Distance 4 miles (6.4km)
Classification Easy
Duration 2 hours
Begins Beningbrough car park
OS grid reference SE517586
Walk in a nutshell
A civilised stroll on well-surfaced paths around the estate of a large Georgian mansion, which boasts one of England's finest baroque interiors and an exceptional collection of 18th‑century portraits. Outside, the gardens are filled with beautiful interweaving paths and borders, while the parkland is home to a range of interesting trees, plants and animals – all under 15 minutes' from central York.
Why it's special
Beningbrough Hall is so close to York that you can see the city from the upstairs windows, yet inside you could think you'd travelled centuries into the past. The intricate wood carving, the elegant furniture, the panelled walls, the grand entrance hall and the cantilevered stairs are undeniably impressive. Nevertheless, this is a place that caters well for children, with a wilderness play area and family art workshops linked to the portraits in the house.
Keep your eyes peeled for
So important is the hall's collection of more than 100 18th‑century portraits that it displays them in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery. See if you can spot George I, Alexander Pope and Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, as a four-year-old. On the estate, from mid-spring to late summer, look out for cuckoos, blackcaps, swallows, swifts and chiffchaffs.
Recover afterwards
The hall's Walled Garden restaurant serves sandwiches, salads, hot lunches and cakes, all made with local and seasonal ingredients, where possible from the garden. There is also a kiosk outside. Otherwise, just a mile or so north, in Newton-on- Ouse, there's the Dawnay Arms, an excellent gastropub.
If it's tipping down
In York, you have many options. These include the Jorvik Viking Centre, the National Railway Museum, the York Dungeon and – perhaps most intriguing of all – the York Cold War Bunker, designed to be Britain's nerve centre in the event of a nuclear attack.
How to get there
York railway station is 8 miles away. From the city there are various buses heading towards Easingwold. Take one and alight at Shipton, which is 1 mile away from Beningbrough.
Step by step
1 From the main car park go through the gate in the north-east corner. Follow the path to the farm shop, cross the road and go through the gate. The path eventually leads to woodland, and continues through to Newton Lodge.
2 At Newton Gate the path meets a road. Cross it, go through the gate and turn left. The path continues along the tree line, following the river Ouse south.
3 Continue along the path under the trees and past the old water tower.
4 The footpath soon takes a sharp left turn, as does the river. Continue along the top of the flood embankment until you reach the park boundary. The public footpath follows the river, but take the other path, which follows the tree line up the slope towards Beningbrough Lodge.
5 At Beningbrough Lodge, turn left inside the gates and follow the road until you reach a gate with the sign "Pike Ponds". 6 Follow the path through the woods and you will eventually come out at the gate from the beginning of the walk. Turn left on to the concrete path, which takes you back to the farm shop.
