Wold Rangers Walking Festival June

The Wold Rangers were nomadic farm workers who roamed the Yorkshire Wolds during the 19th and 20th centuries, traveling between farms using a network of green lanes and bridleways to find work. This transient community, which included ex-servicemen from conflicts as far back as the South African Wars and the Crimean War, was a familiar sight camping in the area's chalk pits and green lanes. The long-distance Wold Rangers Way was launched on August 7, 2021, as an initiative of the Driffield Town Council to honor these historical figures. The 43-mile circular trail follows the ancient paths and green lanes the Rangers would have used, connecting remote farms and villages throughout the high Wolds. The 2026 festival will mark the 5th anniversary of this annual event. In addition to the main 44-mile route, the festival features shorter, waymarked trails called "Trods." These circular routes are named after notable Wold Ranger characters, such as Croom Mabel, Horsehair Jack, and Dog Geordie, who was the last of the Wold Rangers and died in 1987. New for spring 2026 is a guided foraging walk along the 3-mile Croom Mabel Trod. Led by a foraging specialist, the event will focus on identifying edible wild plants and will conclude with an opportunity to sample foraged food and drink. This addition reflects a growing interest in wild food and foraging in the Yorkshire Wolds.