If you have a copy, spread out the Ordnance Survey map that covers York and look closely at the area within ten miles or so of the city. You will be astounded at the number of disused, abandoned airfields that dot the Yorkshire countryside.

Yes, it's that war again and Yorkshire, like much of eastern England, became the aircraft carrier from which the RAF and the USAAF launched the bombing campaign against Germany.

Surprisingly, you might think, from the title (Battlefield Walks in Yorkshire) a walk round RAF Marston Moor and its related base, Acaster Malbis, feature as the last two historical walks in this interesting and well-written book. True, the air war was fought in the skies over Europe but it was from bases like Marston Moor ­ but not Acaster since it was only ever a Relief Landing Ground ­ that the Halifaxes set off.  

Thankfully, there  remains a surprising amount to see, including sections of runway, hangers, the WAAF Officers' Mess, bomb storage bunkers, a guardhouse and a watch tower. The author comments on the attractive and well-preserved entrance approached on a tree lined road.

As David Clark reminds us, more major battles have been fought in Yorkshire than any other English county and it is for the more famous Yorkshire battle sites that readers will first turn to in this book.

They will not be disappointed, for all the famous ones are here: from Marston Moor's other claim to fame to that other battle in 1066, the one the history books often forget. No, not Stamford Bridge, though that's obviously included, but the Battle of Fulford Gate fought five days earlier and won by the Norwegians.

The author begins with the Battle of Heathfield fought in AD633 between the Northumbrians and the Britons from further south. Naturally, with the battle being so long ago, nothing much remains to be seen today ­ in fact, even the location at the village of Hatfield near Doncaster is uncertain. However, place names like Slay Pits do suggest a battlefield connection.

The Middle Ages furnishes most of Yorkshire's battle sites because of the on-off-on war with the Scots and the Wars of the Roses. However, it is the English Civil War that alone provides ten of the 23 walks. You may have heard of Marston Moor and the Battle of Adwalton Moor (near Gomersal) but what about the Skirmish at Wetherby and the Battle of Sherburn-in-Elmet?

Although, if one is going to include skirmishes, why has one of my favourites, the Battle of Heptonstall, been overlooked? It may not have settled the fate of nations but walking the site is a good excuse, if one were needed, to visit this unspoilt Pennine hill village.

What can been seen varies. Sometimes a modern development covers part of the site. In many instances, however, there may be a churchyard where some of the dead are said to be buried (Battle of Myton, 1319) or a monument erected soon after the battle (Boroughbridge 1322) or later like (theTowton Cross).  Maybe it's a house that stood there at the time of the battle - (soldiers fleeing from Adwalton Moor would have passed Oakwell Hall.

But, whatever the situation on the ground you get a good walk for your money and the author's commentary stimulates the imagination.

The walks in the book are each graded from easy to strenuous and vary from one mile to ten miles in length.  Each has a detailed map, a point by point guide and a useful introduction that establishes the historical context of the battle and explains what happened. This is an excellent guidebook.

Reviewed by Dave Verguson