The strays are the remains of much greater areas of common land on which the hereditary freemen of the city had, since time immemorial, the right to graze cattle.

Originally, each Stray was controlled and managed by pasture masters for the exclusive benefit of the freemen resident in their ward.

In each case, the freemen agreed that, in exchange for a small annual payment to them, the city should in future administer their stray "as an open space for the benefit and enjoyment of the citizens of York for all time".

There was a nineteenth-century Herdsman's Cottage on the east side of the road near the level-crossing on the York-Scarborough railway line, but this was demolished in 1968.

The larger eastern section consists of the Knavesmire and a number of smaller areas to the north-east, including Scarcroft Park.

The main part of the Moor, to the west of the railway, is shaped rather like an inverted sweater, a body with two dangling arms.

[3] Outside the old city boundary, the areas of stray on both sides of the road are less maintained, and can become boggy in wet weather, on tracks made by walkers through the longer grass.

The parkland east of the Malton Road offers good views of York Minster, and occasionally is used for community events, such as the 2009 Tour of Britain festival.

From the Herdsman's Cottage, the Stray first slopes upwards – this is the edge of Lamel Hill – and then gently downwards past the grounds of The Retreat on the left, and there are views over the allotments to the trees of York Cemetery on the right.

At the end of The Retreat's north/south wall, the cycle path crosses the Stray from Fulford Road (on the right) to the Biology building of the University (on the left).