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Cottam and Cowlam
12km/7miles/4hours/moderate walk
There is beautiful landscape to be found on the Wolds minor roads. Criss-crossing the countryside
are lonely farms and lost villages to see and explore for the walker. Sadly, much of it is
inaccessible, however luckily some bridleways lead up the dales. Our first walk is to the medieval
village of Cottam and Cowlam, starting our walk at the amazing Tatton Sykes
Monument.
The start point of our walk - to find the lost village of Cottam - is at the Sykes Monument. I
was sure I would find the b1252 so I decided to leave the sat-nav at home. Going through
Driffield, there was no sign of the b1252 or the monument. We spotted an old lady walking up a
hill and drove up to her to ask the way to the monument, she takes a cursing look at the 4x4 we
were, driving and points us in the right direction - and there it was, Sykes Monument the
colossal structure like that of a huge rocket. I found it funny that I could not find this
massive monument, yet a little old lady no more then 5 ft in height had to direct
me.
At this point I must point out Ann and i are not seasoned walkers, as we been surrounded
by kids most of our lives and only now find that we are able to do this as they are now
older.
As you look at the view from the monument of the wolds you will see a White house we pass this
on our walk, I also passed it a few times looking for the b1252 but we won't talk about
that.
Opposite the monument is a House this is a charming building, leading down the side of the
house which is were we head to the wolds and our lost village. Its a chalky road what dips down
2km to Garton Bottom. Leave the chalky road at the bottom and turn left, round a bend in the
road you will see a wooden gate.
Opening this gate and stepping through will lead you to a beautiful countryside at the Cottam
Well Dale, walking down the bottom of the Dale for 3.2km you will come to a boundary with a
gate, go straight through the gate to the second Dale, you will see this as there are massive
concrete structures to your right, left-over from the war times when it was used. It was
amazing to know that airplanes may have done secret missions from here. Coming to the end of
this Dale will lead us to the ruined church
.
Walking up the Dale to the church, we spotted a hare stop and looked at us, before
scurrying away, I was lucky enough to get this picture in full flight. The church is showing
the signs of many years of neglect and would need more then a car boot sale for it's
restoration and looks close to becoming a pile of rubble, there are also remains of earthworks
and the remains of the medieval village Cottam.
Shelter is provided by the trees for the walker, this was a good place to sit down and
take in the view, and what a view it was from this high point, looking to the right of the
church you will see a White house, this is Cottam Grange, unfortunately we had to push on
and leave the tranquility of the church. we had to walk past a big White bull, quickly we
jumped over the fence as the bull looked me up and down ann wearing red jeans was not a good
idea. We follow the side of the field to the White house in the middle of the field,
if you stop in the distance you can see the monument from were we started and at the end of the
field you will find a paddock, head through the paddock then turn left, continue through the
barns of Cottam Grange, in 500 meters you will be on the highest point of our walk, 520ft on
the left you will see a way mark pointing left, take this route however, if you carry on and
reach a farm you have missed it.
Hug the side of the field and you will come to a gate there is a steep slope to the bottom of
the dale be very careful here ! turn
left a the bottom you will be heading to yet
another enough gate turn right there gate turn right they should be a
wood on your right shoulder carry on walking the dale it start to get a little
steeper at the top you will come to a gate turn left this takes you to medieval
village of callam
well worth a visited just to see the
church...then out to the main road this will take you to the chalk road what will be on your
right what leads you back up to the start.
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i was well stiff next day
funny thing ann was fine!
and i must get some walking boots i walked in trainers and my foot hurts must
of stood on a stone got a lot to learn about walking the dales!
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