Get Lost Mountaineering

Torksey and Cottam

Start/Finish

Torksey village ideally from just up the road towards the golf club from by the dismantled bridge on the main road. There is limited verge parking on this road. Torksey is on the A 156 road from Lincoln to Gainsborough.

Distance/Time

7 km   About 2 hours

Peaks

This is a virtually flat walk.

Pathfinder 764: Lincoln & Saxilby Explorer 271 Newark-on-Trent

Introduction

Just a simple, flat walk which crosses the restored viaduct at Torksey and does a loop of Cottam Power Station which, fortunately, is not seen too often! This route is listed under Lincolnshire as that is where it starts and finishes but the majority of it is in Nottinghamshire.

Route

(1) Locate the dismantled railway bridge at the Gainsborough end of Torksey and find the steps up to the viaduct which start almost next to it on the western side of the road. Cross the viaduct which makes use of an island in the River Trent. Descend the steps on the far side then go back under the viaduct and follow the path north along the bank of the river. Once clear of the viaduct there are some thin lines of trees going off left. Follow the path by the third line of trees which reaches a gate and a track. Follow the track, going left at the first junction which is really just a continuation of the same track. Once the track goes round a bend, there is a very long straight section enclosed by trees which hide most of the power station. Continue for some distance to reach the village of Cottam and turn left onto the road with the power station now very close.

(2) Follow the road out of the village, going over a railway bridge and passing the main entrance to the power station. Almost immediately at the end of the power station, a path (signpost) goes left and follows the perimeter of the power station, again largely hidden by trees. Two footbridges are crossed and there are distant views, across open fields to the village of Rampton. Eventually reach a rough lane, Torksey Ferry Lane, and turn left. Follow this long lane, past the power station, not so well hidden now. Continue ahead at a fenced off unit on the right. Further on another track forks right up onto a bank which turns out to be the bank of the River Trent at the head of one of its meandering loops. Continue along the bank, crossing the track left earlier further on and continue in a straight line until the path starts bending to the left and the viaduct comes into sight. Note the remains of Torksey Castle across the river. Reach the viaduct and cross over back to the start.

Notes

(a) This walk took place April, 2020.