The “Foss Walk” was created in the 1980’s by Mark Jones and Michael Fife with encouragement from Bill Sessions, a well known local printer and publisher. North Yorkshire footpath officers provided advice and assistance. An illustrated guide by Mark Jones complete with hand drawn maps and superb sketches was also produced: sadly it is now out of print, though second-hand copies can be found.
The walk starts at the Blue Bridge in York close to where the Foss runs into the Ouse and finishes in the market place in Easingwold; a distance of 28.5 miles.
The first part, from the city up to Duncombe Farm just above Strensall is almost all along the river, but upstream of there it wanders about crossing and re-crossing the river, it is not often walked and the waymarking is not good in many places, although there are a few nice wooden sign posts to be found. We have a project underway to upgrade the markers along the upper parts of the walk.
The following links might be useful if you decide to walk part, or even all of it.
York to Haxby –
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/17268101.take-landmarks-history-foss-walk-york-haxby/
The whole Walk
https://www.eastyorkshireramblers.org.uk/members/items-of-interest/31-the-foss-walk.html
http://www.gps-routes.co.uk/routes/home.nsf/RoutesLinksWalks/foss-walk-walking-route