The Yorkshire Wolds Way is a hidden-gem hike that explores some of the most peaceful and gentle countryside that England has to offer.

The charming landscape boasts tranquil dry valleys and dales, wildlife and wildflower-rich chalklands, vibrant market towns and sleepy villages, abundant history and a sumptuous sense of solitude.

From the banks of the Humber Estuary, the trail winds for 78 miles (126 km) around the western edge of the Wolds; along wooded hillsides, through serene valleys and pretty farmland, and eventually onto the northern escarpment to the coastline at Filey.

The Yorkshire Wolds is typically quite flat; there are no gruelling ascents. Whilst there are hills, they are small, gentle, and afford breathtaking views. The trail is well-maintained and well-signposted, too.

Despite the beauty and utter peacefulness of this hike, it is not as well-known as some of its peers. The upshot of this is that you often have the landscape all to yourself.

The downside is that accommodation options and places to eat and drink are not always abundant. Whilst every stage in this Collection finishes close to accommodation, even if there are only a few options nearby, it’s worth planning in advance and scheduling any rest days accordingly.

The most common way to walk the Wolds Way is from south to north, as per this Collection. Whilst there is nothing to stop you from completing it the other way, starting from the urban landscape of Hull and finishing on the golden Yorkshire coastline is widely agreed to be the most rewarding way.

In this Collection, I split the route into five stages of between 12.6 and 18.6 miles (20.3 - 29.9 km). Of course, you can split up each stage into as many days as you are comfortable with. You can also walk any single stage, or a couple of stages, in isolation.

If you are planning to arrive by public transport, you can catch a train to Hessle, which has connecting services around Britain, typically with a change in either Hull or Doncaster, depending where you are coming from. It is then a five-minute walk from the station to the start of the trail.

To get home, you can catch the 555 bus services from Filey to Scarborough, which has direct trains to York, Manchester, and Liverpool, and connecting services around Britain.