Holderness: Long Riston to Routh along the Monk Dike

I start the walk at Long Riston, leaving my bus 24 at the school stop as children are getting in. The sun is shining but it's quite windy. I had to bite the bullet with this walk as I wasn't looking forward to visiting Routh. There is no public rights of way from it, it sits on an intersection between the busy A1035 and another narrow, winding road with no footpaths. But it had to be done. I walk along the churchyard at Long Riston. Some bumblebees are basking on a dry hedge. I cross the road and take Carr Lane, a straight paved lane that leads in a slow incline to the flat, and very low lying Riston Carr. An old, hollow ash sits on a gap in the hedge, a Yellowhammer calling from it. The hedges are busy with birds singing, including Chaffinch, Reed Buntings and Robins.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Old ash.

Yellowhammer.

Carr Lane descending to the low-lying carrs.

Chaffinch.

Reed Bunting.

I soon get to Carr Farm, which sits at 0 m over the sea level. The peat that had formed on the beds of the carrs dried and shrunk as the carrs were drained, meaning that areas of the river Hull valley are now lower than the river itself. The waterlogged terrain in these low-lying areas shows after the rainy winter we've had. The Monk Dike, which used to be named Wyth, was named after the Meaux Abbey monks who either dug the dike or improved it to drain part of the eastern side of the valley. The Monk Dike eventually merges with the Holderness drain and the Foredyke Stream at Noddle Hill pumping station. After walking around the farm I climb onto the banks of the Monk Dike and walk north, outside of the sheltering of Carr Lane hedges, the dyke is very exposed to the wind.

A pond with willows and a reed bed. A Reed Bunting sang from it. This area is under sea level.

Low lying area by Carr Farm.

Lesser Celandines flowering on the banks of Monk Dike.

Monk Dike. Part of the bank seems to have slipped.

A Buzzard flying near Monk Bridge.

Monk Bridge.

Looking North from Monk Bridge.

Mute Swans at Heron Lakes country park.

At Monk bridge, I cross the A1035 and walk along the cycle/pedestrian lane. The traffic is heavy, but at least the plantation shelters me a bit. Soon I get to the first buildings of Routh. I walk to all Saints Church at Routh (top shot) and record some plants and lichens in the churchyard and church walls. Then I take the bus to Beverley. After a quick lunch, I check the peregrines at the Minster. The male is on the tower.

A mounting block near Routh.

Kestrel at Routh.

Peregrine.

Stock Dove.

Jackdaws.