Hudson Way Rail Trail
Contact information
Facilities and additional information
Graded as B1 or A3
Trail Follow the track bed of the old railway from the centre of Market Weighton for 1½ miles (2.4k) Return the same way or via Goodmanham. Alternatively a friend may pick you up when you reach the minor road at Rifle Butts Quarry!
Start:Start at the free car park in Londesborough Road, Market Weighton (Map: OS Explorer 294. Grid ref SE 876418)
How to get there: Market Weighton is well served by public transport from Hull, Pocklington and York
Route:Turn left out of the car park up Londesborough Road then first right along Hall Road and straight ahead along the track bed of the old railway. After 1½ miles (2.4k) a minor road crossing is reached near Rifle Butts Quarry. This is a convenient pick up point for those with support transport. An alternative return route follows the minor road uphill to the left into Goodmanham and on to Market Weighton.
Path details:The track bed is level but a little rough in places (Grade B1 Surface Quality: Smooth – compact earth/short even grass, Gradient: Near level, up to 1 in 20) There is a 50m, 1:8 slope down to the road at Rifle Butts. The minor road to Goodmanham (Grade A3 Surface Quality: Compact hard surface, Gradient: Quite steep, up to 1 in 12) has no footpath and climbs for 400m at a maximum slope of 1:10. From Goodmanham a tarmac footpath follow the road to Market Weighton. Apart from a short (100m) rise of 1:12 the route is level or with a max down slope of 1:14. There are several seats along the route.
Nearest facilities:There is an accessible toilet opposite the car park in Market Weighton where there are several pubs, cafes and shops. There is a pub in Goodmanham.
Points of interest: This walk follows part of the Hudson Way, a long distance walk named for George Hudson ‘The Railway King’ who fell from grace in 1849 following a financial scandal. The route follows part of the trackbed of the Market Weighton to Beverley railway. Opened in 1865 the line operated for just 100 years before closure in 1965 as part of the Beeching Plan. Rifle Butts Quarry, a reserve of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, is of international geological importance and is worth a visit. A good site plaque describes what is special about the location.
For a map of this route click on More Details.
Additional information
Map of Walk
