Get Lost Mountaineering

Walk 14 Skellingthorpe Moor Plantation E of A46 & Birchwood Nature Park

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, Skellingthorpe Moor Plantation is bisected by the busy A46 so this route stays on the eastern side of the A46 and continues onto Birchwood Nature Park. There are numerous paths which makes it almost impossible to accurately describe a route but navigation is not too difficult as the wood is not very wide. The paths are worst at the Skellingthorpe Road end and best at the Doddington Road end. There are many rhododendrons so visiting at the end of May allows these to be seen at their best. In March, there are white wood anemones and in April there are bluebells on the forest floor. At busy times, the A46 will be heard if not seen.

Route

(1) From the community centre car park walk out onto Lincoln Road and turn right towards the Skellingthorpe roundabout. Cross Waterloo Lane and continue, past Skellingthorpe Hall and Daisy Made to reach Skellingthorpe roundabout. On the right of the road is an island which helps with crossing. Continue ahead into Skellingthorpe Road for about 100 metres until a path goes off on the right into the wood with two large stone blocks soon after its start. The general rule for this walk through the wood, Skellingthorpe Moor Plantation, which has numerous paths, some dead ends, is to try and on the left hand side of the wood but don't go out of the wood except soon after the start. It may be necessary to backtrack in places. To the right, the busy A46 is going to be heard but not usually seen. To the left is housing which will be frequently spotted on this route. There are some shallow but muddy ditches which need to be avoided although some makeshift “bridges” have appeared. Follow the path. Very soon there is a way out of the wood to the left but ignore it. Pass an old, small dam which is on your right and keep going. Soon another path leads left and out of the wood so follow this (staying in the wood is very rough). Follow the street for about 50 m then take a path back into the wood about opposite No. 37. If the second path out of the wood looks too overgrown then retrace back to the first path which exits opposite about number 27. Get back on course following the left side of the wood. It is difficult to describe in detail the route from here but remember to stay left. Eventually, the path should become an old tarmac track which soon crosses another track where to the left is housing and to the right is the A46.

(2) Cross over the track and continue on a similar track to where the track splits. If you look around here, you will find an old loading platform from the last war. Fork left and keep taking the left option at any junction so long as you stay in the wood. Eventually reach some old, low brick buildings left over from World War 2. Continue ahead still keeping to the left and soon reach a sign saying you are now in Birchwood Nature Park. Keep following the left side of the wood and pass a large field on the right which you will effectively walk around. When almost past the field, it is worth taking a short detour to the edge of the field where there is an information board and a statue of a dog. This detour is just before a grassy triangle is reached. Return to the perimeter path and continue to pass “The Pond” then reach the Doddington Road entrance where there are more statues and more information including an aerial photograph of what was the runway of RAF Birchwood during the last war; this is opposite Damon's Restaurant and a petrol station.

(3) Return into the park and follow the left hand path and keep taking the left path at any junction. This will take you past some steps on a small mound then through some rhododendrons but it is a good path. Eventually, you will join the outward path which is followed back to the track which came from the A46. Turn left towards the A46 then take a good path on the right before reaching the A46. Follow this through the wood, still keeping to the left. Some shallow ditches will be crossed but these should not be a problem. The paths aren't as good now but can still be followed and you will cross two clearings. Eventually, pass the old dam (on the other side) and reach the entrance from Skellingthorpe Road. Turn left, cross the A46 at the roundabout and walk back to the community centre passing Daisy Made ice cream parlour.

Notes

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