Walk the deserted medieval village of Wharram Percy in the Yorkshire Wolds.
Walk Route
- what3words reference: ///fade.waistcoat.sweeper
- Distance: 8 Miles
- Start Location Name: Thixendale, Yorkshire Wolds
- Finish Location Name: Thixendale, Yorkshire Wolds
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 GPSDownload 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 lovely village of Thixendale lies hidden away amongst the folds of the Yorkshire Wolds, a range of low hills and deep valleys that cut down into the underlying chalk. Dry grassy valleys, grazed by sheep and cows, are a characteristic feature of the Yorkshire Wolds. From Thixendale, paths and tracks lead across Water Dale, Vessey Pasture Dale and Deep Dale, passing numerous prehistoric earthworks, to reach the deserted medieval village of Wharram Percy.
The rural landscape of Britain is scattered with deserted medieval villages, but Wharram Percy is amongst the most famous and best preserved. These villages were deserted for many reasons, such as the Black Death, population change and conflict, however, the lords of Wharram Percy cleared its inhabitants in the 15th and 16th Centuries to make way for sheep pastures, as pastoral farming was more profitable than people! It is a thought-provoking place to explore.
