The Wolds Way is famous for its rolling chalkland hills and sweeping dry valleys. On a point‑to‑point walk, the first of these are encountered at Millington. When I first hiked this section on my Wolds Way through walk, I remember being mesmerised by the wildflowers, the sunset and the broad dry valley opening out into wide views.
Not everyone has the time or desire to commit to the full National Trail, and circular routes like this one offer a flexible way to enjoy its character without covering all 79 miles. This loop captures the essence of the Wolds from the very first step, starting and finishing in Millington.
Distance: 8 miles • Time: 3–4 hours • Grade: Moderate
The Minster Way Ascent: Big Views on the Approach to the Wolds Way
Parking is readily available in Millington, a small and charming village with little amenities, a few miles from Pocklington. To reach the Wolds Way, it’s an 80‑metre ascent along the Minster Way, with excellent views southwest towards Millington Beck.
At the top of the hill, the Wolds Way overlooks Millington and several smaller dry valleys branching off in all directions. From here, the trail follows a high‑ridge route towards Huggate, 4.5 miles to the west. If you’re interested in exploring more of this stretch, my How to Sample the Wolds Way: Serene Huggate Circular page offers a similarly varied walk.
Leaving the Wolds Way: Quiet Paths and Wildlife
This Millington circular loops south, leaving the Wolds Way initially. There’s a short section of single‑track road walking, running parallel to farmland and woodland. The route then heads west along a little‑travelled path past Newcote Farm — a peaceful section where we saw plenty of birdlife, hares and wide views of more dry valleys to the east.
The path turns south and eventually meets the B1246, putting you back on the road for half a mile before joining a quiet woodland path beside Warter Priory. If you wanted to shave some time and distance off the route, you can skip the Newcote Farm detour and continue south to rejoin the circular at this point.
There are some lovely mature trees here, and we saw many deer in the Warter Priory estate.
Rejoining the Wolds Way north of Nunburnholme
This woodland path eventually turns east and reconnects with the Wolds Way. From here, it’s half a mile south to Nunburnholme or three miles north towards Millington. Heading north, the route passes several farms, with distant views of Pocklington to the west. It’s a great stretch for sunsets in the right conditions. Although the sun hid behind cloud on this visit, we experienced some beautiful light on our own point‑to‑point walk along this section of the Wolds Way.
Crossing the B1246 for a second time, the route continues past farms and a fascinating information board about the 1536 Pilgrimage of Grace — a major northern uprising against Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries.
The Ridge Above Millington: Classic Yorkshire Wolds Way Scenery
You’ll soon reach a crossroads between Millington and Kilnwick Percy. If you’re in a rush, or don’t fancy the forthcoming uphill stretch, you can take the more direct road route back to Millington — but you’ll miss my favourite stretch of the entire walk.
The Wolds Way turns east here, rising another 90 metres towards the same glorious ridge above Millington. There’s a bench at the top — a perfect spot to pause and enjoy the view — before descending back to the car via the same Minster Way stretch on which the walk began.
Route Map: Millington Circular Walk
Watch the Millington Circular Route
