Last of the stiles on Wolds Way trail

Now there are just gates or gaps along all 79 miles of the Yorkshire Wolds Way as it winds it way across the delightful hills and dry valleys of the Wolds. There has been a drive to remove stiles for a number of years in order to make the trail as accessible as possible. The first condition survey in 1996 recorded 120 stiles along the Way, but things have changed substantially since then. Only one remained in place in summer this year and today that last one is no longer in use.

Malcolm Hodgson, National Trails Officer for the Yorkshire Wolds Way said: “This is fantastic news for many of our users. We have always known it is a good trail for access because it has so few steps. Now that the last stile has gone we can encourage people of all abilities to venture onto the trail and discover the stunning beauty of the Yorkshire Wolds.” The loss of the last stile is the result of dedicated work by North Yorkshire and the East Riding of Yorkshire county councils. The Yorkshire Wolds Way Partnership is looking for recruits to attend a workshop to map and identify access along the trail using a mobile phone app. It takes place between 2pm and 4pm at Thixendale Village Hall on Tuesday (29 September). Anyone interested in volunteering to help with this project can contact the Trail Officer Malcolm Hodgson via the contact page on www.nationaltrail.co.uk/yorkshire-wolds-way/contact-trail-team.

The Yorkshire Wolds Way passes close to Pocklington and through Market Weighton, Goodmanham, Londesborough, Nunburnholme, South Cave and Huggate.