9th April 2011 - Vale of Belvoir

9th April 2011 - Vale Of Belvoir
Pathfinder Guide Lincolnshire & The Wolds Walk#15
(6.5 Miles)

On yet another hot and Sunny April day we arrived in Woolsthorpe by Belvoir just after 10am and parked close to the local convenience store roadside. The store is tiny so do not expect to buy sandwiches - pou get  water, pop, chocolate and crisps at best!

After stocking up on essential (water, choc, crisps) we set off and headed through the village, over a stile and across a long meadow towards Belvoir Castle in the distance.

Here we noticed many hares in the meadow and the adjacent field, rare to see so many.

Past the meadow we took a lane passing the castle entrance and took a right along a busier road.

This we followed for about a mile, turning right along a much quieter lane. There were some nice views across open countryside to the horizon and so clear with perfect weather and blue cloudless skies.

This track led us to the now disused Grantham Canal. The canal was constructed between 1793 and 1797 to link Grantham with the river Trent at Nottingham. It was abandoned in 1929  although gradual restoration is underway. It would be good to see traditional narrow boats using the canal and the locks functioning. There was plenty of wildlife to grab our attention though, from buzzards sweeping overhead, Swans nesting and cruising the canal, and pheasants running from bushes as we approached. (Don`t foget the hares!, worth going for the hares alone!!)

The canal path we followed for about 2.5 miles and a well deserved (earned) pint at the "Dirty Duck" pub seen in the distance on the picture above.

The walk back to Woolsthorpe was then via lanes/roadways and back into the village and the start point.

A pleasant walk with the castle offering an interesting backdrop at the beginning, and some interesting wildlife and a pleasant stroll along the canal.

Our Walk Score: 6/10 

8th April 2011 - Old Bolingbroke Lincolnshire

8th April 2011 - Old Bolingbroke & East Keal
Pathfinder Guide - Lincolnshire & The Wolds Walk#18
(6 Miles)



Another unseasonally hot April day, we parked in Old Bolingbroke , road-side around 11:30.

Having got our bearings we walked a few yards down the lane and came across the ruins of Bolingbroke Castle and stopped to explore for a while.

We left the castle and followed a lane with a long incline for several miles into East Keal.
The views of the Wolds were very good and clear with the excellent weather, with views almost 360 Deg all around. Boston Stump could be seen in the far distance.
Passing through East Keal and then onto Keal Carr Nature Reserve added yet more interest to this walk.

Then a long dirt track, and open fields took us back to Old Bolingbroke approaching the village from the opposite direction to the start point.

Near to the end we did find several rope swings, which, of course, we had to try out......

All in all an enjoyable and varied walk with the castle ruins at the start, the good views of the wolds, the village of East Keal, a nature reserve, and a steady walk back to Old Bolingbroke.

Our Walk Score: 6.5/10 

6th April 2011 - Londesborough Park & Goodmanham

6th April 2011
Market Weighton (Londesborough Park & Goodmanham)
Pathfinder guide Vale of York and The Yorkshire Wolds
Walk#21 (7.82 Miles)

 

The walk started on a sunny Wednesday morning just before mid-day from the centre of Market Weighton. The parking was free all day in one of the council-run car parks so that made a nice change.

Walking out of  Market Weighton along the main road we took a right turn, signposted Wilberforce Way/Yorkshire Wolds Way and continued for several miles along the edge of fields. Fairly flat going but not much in the way of interest unfortunately (apart from some very ripe smells!)

This led us to Towthorpe Grange which added a little bit more interest.

From here we entered Londesborough Park.
 The park was landscaped by the third Earl of Burlington. It had been owned at one point by the Cavendish family but had been neglected in favour of their primary residence - Chatsworth House. The park is pleasant with many sheep roaming and grazing and a large lake and a Saxon church.

Leaving the park the walk heads right along the top of the wold with long views out to Drax, Eggborough and Ferrybridge power stations.

 The good view continued for about a mile, passing under an old railway bridge and then through the hamlet of Goodmanham and its pretty church with the spring Daffoldils.

The route back to Market Weighton was then mainly along a long, flat, lane that runs for nearly 2 miles (Hudson Way).

In some ways the walk was a little disappointing in that the first few miles had no main interest factors other than open fields. Londesborough Park added some variety to the walk and the views from the wold top were good.

A pleasant walk, but one that we will not repeat.

Our Walk Score: 5/10