This post is designed to be a simple visual guide to get you on, and around the York City Wall.
For a comprehensive guide to the wall’s history the Friends of York Walls have done a great job creating a downloadable pdf guide available here.
The York City Wall is a circle, so you can get on and off at any of the below listed Access Points, the complete route should take between 2-3 hours.
Description of a Access Points
Blue Points – Indicate Access Points to the City Wall
Blue Lines – Indicate Walking sections on the City Wall
Black Lines – Indicate walking sections not on the City Wall
Bootham Bar
The section from Bootham Bar to Monk Bar offers stuffing views of the York Minster with a foreground of classic English country homes, beautiful in the spring.
Monk Bar
From the Monk Bar (Gate) access the Tower Wall heading counterclockwise for Bootham Bar, to continue clockwise find the access stairs on the other side of Monkgate Road, this will take you to the East River Foss Entrance.
East Foss River Entrance
This section of the wall was historically an inaccessible swamp so it contains no gate. If coming from Monk Bar this part of the trail will dump you off at a confusing intersection, follow Jewbury Road across the bridge over the river to Foss Island Road, take a right and follow the river until you reach the Red Tower.
Red Tower
Historically the Red Tower marked the end of the City Wall, commencing with an impassible swamp extending to Layerthorpe Bridge. The City Wall begins again just behind the Tower
Walmgate Bar
The only surviving Barbican on a wall in England, this is the most complete gateway on the City Walls. A complicated gate, the archway was built in the 12th century, the porticullis constructed in the 15th century. The walled extension called a Barbican was built during the 14th century and was used to trap attackers between two sets of gates.
Fishergate Bar
This was one of my favorite sections of the wall. The wall is low here, you can almost jump off in a few places, its quiet and passes behind sections of housing, this section will be the least touristy. The Fishergate Bar is a short staircase down and immediately back up the other side of the road, you can’t miss it.
Fishergate Postern Tower
From here you will need to exit the wall and take a small detour across both the River Foss and the River Ouse. Cross Piccadilly St. and turn right on Tower Road, stay right and cross the bridge over the River Foss, heading for Clifford’s Tower.
There is a crosswalk in front of Clifford’s Tower, take this left to cross over into the Tower Gardens, here you will find a small ancient section of the wall attributed to Roman times. Follow the park through to the other side, walk up the steps next to the river and you will be on Skeldergate Bridge, cross the bridge to the other side of the River Ouse. Just after the first road on your right you will see The Wall entrance, and a large hill.
Baile Hill
An original William the Conqueror relic, Baile Hill is all that remains of two Motte-and-Bailey structures constructed in 1069 to protect the city. Clifford’s Tower was the companion tower and still remains today.
Victoria Bar
There are stairs going up to the wall here but there is no need to exit the City Wall. The Bar is named after Queen Victoria.
Micklegate Bar
You can exit or enter the City Wall from this location. Micklegate Bar is named after the street that the gate protects, this Bar is the the biggest gate in town and offers some of the best views.
Barker Tower
The trail exits the City Wall here again in a small park just south of the River Ouse next to Barker Tower.
Originally built as a watchtower in the 14th century, from here a giant iron chain was strung across the river to Lendel Tower on the opposite shore to prevent boats from entering the city withing paying a toll and to act as a barrier during war times.
From Barker Tower cross the river Ouse, turn left into the Museum Gardens after you pass the Lendel Tower. Curve right in front of the Yorkshire Museum, upon exiting the park you will be back in front of Bootham Bar.
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