side of the valley. [1500m]

11.   (845590) Continue along the valley for a short distance (<100m) and turn right (west) through a gate into Worm Dale. Follow Worm Dale gradually uphill until it becomes narrow and follow the marked path up the side of the valley to a gate. [1050m]

12.   (835588) Continue through the gate and alongside a field, then turn left (follow signs) to join a farm track that then turns to the right. Follow the track to a road. [1250m]

13.   (825584) Turn left onto the road and take the first road on the right, signed to Kirby Underdale. Follow this road for 1000m down from the Wolds, with views over the Vale of York, to a junction. [1150m]

14.   (815582) At a junction, take the “No Through Road” as a short cut. Continue past the farm along a green lane, turn a corner to the left and turn right onto a footpath across a field above a large pond. At the other side of the field, turn left onto the road for 250m to Kirby Underdale church. [750m]