Walking The Wolds

The landscape around Driffield is a walker’s paradise: the gentle rolling hills of the Yorkshire Wolds offer mile upon mile of scenic footpaths that weave past charming villages, with plenty of country pubs and tea rooms along the way. As you explore, please remember to follow the Countryside Code and enjoy the area responsibly, especially if you’re walking with a dog. Keep dogs under control, pick up after them, and respect wildlife, livestock, and other walkers. For guidance on your rights and responsibilities when accessing open countryside, visit the UK Government’s Right to Roam information.

field with flowers in the foreground

Walks around Driffield

Driffield town itself also provides plenty of opportunities for shorter walks, taking in the historic landmarks, the three becks (streams), and the pretty canal (a circular walk along Driffield Canal to Wansford).  For a short informative walk around the town, try the Driffield Town Trail

The town is also filled with interesting historical landmarks, including the 12th century All Saints Church, the imposing Bell Hotel, the former market site at Cross Hill where hundreds of farm workers used to gather for the annual hirings and the 200 year old Spread Eagle Inn which was reputedly built by the town’s witch Susannah Goor. The Masonic Hall was built in 1878 by renowned archaeologist John Mortimer, whose life in Driffield is celebrated in a fascinating walking trail around the town – you can view and download the Mortimer Trail

Tour The Town

Peep into the past and see what some parts of the town looked like in years gone by with the ‘What Was Here?‘ App.


Find it in ‘View trails’ on the App.

wold rangers logo

The Wold Rangers Way

The Wold Rangers, a nomadic tribe of gentlefolk of yesteryear, trod the ancient green lanes and bridlepaths of the spectacular Yorkshire Wolds. Now you can take on the challenging 43 mile circular trail of The Wold Rangers Way or one of the shorter ‘Trods’ with Croom Mabel (2.5 miles), Horse Hair Jack (9 miles), Ginger Joe (13 miles), Dog Geordie (17 miles) or Mad Halifax (22 miles).

All Trods start and finish in Driffield, the Capital of the Wolds.

yorkshire wolds spiral

The Yorkshire Wolds Way (National Trail)

The Wolds Way is a beautiful 80-mile-long footpath, stretching from Hessle on the banks of the Humber to Filey on the coast. The popular route passes through scenic grassy valleys and woodlands rich with wildlife, past ancient market towns and villages such as Market Weighton, Fridaythorpe, and Wintringham. The Yorkshire Wolds Way.

If you love the Wolds Way but you’re looking for a shorter walk in the same area, there is a great selection of shorter circular and linear walks around this National Trail.

cleveland way signpost

Cleveland Way (National Trail)

A little further away but very accessible from Driffield and the Wolds is the Cleveland Way. This 109-mile (175km) National trail starts in the historic market town of Helmsley. The first part of the walk crosses the spectacular North York Moors National Park, which boasts the beautiful scenery of the heather moorlands. Upon reaching the east coast at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, the second half of the route then follows the cliffs and coves of North Yorkshire down to Filey.

King Charles III England Coast Path

The King Charles III England Coast Path is an ambitious national trail that, once complete, will be the longest coastal walking route in the world. In East Yorkshire, this scenic path follows the dramatic coastline from Bridlington down to Spurn Point, offering walkers stunning sea views, peaceful beaches, and diverse wildlife habitats along the way. Whether you’re strolling along the clifftops at Flamborough Head or birdwatching on the Spurn Peninsula, this stretch of the trail showcases some of the most beautiful and ecologically rich landscapes the county has to offer. Find out more about the local section here – King Charles III England Coast Path

yorkshire wolds hillside

More walks in the East Riding

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has produced several excellent walking guides covering Driffield and the Wolds, which can be found here: Walking The Riding

We also have a list of Open Access Walks available that allow you to enjoy the local countryside safely.

Some of our favourite walks…

Flamborough Head cliffs

Flamborough Head Circular

This is a 3.9 km circular walk around Flamborough  Head (not far from Bridlington). This short walk offers wonderful scenic sea views and is ideal for all skill levels.

Huggate walk

Huggate Circular

A circular walk of 8.7km from the Wolds village of Huggate, which passes through the iconic dry valleys created around 18,000 years ago at the end of the Ice Age.

Ten Top Trails

Here are 10 fantastic walks in the East Riding

Before you set off

What 3 words

Before setting off on any outdoor adventure, we recommend you download What 3 Words onto your smartphone.  This useful App is now used by the Emergency Services and makes it easy to find places and prevents people from having to describe exactly where help is needed in an emergency.

the countryside code

Responsibilities for visitors to the countryside and those who manage the land can be found in the Countryside Code