I find it very frustrating that the wet weather we have experienced for the past six months has continued into April. It feels to me almost like a lockdown situation because there are limited days for walking due to incessant rainfall.
Earlier in the week I was out doing a walk that involved crossing fields and it was soul destroying – mud and waterlogged fields a testament to our changing climate.
This morning it was a sunny start but windy (40 mph due to storm Kathleen which has hit the west coast of the UK) conditions would make my walk a struggle at times. Before deciding to walk I vowed to avoid wet fields as much as possible!
I set off from the Lincolnshire village of Allington aiming to pick up The Viking Way.
The village green in AllingtonOn the Viking WaySign post for The Viking Way
The Viking Way is a long distance trail running 147 miles from the Humber Bridge to Oakham in Rutland. I had a memorable visit to the Humber bridge last week.
This section of The Viking Way was dry and I soon hit a tarmac road which was easy walking. I was headed towards Long Bennington.
A quiet road
I crossed over the A1 using an overhead road bridge. As usual the traffic was thundering along and the noise was intense.
It was 18 deg C and probably the hottest day of the year so far. I was enjoying the warmth and the wind was at my back. As I was arriving into Long Bennington I came across some yellow flowers (weeds?) which made me smile because I like yellow – its a happy colour!
I passed St Swithun’s Church and left The Viking Way picking up a path across some fields, that were reasonably dry, heading towards Foston.
St Swithun’s church, Long BenningtonCrossing fieldsDry pathBridge across a drainage ditch
After crossing the fields I met the Foston road which was to be my turnaround point. I headed along the road back towards the A1 bridge picking up the Viking Way once more. The wind was now in my face and it was making walking more challenging – still, it wasn’t raining!
On the Viking Way headed for Allington
I was enjoying my walk as I huffed and puffed against the wind. There was some mud on the Viking Way but nothing horrendous. I could pick my way through the worst bits. I had lovely open views across fields for miles.
Heading into Allington
Once more I left the Viking Way and took a road towards Allington, my destination. The wind was less troublesome and not in my face.
Back in Allington
The walk turned out to be 9.5 miles – a good stretch of the legs.
I fancy a canal walk tomorrow – I will check out the weather later and see how it looks. Currently 50 mph winds with thunderstorms in the afternoon .
Today ‘The Three Amigo’s’ did a 9.6 mile circular walk starting at the Lincolnshire village of Wellingore and visiting Navenby, Boothby Graffoe and Coleby. These attractive villages lie along the three mile limestone ridge of Lincoln Edge.
The route descends from the ridge at Navenby, continues across fields at its foot, climbs back up to it at Coleby and then follows the Viking Way along the ridge back to the start. There were extensive views west from the ridge across the plain of the river Trent.
It was a relatively mild and breezy morning when we met in the car park of Wellingore Memorial Hall. We were anticipating a muddy walk because we have had a few days of continuous rain. Gaiters were donned. Leaving the car park we were soon walking along the slippery, muddy footpath along the ridge.
Leaving Wellingore along the ridge heading towards Navenby
A loud plane could be heard and then, suddenly, WOOSH, four planes swept past – it was part of the Red Arrows display team 😊. They are based in Lincolnshire and were obviously having a practice day. They passed us numerous times during our walk. It was great to see them!
The Red Arrows display team.The Red Arrows
Leaving the ridge at Navenby we headed down a narrow path, passing a house displaying some old modes of transport. There was also a large very noisy dog barking at us – I was glad he was behind the wall!
MemorabiliaPath off the ridge
Reaching a tarmac road called The Smoots we followed the road along the plain. Chris was happy because we were now out of the mud and, although we did have to contend with vehicles using the road, the consensus was that this was better than slip-sliding on muddy paths. Its an unusual name for a road and I wondered where it originated?
An unusual road nameA mud free walk along a tarmac road
We crossed a bridge over a disused railway line.
The disused railway line
Soon, we were in sight of Somerton castle – built in 1281 by a bishop of Durham but only a tower survives from this medieval building which is incorporated into the present 17th century farmhouse.
Somerton castle tower
We left the tarmac road following a farm track across fields.
As we walked along there was all manner of discussions going on and the current state of the country lamented. I was navigating to ensure we were on the right side of the numerous ditches in the fields. Leaving the fields we reached a tarmac road once again.
We met the disused railway line at another bridge and stopped for a break on the bridge – there was a distinct lack of benches on this walk. Refreshed we headed up the hill towards the village of Coleby.
Heading towards Coleby
Reaching Coleby we joined the Viking Way and walked along the ridge enjoying the views and the Red Arrows!
Along the ridge we go.
Some sections of the ridge were very muddy leading Chris to exclaim ‘The mud’s not done with us yet lads’!.
Apparently, on a good day you can see Sherwood forest and the Peak District but visibility wasn’t great today.
Soon, we arrived back at the cars. We all had very muddy boots. It had been a nice walk and we could definitely feel it in our legs.
This morning myself and Mick did a 9 mile circular walk from the Lincolnshire village of Fulbeck to Caythorpe and back.
We parked in the Sports Club car park, opposite the church, on a chilly morning.
Village war memorialLychgate for churchVillage sign
We set off through the village and soon we found a lane that led away from the village.
walking away from Fulbeck
There were lots of noisy small birds flying in and out of the hedgerows. Eventually the lane gave way to fields that were very boggy after the heavy rain overnight. Squelch, squelch, squelch we made our way across the fields.
‘Look over there!’ Mick said pointing to two Roe deer crossing the field. They looked at us nonchalantly and then bounded off.
Wet field
Leaving the fields we reached a road and headed up the hill that brought us towards Caythorpe village.
Nearly at the top of the hill leading to Caythorpe.
On the outskirts of Caythorpe we stopped for a cuppa on a welcome bench by the cemetery.
Walking through Caythorpe we saw some nice murals on a house.
Deer in the muralPaddington bear parachuting into Caythorpe
Having passed through Caythorpe we headed up a lane passing a farm. Mick spotted some new born lambs in a shed – they were a joy to see.
Little Lambs
Further along the lane we could see how wet the fields were.
very wet field
On our way back to Fulbeck now, we had an uphill section to walk.
Turn right past the trees
Passing a grand house we walked past three large ponds.
Agricultural ponds
On the way past the ponds Mick spotted 3 more Roe deer. They took to their heels and bounded away, white tails twitching.
We were close to Fulbeck now and soon we were walking through the village to pick up the car. It was a cracking walk and good that it had some ‘up’ sections. It was particularly nice to see the lambs.
This morning I met up with Mick and Chris and we did a 10 mile circular walk beginning in the small Lincolnshire village of Ropsley.
A nice wooden sign greets you in the village
We parked up on the high street and put on our walking gear. Chris was already in a mutinous frame of mind, saying ‘I didn’t sign up for this!’ referring to the drizzle mizzle that was enveloping us. It was also a chilly 7 Deg C.
I wondered what state the fields were going to be in and hoped (fingers crossed) that they would be passable.
Setting off down the high street we passed a cottage where Richard Fox, the founder of Corpus Christi college, Oxford had been born. There was a plaque high up on the wall.
I always feel a sense of history when walking in old villages like this – how many people had trodden the road before us?
Towards the end of the village we saw the footpath sign that led us up a drive between two houses. I worry when walking so close to other peoples property – it almost feels as though you are intruding. The path took us through a narrow lane, hedged either side, and eventually brought us into open fields.
It wasn’t long before we found out that the fields were still very wet and boggy. Oh dear! Good job I had waxed my boots yesterday.
We passed the first of a number of wooden bridges on the walk today.
Myself and Mick had walked this route back in the lovely sunshine of last August so I ‘sort of’ remembered the route. I say ‘sort of’ because we had reached a point where there was no clear path (at least in my mind) and confidently I said , ‘the route is this way’ and headed off over the field. Mick piped up that he was sure we were going in the wrong direction and we needed to be heading in a westerly direction. No yellow way markers were visible across the field. As is usually the case, Mick was correct, and after reaching the opposite side of the field, I ate some humble pie and said that Mick had been right – infuriatingly, he has the uncanny knack of remembering our previous routes!
Having got on track we headed across fields to reach the small hamlet of Little Humby.
Little Humby
We passed through an empty ford where we could see that there had been plenty of water recently.
Little Humby Ford with footbridge to the right.Little Humby Ford
Heading out of Little Humby along a tarmac road that was part of The Cross Britain Way, we passed a field where the sheep were enjoying a late breakfast (or maybe an early lunch!).
Along The Cross Britain WayLate breakfast or early lunch?
We reached a good farm track, with open fields either side that took us up towards Ingoldsby Wood. The light rain had eased off but it was still misty restricting long views.
Heading for Ingoldsby Wood
Through the woods we walked – slip slip, slide, slip slip, slide in a steady rhythm. The path was quite muddy. Lincolnshire is renowned for its muddy paths.
Ingoldsby Wood
After a mile or so we left the woods and entered more open country as we made our way towards Boothby Pagnell.
Out of the woods heading for Boothby Pagnell
There was a glimmer of blue sky in the almost grey vista and wondrously, all of a sudden, there was a rainbow. Things are looking up boy’s ! and we will soon be at Boothby Pagnell for a cuppa.
Walking at pace for our break at Boothby Pagnell
Along the way Chris was getting his binoculars out to check out the bird life – we were seeing red kites and other species that I cannot quite remember right now.
Arriving at Boothby Pagnell we sat on a wooden bench opposite the church and slurped some tea and some of us had a butty or two – Chris is being ‘good’ and trying to control his food intake so disappeared for a closer inspection of the church graveyard. Having seen nothing interesting he joined us on the bench, sat down, pulled out his flask and an extra large china mug and proceeded to enjoy a large cup of tea!
View from our bench
So far we had met only one other person – a jogger- along our route.
Leaving Boothby Pagnell we crossed some open fields and found ourselves walking along side Kirton Wood, once more along muddy paths. It is a bit like walking in platform shoes as the mud layers build up and then release themselves as gravity overcomes the stickiness.
Further on we had a good stone path for a while before returning to muddy fields.
Good stone path
I have noted that during our walks there seems to be a theme in the chatting. Todays was alcoholic beverages which was far better than the chat on our previous walk which was Death!
It wasn’t long before we were heading back into Boothby Pagnell where we met a friendly dog walker who enquired where we had been walking.
Nearly back at Boothby Pagnell
There was an interesting bell tower in the local school.
So, the three amigos arrived back at their cars with Chris on a mission to buy a breathable waterproof jacket in readiness for our next adventure. I think there was mention of him going for a swim followed by a sauna later- its all right for some!
If you have managed to read to this point in my blog thank you very much and I hope that you enjoyed it?
My Walking Journeys 