Get Lost Mountaineering

Walk 12 Wiseholme Holt & Skellingthorpe Moor Plantation crossing A46

Start/Finish

Skellingthorpe community centre where there is usually ample free parking. This is most easily reached from the Skellingthorpe roundabout on the A46 Lincoln bypass. Take the road into Skellingthorpe and the car park is roughly where the cycle track from Lincoln crosses the road.

Distance/Time

5 km/3 miles    About an hour plus

Introduction

On the south side of Skellingthorpe are two pleasant woods: Wiseholme Holt and Skellingthorpe Moor Plantation. The latter has some historical interest in that it contains the remnants of buildings which were used to store bombs for the nearby RAF Skellingthorpe/Birchowood during World War 2. This route crosses the busy A46 Lincoln bypass which is not easy as there is no crossing or any other aid to crossing. At busy times, crossing may not be possible. Once across the A46, this half of Skellingthorpe Moor Plantation is not as pleasant as across the main road and it can be quite boggy in places as well as strewn with litter.

Route

(1) From the community centre car park walk out onto Lincoln Road and turn right towards the Skellingthorpe roundabout. Soon reach Waterloo Lane, on the right, and fit for a short distance taking the first left turn into Gardenfield. Follow this, going straight on when it curves to the right and locate the narrow path at the end in the right hand corner. The path soon widens and continues behind the houses on the right. Take the first path going off to the left. This has some obstacles, fallen trees, but these have had some tidying up so they are easily passed. The path soon curves around to the right and shadows the edge of a field before gradually drifting right into the middle of the wood. Stay with the obvious path which crosses a ditch, now with a makeshift bridge, and reach the edge of the wood where it meets a track, across which is Skellingthorpe Moor and Plantation. Go left on the track and soon meet a path which forks right to access the moor which is now open arable fields. Follow the edge of the field to a corner then continue around towards Skellingthorpe Moor Plantation. Do not enter the wood but stay on its outside. Pass some loading platforms from the last war and continue to the NW corner of the wood where a path goes goes left and into the wood. (The path going right continues around the edge of the field). Soon the path splits. Go left and follow it, just inside the edge of the wood. After a while, a right turn takes you to some derelict buildings which are the old bomb stores during from the last war. Retrace back to the main path and turn right. Follow it to a wide junction where a track goes right. It should be just possible to see the busy A46 from here. Follow the track to the A46 and, perhaps taking your life in your hands, cross over.

(2) Enter the wood on the other side and soon take a path going left. Follow this for quite some distance. The path is usually quite distinct and is never too far from the A46 which if not seen will be heard. The path goes through a clearing and a few thinner sections of wood. Try to keep going in roughly the same direction as there are numerous paths. The intended path crosses a shallow ditch a few times and some makeshift “bridges” have appeared. Eventually emerge on Skellingthorpe Road. Turn left and reach Skellingthorpe Roundabout. Cross over, just to the left of the roundabout, and follow the road back to the Community Centre passing Daisy Made Ice Cream Cafe which is well worth a visit.

Notes

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