Bill Baldry finds plenty to enjoy in the open fields and large skies, even on a short winter’s day

East Anglian Daily Times: Route of the Hepworth walkRoute of the Hepworth walk (Image: Archant)

Not surprisingly, after a wet November, the clay lands were saturated in places when walked, but will become baked hard come summer.

From the small car park by St Peter’s church follow Church Lane as it swings right and left. Where it swings right again, go straight ahead, between fields, heading for Brockley Wood.

At the wood turn left and follow the wide, grassy Dunhill Lane as it passes a series of single oak trees.

At the time of walking, after an ivy-clad oak tree, the lower path to the right of the stream was flooded, but there is a simple, slightly elevated, alternative by staying over to the left. After a short distance, bear right ? back onto the lower path ? and follow this to the road ahead. Cross the lane and continue ahead on the puddly byway. Pause at the dead tree on the corner and look around to see the tips of the turning turbine blades at Eye airfield nine miles away.

Go left, then right, to reach the road leading to Market Weston. Follow this past the small red-brick village hall and a little further on turn left down another puddly track, opposite Ponds End Lane. (Market Weston Mill Inn, home to Old Chimneys brewery, is straight ahead).

This track is Weston Bury Lane and runs for one and three quarter miles, alternating between muddy puddles and broad flat grass stretches with more open views all around. Go straight over the first road but turn left at the second road after passing Pump Cottage. Follow this road for half a mile until you reach Star Cottage, where you turn right to continue along a narrower field edge. After turning left at the field corner, find a large gap in the hedge on your right, opposite a solitary oak tree standing just into the field.

Bear right here, now with the hedge and ditch on your left, and follow this field edge around to emerge onto The Street in Hepworth village. Turn right for a few yards, then stop to read the village information board on the brick and flint plinth at the entrance to Wood Lane. Follow Wood Lane, which becomes a grass track at the end of the Tarmac, until the next fingerpost points you back towards your start at the church.