Walks: Follow the Sea Cut with this delightful walk

Meanwhile, the Sea Cut diverted any water over a broad, paved stoneway to Mowthorp Bridge eastwards along the original, pre-Ice Age course of the Derwent. This man-made channel eventually discharges into the North Sea at Scalby Ness, near the Sea Life Centre.

The flat-topped earthen banks are clothed in grass and wild flowers, and much appreciated by many folk. Usually only a small volume of water flows through the Cut.

Herons, kingfisher, and occasionally a roe deer beyond hedging are seen here if you walk quietly.

Access. By private transport or bus. Take the A171 Scalby Road as far as Scalby and Newby’s Public Library. The Rosette Inn is just beyond.

Start. From the Rosette Inn, go left along Hackness Road. At the road junction swing right to reach allotments to your left.

At the bridge turn left through a kissing gate to follow the south bank of the Sea Cut. Trees and bushes partly screen the water course, but beyond these the path opens up.

Eventually you reach an exit from the field, and view Mowthorpe Farm across the water.

Leaving the embankment, access Mowthorp Road. Turn right over the stone bridge and up the lane alongside out-buildings, and beside an ivy-clad wall.

Beyond the farm entrance is a public footpath to the right of a gate. Follow this narrow footpath to a handgate.

Enter, and turn right along the edge of sheep pasture. Keep the farm and two silos to your right. Your path leads beyond the silos with a line of hawthorn bushes alongside.

Shortly approaching a fieldgate, you’ll observe hazel bushes. Keep to the hedge and post and wire boundary to reach an exit in the corner. Take the stile/gate and your return route follows the northern bank of the Sea Cut, with a drain to the left. Take a concealed stile beside a metal fieldgate, and proceed by a belt of conifers to your left.

Scalby Nabs is viewed to the left elevation. Cross a bed of dock leaves as you approach a gate/stile to leave the Sea Cut. Now turn right to cross over the road-bridge and return to the allotments.

Or, to extend your walk a little, cross the road to the kissing gate immediately opposite. This reveals a further short section of the Sea Cut which returns you to Scalby Road alongside a little blue and white-painted property. Turn right along Scalby Road to return to The Rosette, and a popular little cafe opposite the public library, named The Mad Hatters, for refreshment, and possibly a little gift for a friend, or memento for yourself.

Distance: From Rosette Inn return is 6 miles.

Allow 3 hours leisurely walking watching wildlife etc.

Refreshment: The Rosette Inn beside Scalby Road, The Mad Hatters Cafe opposite the library, and the Scalby and Newby Library for tea/coffee etc.

Note: Please leash any dogs near sheep pasture. Take binoculars if possible for observing any deer.