Sowerby & Thirsk - 5 miles

The elegant Georgian village street of Sowerby – now joined on to the town of Thirsk – is lined with a handsome avenue of lime trees. Such a civilised aspect belies the origins of the village’s name, for Sowerby means the ‘township in the muddy place’.

We meet outside St Oswalds Church (not the Methodist church) on the main street. There is roadside parking and the postcode is YO7 1JG.

From here we make our way to Cod Beck walking close to the water’s edge and thence through ‘green areas’ of Thirsk, picking up other waterways in the process. Various tracks, riverside walking and field-edges bring us back to Thirsk where a walk across the market square brings us to our after-walk refreshment stop at a nice café with outside seating, which is part of a bookshop worth looking around!

After-walk refreshment will be shortly before the end of the walk: White Rose Book Café, which provides hot/cold drinks, cakes & light lunches. If anyone doesn't wish to stay for refreshment, its an easy route back to the cars without your walk leader!

The walk will be led at a steady pace: not too fast, not too slow. Please be ready to start walking at the advertised time.

Walk fee: £2. No dogs please. Bring snacks/drink with you for a short morning break.

I have no formal walk leader or first-aid qualifications and the Group does not have insurance. When you RSVP for any walk, you accept that you remain responsible for your own safety at all times. You are required to respect the walk leader and be mindful of the safety of others. Please keep to the pace of the group and don’t go off ahead even if you think you know the route.