Stamford, Belmesthorpe, Uffington, Stamford Canal

With Maureen, April 17 2017 10 am.  This is the route I followed on April 10th 2017, and on April 4th 2017, but in reverse and with an extra mile or so added on to include Belmesthorpe and the lamas/alpacas.  Total 7.8 miles, in dry weather, with good conditions underfoot, but still cooled by the wind in spite of some sun.

We set off from Stamford and walked round the back of Morrisons to the Ryhall Road, where we turned right at the post office.  After a hundred yards or so we turned right at a public footpath sign, and followed the track through the demolished railway bridge and over the fields to the bridge over the Gwash, then climbed gently up to where the path meets the road to Belmesthorpe. We turned left along this road, as far as the village.

 At Belmestorpe we turned right then took the first road on the right (Castle Rise), which leads to a footpath between two fences and out into the fields. One short stretch of dry ploughed land, then a pleasant fenced footpath which led us past the lamas (alpacas) looking very woolly and quite tubby - I reckon the air is too oxygen-rich for these high Andean specialist, but they look happy enough.

 There are a few pigs as well, and the next field was full of sheep with lambs.

From here we joined the route I took the other day, not quite touching the same ground twice, though we could see the road. We turned left just before Cobbs Nook Farm and followed the bridleway ahead, then left, then right across a footbridge. We met a man doing a recce for a walk - he assured me the railway is still crossable just after Casewick - I shall have to investigate.  We continued and turned right again some distance further on. This bridleway took us to the main road into Uffington. We followed the road, as far as the gate to the church. The churchyard is looking a little unkempt now the daffodils are over, but we found a sunny sheltered bench for a break.

We walked along School Lane, turned left into Casewick Lane and soon right along Manners Close.

Soon we went over a stile on our left, following the permissive path through a large garden with a pond.  The path fro here is well signed, and took us out to the main road after about half a mile.

At the main road we crossed over to the footway, and turned right towards the gate to the former Uffington Manor, where this slightly stoned looking character is one a pair on the gateposts.

A left turn took us to Uffington Bridge over the Welland. Just before the bridge we took the footpath along the tow path of the former Stamford Canal. 

After a mile or so we went through the kissing gate annd walked along the edge of one field, and over a footbridge across the Gwash.  The path through a field of sheep with lambs leads to a gate and the track from Hudds Mill. 

The track turns right and heads to the Uffington Road. A short walk towards the town brought us to Morrisons roundabout, and lunch in the café.