Easton on the Hill,Tinwell, Stamford, Wothorpe,

 Monday August 9 th 

I walked with Harry from Easton on the Hill,

past the church, and along the footpath/ track which leads straight on not through the company car park area.  The track turns into a footpath down Easton Hillside (OS label), alongside a wood and over the mainline railway.

It joins another track and continues to the Welland, just before Tinwell - you can access Tinwell, but we turned right and followed the river,under the noisy A1 and past the remains of Stamford Spa and its healing ironwater.

We crossed the river at Broadeng Bridge and followed the well used path to the Town Meadows, where we paused for a break, before heading up to the A43. We crossed and turned right, along the lower footpath, through the newly built mansions, and some more established des reses - the path is clearly separated and easy to follow, and climbs gently. It goes alongside the A1 for a while - quite pleasant as there are lots of trees to

mitigate the unavoidable roar of traffic. Under the road, through a still muddy tunnel,we emerge into what would be idyllic if only it was quiet.

The path takes us to the west of the old Wothorpe House (now Wothorpe Towers) , then along a path enclosed between two high hedges and back to the bridleway labelled as Warren Road, then into Easton on the Hill. Just under 5.5 miles, and done before any rain fell.

Easton on the Hill, Tinwell, Stamford, Wothorpe.

 Tuesday 03 August, about 6 miles.

First mile or so missing!

Dry and later sunny and warm. Walked with Marta from Easton-on-the-hill, near the village hall

following directions past the priest’s house,

then turning right down the tarmac covered byway towards Tinwell Crossing (of the mainline railway).

The path continues through woodland, and turns very slightly left towards the river, and a bridge leading into Tinwell, which we did not cross. Instead we turned right, and followed the course of the Welland,

under the roaring A1, past the pumping station, with its weir, then the Spa. We had a coffee stop on a concrete structure, with the sound of distant traffic.  This is a well-walked route, popular with dog walkers and families alike.   We crossed the footbridge (Broadeng Bridge) and the path took us to Stamford Town Meadows. 

From there we headed towards the A43 and the footpath leading to Wothorpe. At the top there is a bench with a great view of the town.  Turn right and then take a cut through to the left behind houses and through some woodland. When you reach the Old Great North Road turn right and then, opposite the entrance to the golf club, turn right on to a bridle way. This leads past Wothorpe Towers, previously known as Wothorpe House.

We also explored the path just past the building, which leads between two very high hedges. Then it was back to Easton in the Hill. 

Lunch Ciabata at the Blue Bell, Easton on the Hill (which is now displaying the UK flag, though they still have an Italian one by their pizza oven.)