Walk 3775 - printer friendly version

Aughton & East Cottingwith from Ellerton Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 8.0 miles / 13 km

Ascent - 170 feet / 52 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference SE707399
Lat 53.850532 + Long -0.92676899
Postcode YO42 4NY (approx. location only)

Circular walk from Ellerton which lies southeast of York. The route includes the village of Aughton with its historic church and the remains of a motte and bailey castle. The walk also visits East Cottingwith where the restored Pocklington Canal joins the River Derwent. Returning to Ellerton allow time to explore the village with 17th century pub, the Boar & Shoe Inn, and almshouses of a similar date.

The walk starts from Ellerton where street parking is available near the Boar & Shoe inn (grid ref. SE707399). With your back to the pub, turn right and fork right at the next junction and then turn right down the lane signed to Aughton. Follow the lane for 1.5 kilometres to a T-junction and turn right into Aughton village. Continue to the end of Main Street and pass through a gate to the right of the entrance to the Old Coach House. Continue to the delightful church of All Saints with the remains of the Motte and Bailey Castle near the church.

To continue retrace your steps back to Main Street and just past 'Springfield' turn left along the signed footpath. The path soon turns left and then right before heading north across fields to reach Main Street in Ellerton (grid ref. SE706398). Turn left and at the next junction fork left along Back Lane. At the next junction, turn left to reach Ellerton Priory Church which is managed by a Preservation Trust. After visiting the church, retrace your steps, forking left at the first junction. Just past 'Fairfield House', turn left along Cow Pasture Lane (no sign).

Follow the lane north. Just after crossing Ings Drain the lane becomes a track. Continue for a further 650 metres to reach a T-junction with Hag Lane. Turn left and follow the lane as it bends right. Shortly after the lane bends right and then left before continuing north into East Cottingwith. After passing a house on the right, the track becomes tarmac and leads to a T-junction with an island with shrubs. Turn left along Main Street to a T-junction. Turn left along Langrickgate Lane. The lane soon swings right with a pair of barns ahead. Turn left here through a small wooden gate with a sign reminding you there are rare birds in the vicinity. Continue to the River Derwent and the start of the Pocklington Canal (grid ref. SE698425).

Turn right and follow the canal away from the river soon passing Cottingwith Lock. 350 metres beyond the lock, turn right down a track which provides access to the canal. The track leads into Canal Lane. Continue to a T-junction and turn left. When the road forks, turn right at the fingerpost to join a footpath heading south. Initially the path runs with a hedge on your right and then maintains direction to exit onto Green Lane (grid ref SE708420). Turn left and then right along Redcap Lane. After 1.5 kilometres you reach a junction. Turn right and follow the road into Ellerton.

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