Tatton Sykes Monument and Cottam

in Driffield (Great Driffield) in York

A wonderfully quiet and scenic walk. Starting and finishing at the impressive and towering Tatton Sykes Monument, it takes you through the Yorkshire Wolds Countryside of the East Riding of Yorkshire and the scene of an old medieval village that was deserted at the time of the plague and where the remains of a derelict chapel still stands.

Tatton Sykes Memorial

Walk Route

  • what3words for start point: seeing.prime.sorters
  • Distance: 7.5 Miles
  • Start Location Name: Tatton Sykes Monument
  • Finish Location Name: Tatton Sykes Monument

OS Route Map & GPX Download

The Ordnance Survey map below shows the full walk route, in pink. You can use this (try the full screen mode) on your smartphone to guide you where to go.

Download file for GPS

Download the GPX file for your GPS navigation device using the pink link above, and you’ll be able to use this walk on your own devices.


Walk Description

The Yorkshire Wolds are a joy to walk, even more so on a sunny day. Big open skies, rolling landscapes of farmed fields, colours of all manner of crops and history hidden away from the main roads.

The walk starts and ends at Tatton Sykes Monument. The monument can be seen for miles around and is situated about a mile south of Sledmere House. It was erected in 1865, in memorial of Sir Tatton Sykes, 4th baronet (1772-1863).

There is free parking beside the monument and space for around 8-10 cars.

The walk starts by crossing the road directly across from the monument onto a tarmac lane called York Rd.

Follow this lane for around a mile and at the farm entrance keep straight on. Here the tarmac goes and you continue on chalk track, gradually heading downhill. Here you really start to get a taste of escapism and big skies. A true Yorkshire Wolds walking feel.

At the bottom of the track you meet another road where you will see the path ahead across it and straight on. Now you are on a grass walking path heading upwards slightly as the well seen path takes you upwards beside fields of crops.

In September the area is abundant in colours. On one side the harvested grain in brown and the yellow of mustard on the other.

Keep going straight on for a couple of miles or so, there are no paths to tempt you off track left or right so do not worry. The path feels like a long straight line all the way so far.

Eventually the grass path will turn to a concrete lane until you reach a cross road type junction where you turn left and head towards Cottam.

You will pass a farm on your right so keep going straight on and at the next junction head left where you will immediately see the derelict Church of Holy Trinity. It is the only reminder of the hamlet of Cottam that stood here. A medieval dwelling that was deserted during the plague.

After the church the scenery changes once more. Through the ditch that is Cottam Well Dale beneath the Earthworks. If you have dog watch out for cows and bulls.

Walking this dale was beautiful and away from it all, we met nobody and the landscape changed all the time. Birds of prey in many numbers could be seen hovering in the breeze above the dale, looking for prey.

Eventually you will meet the road once more where you turn left and walk along the road for about half a mile.

You will then see on your right the chalk track that heads back following your first section back to the monument.

Related Accommodation

The accommodation below is nearby - and has been updated recently.

Picture of Moorgarth Guesthouse

Moorgarth Guesthouse

158 Fulford Road, York, YO10 4DA, United Kingdom
Picture of Woodpark Lodge with Hot Tub

Woodpark Lodge with Hot Tub

Allerthorpe Golf & Country Park, Waplington Lane, Allerthorpe, York, YO42 4RL, United Kingdom
Picture of Sandburn Hall

Sandburn Hall

Scotchman Lane Flaxton, York, YO60 7RB, United Kingdom

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