York, Yorkshire, England

Time Required :- 75 minutes walking time but you will need to add on at least half that much again to stop and gawk at sights, maybe go in to buildings for a look and take photographs, and fit in comfort breaks.


The walk starts and finishes in Piccadily next to the Merchant Adventurers' Hall. Head south east away from the city centre along Piccadily. The Red Lion  shoud be just in front of you on your left.














As you pass the Red Lion you will see a fairly derelict building just in front of you. This is the former Airspeed Aircraft Factory where Neville Shute was a director. Although the building is not very beautiful it played a part in aviation history. Aeroplane parts were made in the factory and then transported out to Sherburn airfield for assembly and testing. At the end of the factory you find a short road heading up to St. Denys Church, well worth a detour for a look round.






After your little detour to St. Denys Church continue along Piccadily until you reach Dixon Lane and turn left into the narrow Dixon Lane and then right into George Street.  If you miss Dixon Lane use Mill Street to get to George Street. Keep going along George Street until you come St. Georges Church a fairly typical Voctorian building.  Although the church itself is of little interest the churchyard over the road holds a lot more promise than the hedge enclosed open space might suggest on first glance.












Go in through the gateway and head towards the back of the open space where you will find the gravestone of the notorious highwayman Dick Turpin who was hanged on the Knavesmire where York Racecourse is now situated. Racing in York more or less started as a sideshow after a hangings.

Continue along George Street until you reach the Phoenix which is situated next to the city walls. Although boarded up at time of writing, it has been bought and plans are afoot for reopening in August 09.  The photo shows the Ebor Morris Men during their City Walls Tour just before doing a dance in the hopes of persuading it to open. I guess the magic worked! Take the right steps onto the wall to proceed in a  clockwise direction along the walls towards Fishergate Postern.


AT the Fishergate Postern cross the road towards Wetherspoons and follow Tower Street over the River Foss by Castle Mills Bridge. As you cross the River Foss you can see the back of the Castle Museum. Continue along Tower Street which turns to the right skirting the edge of the Castle Museum and the Assizes. At the point that you can see Clifford's Tower to the right in front of you, there is a light controlled pedestrian crossing on your left. Use this crossing to cross the road and enter the small piece of parkland that is St. Georges Field.





Cross the park on the diagonal path and take the steps up onto Skeldergate Bridge.  For those with time and an interest in mechanical contivances a small detour under the bridge to the Foss Barrier will prove to be an interesting diversion.

On the bridge cross the River Ouse into Bishopgate Street and turn right into Cromwell Road to gain access to the walls.





Use steps of the Baile Hill tower to get onto the walls. Follow the wall round to Victoria bar and come down the steps into Victor Street. Victoria Bar was created and named after Queen Victoria in 1838 to allow easier acces for the increasing population of the Nunnery Road area. to the city.










Turn your back to the walls and walk along Victor Street passing the old Chapel converted into flats and the tasteful looking Old Rectory. At the end of Victor Street at the junction of Bishophill is a very pleasant public house called the Golden Ball.








Across the road from the Golden Ball are two items of interest, one is Carr's Lane which runs down to Skeldergate. It is named after the famous archictect John Carr who was responsible for many fine houses in York. The other is the Quaker Graveyard next to the lane. A peaceful garden with seats. If time and religion permits. it is worth popping in for a quick one and a look around.  It is a friendly pub and the decor is quirky, see a sample on the right with the flying frogs. The tiling on the bar is also worth a look.  From the Golden Ball turn to the left and walk along Bishophill Senior  until you come to a five way junction.  Take the non right angle route into Trinity Lane.



Towards the end of Trinity Lane brings you to an interesting timbered building known as Jacob's Well a building dating back to the 15th century. It is part of the Holy Trinity Church which is just round the corner to the left in Micklegate.