ford Fou m a t S r Co un t ie s Wal k A circular walk of 7 or 91 2 km (41 2 or 6 miles)
Introduction This walk is set in attractive countryside on the edge of Stamford in the south-west corner of Lincolnshire. The town and surrounding area lie on an outcrop of the Middle Jurassic limestone, a geological layer that runs from Bath through the Cotswolds and into Lincolnshire and from which many of the town s buildings are constructed. The walk takes you along the banks of the River Welland and up onto higher ground at Easton on the Hill, where there are good views back over Stamford and to the Fens beyond. The longer walk goes through attractive woodland at Wothorpe and ends with a fine approach to the town across ancient pastureland. Though the start and finish of the walk are in Lincolnshire, you will also be walking in Rutland, Northamptonshire and Peterborough in Cambridgeshire. Four historic counties in just a few miles! Stamford has long been considered one of the most beautiful of England s smaller towns, with over a thousand years of history to its name. Springing up where the Great North Road crosses the River Welland, it prospered in the Middle Ages through trade in wool and a much sought after woven cloth called haberget. Indeed, in the 13th century Stamford was one of the ten largest towns in England, boasting a castle, fourteen churches, two Benedictine religious houses and four friaries. After a period of decline the town s fortunes were revived by improvements to the Great North Road in the 17th and 18th centuries. Most people travelling north or south passed through Stamford. It soon developed coaching inns, stabling and related trades to support the seventy or so stage and mail coaches passing through every day. Prospering merchants and lawyers built many of the fine houses that can still be seen today
The Walk 1 2 The walk Leave the TIC, cross the road and turn left along St Mary s Street. At the junction carry straight on and then cross the road at the pedestrian crossing and continue to walk in the same direction. When the road bends to the right, continue straight on along Castle Street. At Sheepmarket Square turn left along Castle Dyke. On the right, the three arches, are the only remains of the castle which was built during the reign of William the Conqueror. The castle was in ruins by the 14th century and the bus station now stands on the site of the original motte. 3 At the end of the road continue straight on over the bridge and follow the path across the meadow, Just before the next bridge turn right and walk along the right bank of the river. The Benedictine nunnery of St Mary and St Michael once stood in the area now occupied by the High School on the south side of the river. It was founded around 1155 and finds from the area include a gold ring, pottery, medieval glazed roof tiles as well as a number of skeletons. Continue for approximately 1 km (just over ½ mile) to reach another footbridge (Broadeng Bridge). The river Welland rises in Leicestershire and flows eastwards to enter The Wash. This area is part of a floodplain lying between two tributaries of the river that rejoin just before the Town Bridge. Look out for the old Roman crossing point on your left, on a direct alignment with Ermine Street and now marked by a stone plaque. 4 5 6 Cross the bridge and bear right to follow the river, now on your right. Continue alongside the river for approximately 1200 m ( 3 4 mile), passing through a bridge arch under the A1, to reach a junction of paths near Tinwell village. Turn left onto the bridleway that runs along a field edge. After approximately 100 m bear right along the track, with tall hedgerows on either side. CROSS THE RAILWAY LINE WITH GREAT CARE and continue up the hill, passing a wood on your left. Over to your right stands the huge industrial complex that is Ketton Cement Works. In operation since 1928, the two kilns produce some 14 million tonnes of cement every year, which is about 10 % of the UK s total requirement. The area around Ketton is also noted for its attractive Freestone, so called because it can be carved in any direction. It has been used to construct fine buildings since the 16th century. 7 Just outside the village of Easton on the Hill, immediately before some allotments on the left, turn left along a wide track towards the church.
Map & Walk 2 1 11 3 19 18 5 6 9 10 4 17 16 15 8 7 12 13 14 N Shorter Route Map Scale: 400m 1 4 mile Lincolnshire County Council reproduced from OS mapping with permission of the controller of Her Majesty s Stationery Office (C) Crown Copyright and Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to civil proceedings. OS Licence 100025370
The Walk 8 On reaching a lane by the church, turn right. For the SHORTER WALK turn left almost immediately to follow a public footpath through a grass parking area and small paddock. Continue ahead across the corner of a field, following way markers denoting long distance footpaths. Walk across the corner of another field, aiming just to the right of three telegraph poles. The route back to Stamford touches on three long distance footpaths: the Macmillan Way, developed to support the cancer relief charity, links Boston to Abbotsbury on the Dorset coast (290 miles); the Hereward Way connects a number of towns in eastern England (110 miles); the Jurassic Way links Banbury to Stamford (88 miles) and takes its name from rocks of the Jurassic period over which it lies. Castle Street and continue straight on along St Mary s Street to return to the starting point. For the LONGER WALK continue ahead along Church Street into Easton on the Hill. The picturesque village of Easton on the Hill was recorded in the Domesday Book as Estone. All Saints Church dates from the 12th century, although it has been much enlarged and altered over time. The Royal Air Force established a training depot at Easton as far back as 1917. Later renamed RAF Collyweston, it was eventually absorbed into neighbouring RAF Wittering. Go through a gap in a hedge and continue down the hill on a track by a field edge, with Stamford ahead. Pass through a wooded area and continue ahead across a large field, aiming for the way marker post in the distance. 9 Follow the path through an area of scrub to reach the railway line on an embankment. CROSS IT WITH CARE and then bear slightly right to cross the corner of another field. Cross a footbridge and go through the tunnel under the A1. Continue ahead to reach the river. 12 13 10 You have now rejoined your outward 14 route. Simply continue along the path by the river, now on your left, towards Broadeng Bridge and the Meadows. Walk back through the Meadows alongside the river to the junction with a surfaced path and bridge. 11 Turn left, cross a bridge and continue 15 straight ahead along Castle Dyke to Sheepmarket Square. Turn right along At the junction with High Street, marked by a stone war memorial, turn left and continue ahead to the junction with the A43. Turn left here and walk along the pavement for approximately 100m. Take the bridleway to Wothorpe that goes off to the right, CROSSING THE MAIN ROAD WITH EXTREME CARE. Go through some woodland to a junction of two bridleways. Turn left to walk around the remains of Wothorpe Towers.
The Walk Wothorpe Groves and Pit Holes are expanses of mixed deciduous woodland. They provide excellent habitats for a wide range of woodland birds, mammals and wild flowers. Wothorpe Towers was built in the early part of the 17th century by Thomas Cecil, Earl of Exeter, to retire to out of the dust whilst his great house of Burghley was a sweeping. It has fallen into disrepair, but there is a restoration project underway. Bear left across the field to the far corner and follow the path to a road. Bear right and follow the road. At the T-junction cross the road to a public footpath almost straight opposite and between two hedges. Cross the field towards a gate in the corner. Bear right across a small bridge and field to a road and opposite some almshouses. 18 Cross the road with care and walk along Wothorpe Road before bearing right along Church Lane. At the end of Church Lane turn right and at the T-junction turn left. 16 17 At the junction with a public footpath turn right and follow the path into a field and follow the fence line in front of the cottage. At the end of the fence bear slightly left heading for the right hand corner of a barn and waymarker post in the corner of the field. At the barn turn left and follow the waymarkers under the A1. Turn right and walk alongside a hedge and parallel to the A1. At the corner of the field follow the path left to a stile in a field corner. The George Hotel has been in existence sine the 16th century and some of the building dates back to the late medieval period. It was extended in the late 18th century when Stamford was a popular stop on the Great North Road. The gallows across the road probably dates to then. 19 Having crossed the river, using the Town Bridge, turn right opposite the Town Hall and cross the road with care and walk around St Mary s Place, still cobbled, between the Town Hall and St Mary s Church. The imposing Town Hall was built between 1776 and 1779 and St Mary s Church during the 13th to 15th centuries. The tower was built in the 13th century and the 162 foot. spire in the 14th century. The late 19th century saw an Arts and Crafts redecoration designed by J.D Sedding. At the junction turn right to return to the starting point.
Walk Information Walk location: Stamford lies just off the A1 in the south-west corner of Lincolnshire, between Grantham and Peterborough. Starting point and parking: Tourist Information Centre (TIC) and Arts Centre, St Mary s Street. Grid reference: TF 031 070. Parking: Pay and display car parks in Stamford. Public Transport: For details of bus and train services to and from Stamford, call the Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/busrailtravel. Walk length: 7 km (4 1 2 miles) or 9 1 2 km (6 miles). At a leisurely pace the shorter walk will take approximately 2 1 4 hours to complete and the longer walk about 3 hours. Type of walk: The walks use field paths, riverbanks, tracks and pavements. Both walks involve a gentle ascent and descent. It may be muddy in places. A railway line is crossed once on the longer route and twice on the shorter one. Ordnance Survey maps for the area: Explorer 234 Rutland Water, Stamford and Oakham. Landranger 141 Kettering & Corby. Refreshments: The Crown at Tinwell, The Bluebell Inn at Easton on the Hill, and numerous pubs, cafes and shops in Stamford. Public toilets: Red Lion Square, Stamford. Published January 2009
Be a responsible walker Please remember the countryside is a place where people live and work and where wildlife makes its home. To protect the Lincolnshire countryside for other visitors please respect it and on every visit follow the Countryside Code. Thank you. Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs Leave gates and property as you find them Protect plants and animals, and take litter home Keep dogs under close control Consider other people Most of all enjoy your visit to the Lincolnshire countryside This leaflet is one in a series of walk leaflets produced by Lincolnshire County Council s Countryside Access Team to help you explore and enjoy the county s countryside. If you have enjoyed these walks and would like information on other walking routes in Lincolnshire then please visit our website. If you encounter any problems whilst on these walks, such as an overgrown path or a broken sign post, please let us know so they can be corrected. We would also welcome your comments and suggestions on the walk and leaflet to help improve future editions. If you require this leaflet in another format please contact us. Lincolnshire County Council Countryside Access Team Tel: 01522 782070 Minicom: 01522 552055 Email: countryside_access@lincolnshire.gov.uk Web: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/countryside