Get Lost Mountaineering

Walk 25 Sustrans into Old Wood via Arch, West Path, Inside West Edge & N Edge & Weaving Paths (long+)

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

10 km/6 miles    About 2 – 3 hours

Introduction

This route uses the sustrans track then a branch off, under a wishbone arch, to follow the edge of the Old Wood before branching off west into the wood then heads west again to a bridge from where a path is followed north just inside the wood and continues along the edge of the wood until it meets the track which goes north from the 5 way junction. It then uses two paths to reach Old Wood House, then two weaving paths to go to a minor track and back before reaching the 5 way junction and taking the path from there back to the minor track before returning past the houses at the extension of Woodbank (road from Skellingthorpe) then through woodland back to the sustrans track.

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 passing the newer sustrans track going left for Doddington which is well signed. Don't take the branch but stay on the main sustrans track until just past the field on the right where there is path going into the Old Wood which passes through the wishbone arch. Follow the path, ignoring the first path going off left soon after the arch (it soon peters out). Take the second path on the left which dips down slightly from the track and passes a pond further on. Stay with the path which goes round a bend to head north. On this stretch there is a faint path going off to the right which leads to a tree where there is a memorial. Respect this if you visit it then return back to the main path. Continue on the path to reach a crossroads where a rough vehicle track lies ahead and to the right and a rough grassy track goes left.

(2) Turn left and follow the rough grassy track to a bridge on the edge of the wood. However, do not cross the bridge but turn right, north, (not the reverse fork) and follow the pleasant path just inside the wood. Follow this, ignoring a distinctive path (has logs laid across further down) and continue to a second bridge. Just after this there is a sign post where you don't turn right (as indicated) but continue ahead following a rougher path still just inside the edge of the wood. This can be boggy in places needing short detours especially after the path becomes a track. Continue to the end of the path where you pass between two posts to join a good track about 30 m from the edge of the wood. Turn right and follow the track (it will eventually lead south to the 5 way junction if it were to be followed to its start). Pass the start of a major track on the right. Continue until just after the start of some paddocks on the left, where there is a path going right and into the trees. Follow this path, past some coppice workings, which curves round to join the major track passed earlier. Turn left for about 100 m then take a path on the left going back into the trees. Follow this, which is generally straight. When it reaches a mature tree, it forks right which is not obvious but soon becomes obvious again. Cross a ditch with branches laid in it to help with crossing then continue to emerge on a track opposite Old Wood House.

(3) Turn right and follow the track. Go through a gate where a map is and continue further to reach a path on the left which starts between 2 posts. This is a very pleasant weaving path. Follow it to emerge on a minor track. Turn left and follow the track to the next path on the left which goes back into the trees. Follow this to emerge at the gate and map by Old Wood House. Turn right and follow the track past Old Wood House to reach the 5 way junction. Take the reverse right fork and follow this back to the minor track.

(4) Turn left, onto the track and follow it east. Pass two paths joining from the left and reach a vehicle track in front of houses. Continue ahead until a sign (restricted byway) allows you to go right and over a bridge. If you miss this you will soon reach a junction with a postbox. After the bridge, follow the obvious track, passing a few houses and some paddocks before the track becomes a path and enters the wood. Follow the path and soon reach the main sustrans track. Turn left and retrace your outward route back to the community centre.

Notes

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