Walk 1738 - printer friendly version

The deserted village of Wharram St Percy Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 2.7 miles / 4.4 km

Ascent - 300 feet / 91 metres

Grade - easy

Start - OS grid reference SE866644
Lat 54.0682680 + Long -0.6781912
Postcode YO17 9TD (approx. location only)

This short North Yorkshire walk explores the countryside to the south of the deserted village of Wharram Percy including scenic Deep Dale. The Yorkshire Wolds provide some excellent walking with wide ranging views, steep sided valleys and quiet well-signed paths. The highlight of this walk is the deserted village of Wharram St. Percy with its ruined parish church dominating the scene. Maintained by English Heritage, information boards describe how this once thriving community gradually fell from favour.

The walk starts from the small EH car park (Grid ref. SE866644). Exit the car park onto the lane and turn right (south), following the Centenary Way. The road turns right and then immediately left where you take the Centenary Way on your right. Following the track west ignore the first signed bridleway on your left and continue for about 800 metres to reach the rim on Deep Dale, which is on your right (grid ref. SE858631).

Turn right off the track here following the signed path (Yorkshire Wolds Way) north along the edge of Deep Dale, which drops steeply down to your left. After a further 800 metres the path descends into the Dale with an excellent view of the deserted village dominated by the ruined church. Information boards offer a detailed history of the village and its demise. After exploring the church continue north along a track to reach a junction (grid ref. SE860645). Turn right here following the Centenary Way uphill to reach the car park used at the start of the walk.

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