Weekend Walk: Settrington Beacon

The original Settrington Beacon was a Roman signal station which stood near where conifers now cloak a Yorkshire Water borehole. It was one of a chain of beacons stretching from Scarborough and Filey Brigg to York to provide early warning of a Viking invasion, and was said to be visible over 400 square miles. Today’s beacon, a large brazier on a tall poll, stands a short distance to the west on Thorpe Bassett Wold. It is lit to mark occasions like the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Only the edge of Settrington is visited by the route, but the village is very pretty and worth exploring. Look out for grey partridge in fields and there is a large rookery above the road from Wood House Farm to North Grimston.

1. Facing north from the lay-by pass the Old Post Office on the right and find the Centenary Way signpost on the next bend. Follow the fairly straight path guided by yellow waymark arrows, passing Bellmanear Farm and further on crossing Settrington Beck by a footbridge below Kirk Hill. Joining the access drive, turn left and follow it out to a tarmac lane.

2. Turn right and walk with care along the road. On the edge of Settrington village turn right and follow the lane uphill. Take a public footpath going right on the access road to Wardale farm. When the buildings come into view on a bend cross a stile ahead.

3. Descend the field, go over another stile and bear left to follow a woodland edge. At a corner of the fence walk downhill and find a gate on the left of a pond. Follow the field edge uphill from here to a gate over on the right. On the other side bear left round the hillside and aim to the left of Wold House. Turn go right then sharp left on a track to join a tarmac lane.

4. Turn right and walk along the road with care, passing the modern-day Settrington Beacon. Continue into woodland and opposite a Yorkshire Water borehole turn right to follow a good track. The Yorkshire Wolds Way and Centenary Way fingerposts clearly mark the route to below Wood House Farm. When those trails go left, continue ahead on the access road to meet the B1248. Turn right and walk downhill to North Grimston.

Difficulty rating: 2 stars.

Distance: 7 1/2 miles

Time: 3 hours

Map: OS Explorer (1:25,000) 300 Howardian Hills & Malton

Parking: Lay-by next to phone kiosk on B1248 through village

Public transport: North Grimston is on the 190 Malton-Foxholes bus route. Malton is served by York-Scarborough trains and Yorkshire Coastliner buses with routes between Leeds and York, Bridlington, Scarborough & Whitby. For times visit www.traveline.info or call 0871 2002233.

Refreshments: North Grimston

Toilets: Malton and for refreshments customers