Get Lost Mountaineering

Walk 8:  Old Wood NW, W & SW

Start/Finish

Five Way junction where there is some rough parking for a few cars. From Skellingthorpe Co-Op, take the road towards Saxilby but soon turn left, on a right hand bend, onto Woodbank and follow it to its end near a pillar box where there is space for a few cars. Fork right, pass some houses to reach the five way junction where there is a sign post.

Distance/Time

4 km/2.5 miles     About an hour

Introduction

Skellingthorpe Old Wood is one of the largest woodlands in the area and is relatively quiet to walk around. It contains a mixture of good tracks, boggy tracks and many footpaths. Boots are needed and gaiters after wet weather. The wood is very natural and, in March, white wood anemones abound. There is much to explore in this wood.

Route

(1) Walk north from the five way junction, almost straight on. After about 300 m, take the major track on the left. Follow the track for some distance. There are a few small “pictures” along the side of the track. Pass a picnic site where a track goes left (to Old Wood House); there is a carving of a bird of prey on a fence post opposite the picnic site. Continue ahead and pass another track going left with two paths going right for the edge of the wood. Continue ahead and reach a crossroads.

(2) The major track goes left, there is a footpath ahead and the right turn is where the other path from the bridge corner comes out. Stay with the major track (left). Follow it to where it bends left and a minor track goes straight ahead. Take the minor track. Reach a crossroads where the minor track continues ahead and back to the start, a path goes right to meet the sustrans track at the arch but this route goes left on a delightful weaving path into the wood. Follow this through the wood to emerge on a major track. Turn right and follow the track to a gate where there is an information map.

(3) Just after the gate, take the path on the right which goes back into the wood. Follow the path to its end where it rejoins the minor track. Turn left and follow the minor track to where it becomes a vehicle track and passes some houses to reach the end of Wood Bank at the pillar box.

Notes

(a) This walk took place in April, 2020.