York River Walk

Enjoy an easy stroll along the River Ouse on this waterside circular walk through York. You'll visit the splendid Rowntree Park, York Millennium Bridge, Tower Gardens and York Castle.
Walk Report September 19th 2026 By Paul Drummond:
We headed into York on a lovely early autumn day for this easy riverside walk, starting beside the River Ouse near the city centre.... The route follows the river south along Terry Avenue, with the water on one side and the historic city gradually disappearing behind us. It was a pleasant, relaxed start, with boats moving along the river and plenty of activity around the riverside.
We decided to make the suggested detour into Rowntree Park, and it turned out to be one of the nicest parts of the walk. The park was opened in 1921 as a memorial to the Rowntree employees who died in the First World War, and today it feels like a peaceful little escape from the busy city. We wandered around the lake, looking at the flower beds, statues and gardens, and it was nice to see ducks and geese around the water. There are plenty of benches and open grassy areas too, and it would make a lovely place to stop for a picnic.
One of the things I particularly liked was how tranquil the park felt despite being only a short walk from the centre of York. We also found the little Rowntree Park Reading Café, which has a library inside as well as the usual drinks and food, giving it a rather unusual character. It would have been easy to spend much longer here, but we carried on with the walk towards the Millennium Bridge. Crossing the Millennium Bridge gave us a completely different perspective of the River Ouse, with good views back along the water and towards the city. From here we followed the eastern side of the river and gradually made our way back towards the historic heart of York. The route then passes the River Foss, where the two waterways meet close to the castle.
We took some time to visit York Castle, including Clifford's Tower and the York Castle Museum. The museum was a particularly interesting addition to the walk, with the recreated Victorian street of Kirkgate standing out as one of the highlights. It is very atmospheric, with the old shops and buildings giving you a real sense of stepping back into another period. We also spent some time looking around the former prison area and the other historical displays before continuing. After leaving the castle, we made our way back towards the River Ouse and the starting point. By this stage we had seen a surprisingly large amount of York in a relatively short walk, from the riverside and peaceful gardens of Rowntree Park to the Millennium Bridge and the historic castle area.
For us, the York River Walk worked particularly well because it combines an easy riverside stroll with several of the city's main attractions. The detour through Rowntree Park added a quieter, greener section to the day, while the castle gave us somewhere interesting to explore before heading back into the centre. It is a good way to see a different side of York without needing a long or strenuous walk.
To continue your walking in this lovely city try the historic York Walls Walk. Much of the Roman walls are still intact, making for an excellent, elevated walk around the city.
Near the castle you can pick up the Foss Walk and enjoy another riverside walk from York. The long distance trail runs north from the city to Haxby and Huntington.
Part of this route uses a section of the Ebor Way. To extend the walk you could continue south along the trail to nearby Bishopthorpe. The York to Selby trail runs along the river in the other direction.
Pubs and More Info
The Kings Arms is in a great location next to the river. You can sit outside and enjoy fine views over the water with your meal. They do good food and have a decent selection of ales too. You can find them close to the Jorvik Viking Centre at 3 King's Staith with a postcode of YO1 9SN for your sat navs. The pub is also dog friendly if you have your canine friend with you.
Near the route you'll also find one of the highlights of the city at the Jorvik Viking Centre. The attraction inclides lifelike mannequins and life-size dioramas depicting Viking life in the city. Its name is derived from Jórvík, the Old Norse name for the city of York. You can find it at 19 Coppergate with a postcode of YO1 9WT.
Head just a few miles south along the river and you'll find one of the hidden gems of the area at Naburn Locks. The photogenic site includes an impressive 18th century lock and weir with riverside paths, a nature trail and a sensory garden to see as well. There's also a lovely country pub in the nearby village of Naburn where you can enjoy refreshments after your walk.
One nice idea to escape from the city is to pick up the Minster Way and follow it south east to the nearby Wheldrake Woods. The peaceful woods are a nice place for a quiet stroll with lots of woodland birds and deer to look out for.
The historic Beningbrough Hall lies a few miles north west of the city. The grounds of this Georgian mansion are a fine place for a stroll with views of the River Ouse and beautiful gardens to enjoy. On the opposite side of the river you can also see the village of Nun Monkton which sits at the confluence of the River Nidd and Ouse. The village has some interesting features including a village green, duck pond, pretty cottages, riverside trails and the impressive 17th century Nun Monkton Priory.
For more walking ideas in the county see the Yorkshire Walks page.

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Nearby Routes

York Walls Walk Foss Walk Ebor Way York to Selby York to Bishopthorpe Naburn Locks Minster Way Wheldrake Woods Stockton on the Forest Stamford Bridge Nun Monkton Beningbrough Hall Acaster Malbis Haxby

Photos

River Ouse and Lendal Tower. This medieval tower formally formed part of the city defences. It is located on the east bank of the Ouse at the point where the river enters the walled city from the north-west. It is now available as rental accommodation.

Lovely view of the Ouse.
The river is the sixth longest in the UK and (including the Ure) the longest to flow entirely in one county. 
It runs for a distance of about 52 miles (84 km). You'll see plenty of barges making their way along the river on your outing.

York Castle Clifford's Tower. The castle has a long and fascinating history having been built originally by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. It's purpose was to dominate the former Viking city of Jórvík. The castle then suffered a tumultuous early history before developing into a major fortification with extensive water defences. Today the castle is managed by English Heritage and classed as a Grade I listed building. It includes an interesting museum packed with local history. There are also excellent views over the city from the castle's elevated position.

Barges in the River Foss. The Foss is a left bank tributary of the Ouse, situated near York Castle. In 1069 William the Conqueror dammed the Foss just south of the castle, close to its confluence with the Ouse creating a moat around the castle. This lead to river to flooding further upstream in what is now the Hungate and Layerthorpe areas, forming a large lake that was known as the "King's Pool" or the "King's Fish Pond", providing fish for the markets.

Rowntree Park canal

Rowntree Park entrance. The park was created in memory of employees of the local confectioners  Rowntree's who died in World War I. It was opened in July 1921 by local entrepreneur and philanthropist Joseph Rowntree. Also noteowrhy are the gates at the park's riverbank entrance which are eighteenth-century and were given by the company as a memorial to the people of York who died in World War II.

Millennium Bridge 1. The impressive structure spans the River Ouse to the south of York, linking Hospital Fields Road and Maple Grove in Fulford with Butcher Terrace on the South Bank. The bridge carries a cycle path and a footpath, but is not open to cars. There are plenty of seats on the bridge where you can relax and enjoy the view down the river.

Millennium Bridge 2

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