Get Lost Mountaineering

Walk 9 Old Wood NW, W & SW following weaving paths

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 200 m, take a path on the left; this is before a major track is reached. Follow the path through the trees until it curves around to the right and joins a major track. Turn left and follow the track. 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 where the major track swings left, a grassy track goes right and a path goes straight ahead.

(2) Take the path going straight ahead. Further on, it curves around to the left then passes a pool, crosses a bridge before meeting another path. Turn left (right takes you to the sustrans track at the arch) and follow the path to its end at a minor track where another path continues ahead. Do not take this but turn right and follow the minor track which would, if followed to its end, lead to the end of Wood Bank. After following this minor track, reach a sign post for a path going left into the wood. Take this path which meanders through the wood to emerge on a major track by Old Wood House where there is an information board.

(3) Turn left, onto the track and go through the gate. Continue for a short diatnce to a path on the left going back into the wood. This path weaves around to meet the minor track, left earlier, where it was joined by the path coming from the arch. Turn left onto the minor track and walk down it again. Pass the path on the left taken earlier and continue until almost at the houses where another signed path goes off left. Follow this path, which can be muddy, back to the five way junction.