Battle of Marston Moor - 2 July 1644

Having relieved the siege at York by out manoeuvering the Parliamentary Army, Prince Rupert wanted to engage Parliament's Allied Army. Rupert believed (controversially) that he had orders from the King to do so. The Parliamentary backed Allied Army of the Eastern Association, local Yorkshire forces along with the Scots under the Earl of Levin accommodated him between York and Knaresborough. Rupert was outnumbered, especially, because he could not get the siege-relieved forces at York to get the lead out until the last minute. The Marquess of Newcastle, who had held York through the siege, was against offering battle at Marston Moor, going so far as to remind Rupert of one of his past failures due to hasty decisions. Rupert prevailed, but even with the mainly infantry forces from York, Rupert mustered only 18,000 to the Allied Army's 28,000.
The two forces squared off late in the midsummer*s day after having had spent the better part of the afternoon so close to each other that insults were being traded across the lines. Persistent rain showers and the lateness of the day had convinced Rupert that battle would not begin that day. However, for debatable reasons, the allied front surged forward around 7 PM and the fight was on.
Rupert could have felt vindicated to choose battle at first as Goring's cavalry on the Royalist left broke through and routed Sir Thomas Fairfax's right of cavalry and infantry. Goring's forces pushed on and took the Allied Army's baggage train behind the southern ridge. The Allied Scots' infantry, however, doggedly held the line in the centre. Meanwhile, a wounded Cromwell pushed Rupert's cavalry back in the vicinity of present day Kendal Lane on Tockwith*s eastern edge. After winning the cavalry engagement, Cromwell's disciplined forces turned right and flanked the Royalist infantry. This envelopment turned the tide and the Royalist forces were reduced to the last stand by Newcastle's best infantry, the Whitecoats, who defied Cromwell, until Scottish Dragoons came to finish off the battle near White Sike Close.

Rides, Routes and Waypoints

40-45 miles, depending on the options chosen. Take the B1224 out of Wetherby, near the racecourse, towards York. In Long Marston, turn left onto the Tockwith Road. Just past Atterwith Lane, you will find the obelisk dedicated to the battle on the right. The road you are on takes you through the middle of the battlefield. At Tockwith turn right up Kendal Lane to follow Cromwell's line of attack. Go back and through Tockwith to Cattal Moor Lane and go to Cattal and on to the A59. At the A59, turn right onto the A59 and go to the New Road turning into Hessay. From Hessay, take the Main Street/ Atterwith Lane out of town and follow Atterwith Lane back to near the obelisk following Goring's line of attack.
Use Ordnance Survey Landranger 105. The battlefield is centred on SE 491522. If using a road map, the battlefield is west of York, near Long Marston.