Riccall

- jewel of the South York villages, and famously twinned with.......er.......nothing at all!

Just drive south from York on the A19 SELBY ROAD, until you see the first signpost to RICCALL.

Alternatively... if you're feeling fit and healthy, then you can take the SUSTRANS Solar System cycle route, marked by the red dotted line (right).

As your journey unfolds, you'll pass the planets of the Solar System, depicted to scale and at scale distances along the route.

By the time you arrive at your match, not only will you have the satisfaction of having minimised your carbon footprint, but you'll also be certain that you finally know your Mars from Uranus....

About 7 miles from Bish - 11 miles from the centre of York.

Turn RIGHT off the A19, onto the YORK ROAD into Riccall, past the POST OFFICE. At the THIRD RIGHT, bear right into SILVER STREET past the HARE & HOUNDS pub. Take the SECOND LEFT into CHURCH STREET passing St MARY'S CHURCH on your left. Carry straight on, as CHURCH STREET bears right into LANDING LANE. The Tennis Courts are on the right, the entrance being just past the new REGEN CENTRE. The Courts have limited parking.... ....but the Regen Centre boasts 63 'free parking' places. Not sure if Tennis players are allowed to park in the Regen Centre. Perhaps someone can use the Mail Form (left) and advise!

Rowntree Park Tennis Club

Rowntrees Park is just off the BISHOPTHORPE ROAD, heading into York, on your right hand side - right on the banks of the Ouse. From Bishopthorpe, it is a pleasant cycle ride to Rowntrees Park. Heading North out of Bishopthorpe on the SUSTRANS (which runs between Appleton Court and Bridge Road), turn right at 'the Sun' (sculpture)immediately after you've passed under the A64. Follow the cycle route 65 into York behind the Law College and across York Racecourse. Exit the racecourse onto Bishopthorpe Road at the corner of TERRY'S factory. Immediately cross to the other side of Bishopthorpe Road and look for the steep and narrow path just past the Car Park, which leads down to the river. Follow the cycle path along the West Bank of the River, turning left at the Millennium Bridge, and then right into Rowntrees Park.

It's all change at Rowntrees Park. The 4 'public courts' (marked in pink) have been renovated - and are now black tarmac. Two of these Courts are for Rowntree Park Tennis Club, and they borrow a third for matches. So your match venue is now at what was once known as the 'public courts' - marked in pink, above. The former Club courts (marked in green) are currently not used by the Tennis Club, and are for public use. Toilets are in the Café (just above the green courts) and elsewhere in the Park (a bit of a trek), so go before you start playing! There's nowhere handy for tap water, during matches - so make sure you bring a water bottle with you. The Ladies after-match 'tea' is taken in the Park Café - North and up the hill a bit from the green Courts. The Mixed tea is in the SLIP INN pub in Clementhorpe - a couple of streets North of VINE STREET (see top map). There is a 'Pay n Display' CAR PARK actually in Rowntrees Park - at the North Eastern corner. Access is via Terry Avenue from either Butcher Terrace or Vine Street. For vehicles with a 'York Residents' badge, the cost is currently £1.80 for 3 hours (double if you've no badge), but FREE after 4:30pm. I'm not sure how this Car Park works, however, because it's locked presumably at or just after Park closure. There's a number to call if your car is locked in - but that number's only answered up to 9pm. Could be a long walk home. There's also a 'Pay n Display' at the corner of Bishopthorpe Road and Scarcroft Road - for cars only (no high tops). If you want free on-road parking, then try BISHOPTHORPE ROAD itself (but NOT beyond Southlands Road), BUTCHER TERRACE (by the Bay of Bengal restaurant), CAMERON GROVE, ALDRETH GROVE, ST.CLEMENTS GROVE, or NORFOLK STREET. Do NOT park in either Bewlay Street or Richardson Street, because it's Residents Only (an R6 badge if you have one) and you'll be ticketed. Better still, if you're coming from Bishopthorpe, why not cycle (see route above). For those Energiser Bunnies coming from the Fulford direction - just cycle across the Millennium Bridge. Pedestrian access to the Park is via the gates in, Bewlay Street (West), Butcher Terrace (South), Terry Avenue (East), the Car Park (North East), or Vine Street/Coral Street (North West).

Rufforth Tennis Club

This is quite easy to find - it's just along the Wetherby Road, the B1224.

The Courts are off the Wetherby Road BEFORE you come to Rufforth itself. Turn LEFT into a nameless road AFTER you've passed Height Lands Lane on your right. This must be a very old aerial photo. There are actually THREE Courts at Rufforth. Two side-by-side and the third across the end.