The Yorkshire Wolds Way: Stage 1 Barton Upon Humber - South Cave.

Having completed the Viking Way Long Distance Footpath last year starting in March and finishing in Oakham on 2nd December w have decided to tackle the 80 miles of the Yorkshire Wolds Way from Hessle to Filey.  Although the official route begins on the north bank of the Humber at Hessle, for completeness we wanted to begin at the same start point as for the Viking Way and walk over the Humber Bridge first.  For such an early start date we were blessed with excellent weather - chilly but with virtually cloudless skies all day.  Our day began with the usual shuffling around of cars, first leaving one at our finish point at South Cave and returning to Barton in the other.  Notwithstanding we were walking by 10.30 and made our way to the official start point of The Viking Way: The Sloop on the corner of Far Ings Road, before heading up onto the bridge.  Views from the bridge were expansive and it wasn't long before we were walking along the north shore of the Humber.  As with the Viking Way I enjoyed this part of the walk - excellent views and lots to see.  On the wildlife front it was good to spot a large patch of butterbur.  One of our earliest Spring arrivals with the flowers appearing before the very large leaves which, in days gone by, were used to wrap butter in to keep it cool during the summer.
We were not long reaching North Ferriby where we enjoyed reading the information board about the Bronze Boats that were found at this spot, interestingly there is the outline of one laid out on the ground.  An impressive size.  Not long after this we had to make our way through the edge of the village as we couldn't continue on the route along the shore as the tide was in.
Eventually, after negotiating the busy A63 we entered out first stretch of Wolds hillside as we made our way up the wooded Terrace and Bow Plantations before descending into the delightful village of Welton which the guide book describes as one of the prettiest in the area.
Frome here the route makes its way up the superb dry glacial valley of Welton Dale with the millponds of Welton Mill at the beginning.  Here we heard the strange whinnying call of a dabchick or little grebe.  I have often photographed this species the male of which develops handsome breeding plumage in the spring.
From the top of Welton Dale we emerged onto high Wolds chalk scenery; classic terrain with good views over the patchwork of fields.  Soon the route descended steeply towards Brantingham into the fast setting winter sun with views out over the Humber towards the Trent Valley.  Before reaching the village we turned down steeply across meadows with superb views of Brantingham church nestled in the valley below, beautifully lit by the last of the sun.  It was a steep climb out of wooded Brantingham Dale before descending and then climbing again past a farm perched high above the estuary with a final descent to where we had parked the car on the outskirts of South Cave just as darkness descended.
The only thing remaining was some serious rehydration in the Sloop in Barton and a welcome meal of steak pie, chips and peas.  Magic!