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.

Ryhall, Belmesford, Essendine, Tolethorpe

Thu, 2015 Sep 24 9:29 AM BST

With Gordon and Maureen. A fine autumn day, with a chilly wind from the West. Underfoot good. Very pleasant walk. About 8.5 miles in all.

The same route as we took on March 14 2011. Autumn is a good time for this one. The hedgerows were full of fruit, haws, rosehips, apples, blackberries, sloes all glowing on the plants.

From the car park outside Ryhall village Hall [036107](opposite the library), face the road and turn left, past the school and across a field footpath to Belmesthorpe. Cross the Gwash on a footbridge and go along Belmesthorpe Lane, turn left on Shepherd's Walk, then right on Castle Rise. Just after a left hand bend here's a footpath sign on the right hand side.   This  takes you across a small section of arable land. 

Then there are the llamas/alpacas and pot-bellied pigs.

After less than half a mile you turn left on to a wide bridle way, between hedges, which you follow for just under a mile until it joins a minor road to Uffington. This is marked as the Danelaw Way.  A section of road walking follows - turn left towards Essendine, and follow the road for a good mile and a half. About halfway along you cross a disused railway line - there is some serious work underway here.  The line once joined the main line not far away. After a right-angle bend to the right, the road emerges on to the A6121 between Stamford and Bourne. There's a good pavement alongsdide this, and in a fairly short distance you cross the road to take a footpath on the edge of a wood. 

Autumn colours in evidence now.

 Follow the path as far as the B1176 - we stopped for a break just before the road, which is quiet. We turned right along the road, and very soon took a more minor road to the left. This brings you to some houses just south of  Ryhall Heath Farm.  There is a somewhat hidden footpath sign to the left.   The track is on land belonging to Walk Farm, and goes through a couple of stile/gates which make this clear.

The tiny white dots are seagulls

There's a junction where we turned left, slightly downhill.  Follow this until you reach the minor road between Ryhall and Great Casterton.

Turn right along the road - it can be rather busy. Go past the turning to Tolethorpe and at the next bend take a footpath to the right. 
Here we were greeted by some curious sheep, who seemed to want to be photographed.

 The footpath goes down to the river Gwash, and follows it to meet the road in Tolethorpe, at the bridge over the river. Here we turned left, then right.

 We wandered along the footpath behind the old mill out of curiosity, but you can't see Tolethorpe Hall from there, though it is quite picturesque.

We returned to the road, and turned right (uphill). Where the road bends to the right we turned left on to a footpath which took us back to Ryhall, past some free range chickens in a field.

 We reached the main road, crossed over and followed Balk Road, past Spinney Lane to return to the Village Hall.

Dovecot near Ryhall Village Hall

A more attractive walk than I remembered from three and a half years ago.  We saw a few red kites and a buzzard today.
Map and details

Ryhall - Belmesthorpe - Essendine -Tolethorpe - Ryhall

Monday 14 March 2011 - 8 miles with Barry, Gordon, Maureen

From car park outside Ryhall village Hall [036107](opposite the library), face the road and turn left, past the school and across a field footpath to Belmesthorpe. Cross the Gwash on a footbridge and go through a well-tended street of bungalows - on the right hand side there's a footpath sign which takes you across arable land. This can be muddy - we were lucky. After less than half a mile you turn left on to a wide, well-hoofed bridle way, which you follow for just under a mile until it joins a minor road to Uffington. Turn left towards Essendine, and follow the road fo a good mile and a half. About halfway along you cross a disused railway line - under the bridge it has been filled in. This line once joined the main line not far away, and we saw several trains as we walked. After a right-angle bend to the right, the road emerges on to the A6121 between Stamford and Bourne. There's a good pavement alongsdide this, and in a fairly short distance you cross the road to take a footpath on the edge of a wood. Follow this to the B1176.

(This may be where we stopped for a snack break - must get hold of Barry's map to be sure.)

Walk beside this road for a short distance, then take a minor road to the left.

I think we went along to the point where a track lgoes to the left, opposite the entrance to Ryhall Heath Farm (note to self - CHECK this).  The track is on land belonging to Walk Farm. There's a junction where we turned left, slightly downhill.  Follow this until you reach the minor road between Ryhall and Great Casterton, Turn right, and in a couple of hundered yards turn left towards Tolethorpe.  This road leads all the way to the Gwash, and the magnificent Tolethorpe Cottage - if that's a cottage, what is the big house like?  Answer - big. It's where the outdoor theatre holds performances in the summer.

At a bend on the road we turned on to a footpath which took us back to Ryhall.

The second part of the walk is the more scenic.