This largely riverside route offers absolutely beautiful walking around Barmby on the Marsh, nice and easy flat paths and good options to shorten the route as required for families.

We’ve recently discovered the brilliant Walking the Riding website– a brilliant collection of walks around the East Riding of Yorkshire, and were even more delighted when they invited us to review some of them.

The first walk we tried this summer was from Barmby on the Marsh, a picturesque village that sits between the River Ouse and the River Derwent. We were super keen to do this walk- we have family who live in Long Drax that sits on the other side of the River Ouse. It’s just 100m away from Barmby on the Marsh but nearly a 30 minute drive around by road!

Distance & terrain: Up to 6 miles- it’s a circular walk around the village so you can cut back after half way (or even shorter). The route is pretty flat all the way with a mixture of grassy paths and tracks. Mixture of stiles and gates- although parts would be fine for buggies, overall you’d struggle.

Parking: Park at Barmby Tidal Barrage (just keep following the road through the centre of the village).

Facilities: There are public toilets and a picnic area at Barmby Tidal Barrage. There is also an Italian Restaurant and Bar (Lorenzo’s) in the village with a lovely beer garden at the back.

Route: We used the suggestion on this route on the Walk the Riding website. There is also a map provided.

A good shorter alternative (just less than 5km/ under 3 miles) is to just do the Northern loop. Head up the River Derwent from the carpark and follow the river path until you reach the far track. Head South to the road going into the village – and then follow that road back to the carpark (rather than crossing across the track towards the River Ouse).

There are lots of great things to see on this walk- and lots of interest. The Barmby Barrage itself (that controls the water level in the River Derwent) is worth seeing- and you can walk across this to the other side of the River Derwent too. You also can see the huge chimneys of Drax Power station as you walk along the River Ouse.

Other joys that we had were walking through fields and past cows (the picture below shows them happily relaxing on the riverside path), as well as not one but TWO tractors in the same field – my toddler could not contain his excitement!!

This was our first time walking in the Goole area, and also our first time trying one of the Walking the Riding routes! But we cant wait to try another one this summer!

If you prefer buggy walks you might prefer these local walks- Barlow Common’s Nature Trail or Brayton Barff!