Get Lost Mountaineering

Walk 18 Sustrans Doddington Kennel Lane Ash Lound

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

7 km/4 miles    About 1 – 2 hours plus

Introduction

This route uses the sustrans track then a branch off to reach Doddington before returning via the Kennel Lane track down the side of Ash Lound wood.

Route

(1) From the community centre car park walk past the play areas and follow the track in the direction of Doddington and Harby. Soon after the play area, there is the option of leaving the track and following a new path (still under construction in 2020) through the adjacent trees. Ignore the first right turn but take the second which ends with a short ascent up a bank by Bluebell Pond. Staying on the main sustrans track also brings you to this point. Continue on the sustrans track, passing under the road bridge the passing by the old farm bridge (overgrown). Pass a path going left and right then a picture before reaching the new sustrans track going left for Doddington. It is well signed. Follow the track to its end where it meets Kennel Lane in Doddington. The return route goes left here, down Kennel Lane, but many will want to make the short detour to Doddington Hall by following Kennel Lane to the main road opposite the church. Doddington Hall is obvious from here. The facilities are good with a bike shop, clothing shop, two cafes, delicatessen and seasonal Christmas shop. Return to Kennel Lane after visiting Doddington Hall.

(2) Follow Kennel Lane down, away from the main road, until it becomes a track then a path. In dry weather, it is quite pleasant walking on the edge of Ash Lound wood. When the rendering plant is getting close, look for the lake on your right then continue, forking left to join the path coming from the rendering plant. Follow this path back to the main sustrans track. Turn right and retrace your outward route back to the community centre.

Notes

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