11.8 miles.

Explorer Map No 300, - Howardian Hills and Malton

A slightly longer walk than normal. However, the length of the walk is compensated for by the fact that most of the walk is over "easy ground", - e.g. farm tracks and minor roads, with no gradients to speak of.
One section of the walk presented a little bit of difficulty in that the footpath appeared to have fallen into disuse, and was blocked off by electric fences. On this particular section, the footpath crossed a cultivated field to a corner, where the stile (clearly carrying the footpath sign) was in a tangle of shrubs and bushes with an electric fence in front of this thicket!
On another section, the footpath is shown on the map as crossing a field. There is no problem doing so in the Autumn, when the harvest has been taken in. However, at other times of the year the detour would involve quite a significant walk round the edge of the field.

For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)

Start from the small village hall car park in Hovingham (SE66768 75648).
Cross over the road and make for the Church. Past the Church, the street leads to the clearly signposted Ebor Way footpath to Cawton. This is a broad, flat, track which runs directly to the village of Cawton.
As you enter Cawton (at Spring Farm) take the minor road North East.
The footpath to Stonegrave leaves this minor road at SE648 771. As shown on the Ordnance Survey map the footpath intially runs along a hedge line, and then crosses a field. This is a cultivated field and may involve a detour in the Spring or Summer. Alternatively, continue along the minor road to Stonegrave.
The footpath into Stonegrave enters at the Churchyard.
At Stonegrave, head up the road (uphill, Westwards) for a short distance. After about 100 yards there is a footpath on the opposite side of the road which takes you to Nunnington. This footpath is clearly marked and is easy to follow.
In Nunnington, head downhill past the Royal Oak pub, then head East towards Nunnington Hall.
At the road junction, turn right and head Northwards past a group of houses. The footpath has been diverted from the route shown on the map, and heads Eastwards from a point just past these houses.
Head across the fields to Mill Farm.
The footpath past Mill Farm remains close to the farm buildings, through a gate. The route is waymarked.
Continue until you reach Ness Bridge.
Here, turn right and walk along the road for a short distance, heading South, until you come to Caulkleys Lane.
Head along the lane until you come to a barn, and at this point turn left to follow the footpath towards Beech Tree House Farm.
Just before the farm, take the farm track East until you come to the minor road.
Follow the minor road South until you come to the lane leading to South Holme Farm.
At SE691 771 the footpath leaves this lane, heading South. Initially the footpath is just a farm track, but is soon barred by the first electric fence.
Past this point, cross the field diagonally to the corner, where the stile is protected by a thicket and another electric fence.
Once over the stile, follow the footpath to the minor road South into Slingsby.
Just before you enter Slingsby, the footpath back to Havingham follows the disused railway track. This footpath is broad and is clearly marked.