Beningbrough river and woodland walk
Follow the yellow way-markers on this circular walk from 18th-century Beningbrough Hall, through woods and along the River Ouse, with sweeping views across the estate and the chance to spot a wide range of wildlife.
Please avoid the fields
For your safety and to protect cattle and calves, please stay on the footpaths and avoid roaming across the fields. Take care when the cows are in the fields as the bull may be there too.
Total steps: 13
Total steps: 13
Start point
Beningbrough Hall car park, YO30 1DD. Grid ref: SE518585
Step 1
Start in the car park. With your back to Visitor Reception, head diagonally towards the gate in the far-right corner. Go through the gate and follow the path towards Home Farm. With the farm on your right, continue left along the tarmac road.
Step 2
Turn right onto the exit road. As this is one of the main driveways into Beningbrough, please be extra careful of passing cars. Follow the road until you reach a wooded area with a metal gate on your right. Head through the gate, following the path through the woods. If you reach Beningbrough Lodge and the exit gate, you’ve gone too far.
Step 3
Turn right onto the public pathway and head down the hill, through the woods. Beningbrough’s Home Farm can be seen across the fields on your right.
Step 4
At the bottom of the hill there are two gates, close together. Go straight through and pick up the river path. If you turn left here, you'll be heading to Beningbrough village and eventually York. Keep right to complete a circular route of the estate.
Step 5
Continue along the river bank – this is the only area on the route not fenced off from cattle. On your right, you can catch glimpses of the hall.
Step 6
You'll reach a small sandy area where the River Nidd joins the River Ouse – a great spot to enjoy views back towards the hall. From here, follow the path round to the right.
Step 7
Keep going past the Victorian Water Tower, which used to bring water to the hall and the skating pond, and continue along the path.
Step 8
When the path splits, giving you the choice to keep going left along the riverbank or right up towards Newton village, take the right-hand path.
Step 9
Before you reach the village, look out for a small gate to your right. With Newton Lodge on your left, cross over the entrance driveway into the woodland opposite and follow the bark mulch pathway through the trees.
Step 10
Keeping to the right, you'll come out of the woods. Follow the path along the edge of the fields. Look out for the frame with views back to the hall.
Step 11
Continuing along the path, you'll come to a small pond on your left quickly followed by a picnic area.
Step 12
Past the picnic area, head through the gate leading out onto the concrete path. This leads up to another gate, with the road, and the entrance to Home Farm, on the other side.
Step 13
Go through the gate, cross the exit road and follow the sign towards Home Farm, retracing your steps back to the car park.
End point
Beningbrough Hall car park, YO30 1DD. Grid ref: SE518585
Trail map
More near here
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Discover a woodland walk that's just the right length for all ages. Listen out for bird song, take a detour to the medieval pike ponds and, in spring, enjoy a carpet of bluebells.
Beningbrough Newton walk
This picturesque route through parkland and woodland includes two options to extend your walk: going further into the woods and taking in the historic village of Newton-on-Ouse.
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