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Stamford Four Counties Walk
A circular walk of 7 or 91⁄2 km (41⁄2 or 6 miles)
Introduction
This walk is set in attractivecountryside on the edge ofStamford in the south-west cornerof Lincolnshire. The town andsurrounding area lie on an outcropof the Middle Jurassic limestone,a geological layer that runs fromBath through the Cotswolds andinto Lincolnshire and from whichmany of the town’s buildings areconstructed.
The walk takes you along thebanks of the River Welland and uponto higher ground at Easton onthe Hill, where there are goodviews back over Stamford and tothe Fens beyond. The longerwalk goes through attractivewoodland at Wothorpe and endswith a fine approach to the townacross ancient pastureland.Though the start and finish of thewalk are in Lincolnshire, you willalso be walking in Rutland,Northamptonshire andPeterborough in Cambridgeshire.Four historic counties in just a few
miles!
Stamford has long beenconsidered one of the mostbeautiful of England’s smallertowns, with over a thousand yearsof history to its name. Springingup where the Great North Roadcrosses the River Welland, itprospered in the Middle Agesthrough trade in wool and a muchsought after woven cloth calledhaberget. Indeed, in the 13thcentury Stamford was one of theten largest towns in England,boasting a castle, fourteenchurches, two Benedictinereligious houses and four friaries.
After a period of decline thetown’s fortunes were revived byimprovements to the Great NorthRoad in the 17th and 18thcenturies. Most people travellingnorth or south passed throughStamford. It soon developedcoaching inns, stabling andrelated trades to support theseventy or so stage and mailcoaches passing through everyday. Prospering merchants andlawyers built many of the finehouses that can still be seentoday
The Walk
1The walkLeave the TIC, cross the road and turnleft along St Mary’s Street.At the junction carry straight on andthen cross the road at the pedestriancrossing and continue to walk in thesame direction.
When the road bends to the right,continue straight on along CastleStreet.
At Sheepmarket Square turn left alongCastle Dyke.
On the right, the three arches, are theonly remains of the castle which was builtduring the reign of William the Conqueror.The castle was in ruins by the 14thcentury and the bus station now standson the site of the original motte.
At the end of the road continue straighton over the bridge and follow the pathacross the meadow,
Just before the next bridge turn rightand walk along the right bank of theriver.
The Benedictine nunnery of St Mary andSt Michael once stood in the area nowoccupied by the High School on thesouth side of the river. It was foundedaround 1155 and finds from the areainclude a gold ring, pottery, medievalglazed roof tiles as well as a number ofskeletons.
Continue for approximately 1 km (justover ½ mile) to reach anotherfootbridge (Broadeng Bridge).
The river Welland rises in Leicestershireand flows eastwards to enter The Wash.This area is part of a floodplain lyingbetween two tributaries of the river thatrejoin just before the Town Bridge. Lookout for the old Roman crossing point onyour left, on a direct alignment withErmine Street and now marked by astone plaque.
Cross the bridge and bear right tofollow the river, now on your right.Continue alongside the river forapproximately 1200 m (3⁄4 mile),passing through a bridge arch underthe A1, to reach a junction of pathsnear Tinwell village.
Turn left onto the bridleway that runsalong a field edge.
After approximately 100 m bear rightalong the track, with tall hedgerows oneither side. CROSS THE RAILWAYLINE WITH GREAT CARE andcontinue up the hill, passing a wood onyour left.
Over to your right stands the hugeindustrial complex that is Ketton CementWorks. In operation since 1928, the twokilns produce some 14 million tonnes ofcement every year, which is about 10 %of the UK’s total requirement. The areaaround Ketton is also noted for itsattractive ‘Freestone’, so called becauseit can be carved in any direction. It hasbeen used to construct fine buildingssince the 16th century.
Just outside the village of Easton onthe Hill, immediately before someallotments on the left, turn left along awide track towards the church.
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Map & Walk
Lincolnshire County Council reproduced from OS mapping with permission of the controller of Her Majesty’sStationery Office (C) Crown Copyright and Unauthorised reproduction infringesCrown Copyright and may lead to civil proceedings. OS Licence 100025370”
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Shorter Route Map Scale: 400m1⁄4 mile
The Walk
On reaching a lane by the church, turnright. For the SHORTER WALK turnleft almost immediately to follow apublic footpath through a grassparking area and small paddock.Continue ahead across the corner of afield, following way markers denotinglong distance footpaths. Walk acrossthe corner of another field, aiming justto the right of three telegraph poles.
The route back to Stamford touches onthree long distance footpaths: theMacmillan Way, developed to support thecancer relief charity, links Boston toAbbotsbury on the Dorset coast (290miles); the Hereward Way connects anumber of towns in eastern England (110miles); the Jurassic Way links Banbury toStamford (88 miles) and takes its namefrom rocks of the Jurassic period overwhich it lies.
Go through a gap in a hedge andcontinue down the hill on a track by afield edge, with Stamford ahead. Passthrough a wooded area and continueahead across a large field, aiming forthe way marker post in the distance.
Follow the path through an area ofscrub to reach the railway line on anembankment. CROSS IT WITHCARE and then bear slightly right tocross the corner of another field.Cross a footbridge and go through thetunnel under the A1. Continue aheadto reach the river.
You have now rejoined your outwardroute. Simply continue along the pathby the river, now on your left, towardsBroadeng Bridge and the Meadows.Walk back through the Meadowsalongside the river to the junction witha surfaced path and bridge.
Turn left, cross a bridge and continuestraight ahead along Castle Dyke toSheepmarket Square. Turn right along
Castle Street and continue straight onalong St Mary’s Street to return to thestarting point.
For the LONGER WALK continueahead along Church Street into Eastonon the Hill.
The picturesque village of Easton on theHill was recorded in the Domesday Bookas ‘Estone’. All Saints Church datesfrom the 12th century, although it hasbeen much enlarged and altered overtime. The Royal Air Force established atraining depot at Easton as far back as1917. Later renamed RAF Collyweston,it was eventually absorbed intoneighbouring RAF Wittering.
At the junction with High Street,marked by a stone war memorial, turnleft and continue ahead to the junctionwith the A43.
Turn left here and walk along thepavement for approximately 100m.
Take the bridleway to Wothorpe thatgoes off to the right, CROSSING THEMAIN ROAD WITH EXTREMECARE.
Go through some woodland to ajunction of two bridleways.
Turn left to walk around the remains ofWothorpe Towers.
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The Walk
Wothorpe Groves and Pit Holes areexpanses of mixed deciduous woodland.They provide excellent habitats for a widerange of woodland birds, mammals andwild flowers. Wothorpe Towers wasbuilt in the early part of the 17th centuryby Thomas Cecil, Earl of Exeter, to “retireto out of the dust whilst his great houseof Burghley was a sweeping.” It hasfallen into disrepair, but there is arestoration project underway.
At the junction with a public footpathturn right and follow the path into afield and follow the fence line in front ofthe cottage. At the end of the fencebear slightly left heading for the righthand corner of a barn and waymarkerpost in the corner of the field.
At the barn turn left and follow thewaymarkers under the A1.
Turn right and walk alongside a hedgeand parallel to the A1. At the corner ofthe field follow the path left to a stile ina field corner.
Bear left across the field to the farcorner and follow the path to a road.
Bear right and follow the road. At theT-junction cross the road to a publicfootpath almost straight opposite andbetween two hedges.
Cross the field towards a gate in thecorner. Bear right across a smallbridge and field to a road and oppositesome almshouses.
Cross the road with care and walkalong Wothorpe Road before bearingright along Church Lane.At the end of Church Lane turn rightand at the T-junction turn left.
The George Hotel has been in existencesine the 16th century and some of thebuilding dates back to the late medievalperiod. It was extended in the late 18thcentury when Stamford was a popularstop on the Great North Road. Thegallows across the road probably datesto then.
Having crossed the river, using theTown Bridge, turn right opposite theTown Hall and cross the road with careand walk around St Mary’s Place, stillcobbled, between the Town Hall andSt Mary’s Church.
The imposing Town Hall was builtbetween 1776 and 1779 and St Mary’sChurch during the 13th to 15th centuries.The tower was built in the 13th centuryand the 162 foot. spire in the 14thcentury. The late 19th century saw anArts and Crafts redecoration designed byJ.D Sedding.
At the junction turn right to return tothe starting point.
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Walk location: Stamford lies just off theA1 in the south-west corner of Lincolnshire,between Grantham and Peterborough.
Starting point and parking: TouristInformation Centre (TIC) and Arts Centre,St Mary’s Street. Grid reference: TF 031 070.
Parking: Pay and display car parks in Stamford.
Public Transport: For details of bus and train services to and fromStamford, call the Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visitwww.lincolnshire.gov.uk/busrailtravel.
Walk length: 7 km (41⁄2 miles) or 91⁄2 km (6 miles). At a leisurelypace the shorter walk will take approximately 21⁄4 hours tocomplete and the longer walk about 3 hours.
Type of walk: The walks use field paths, riverbanks, tracksand pavements. Both walks involve a gentle ascent and descent.It may be muddy in places. A railway line is crossed once on thelonger route and twice on the shorter one.
Ordnance Survey maps for the area: Explorer 234 Rutland Water,Stamford and Oakham. Landranger 141 Kettering & Corby.
Refreshments: The Crown at Tinwell, The Bluebell Inn at Eastonon the Hill, and numerous pubs, cafes and shops in Stamford.
Public toilets: Red Lion Square, Stamford.
Walk Information
Published January 2009
Be a responsible walker
Please remember the countryside is a place where people liveand work and where wildlife makes its home. To protect theLincolnshire countryside for other visitors please respect it and onevery visit follow the Countryside Code. Thank you.
• Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs• Leave gates and property as you find them• Protect plants and animals, and take litter home• Keep dogs under close control• Consider other people
Most of all enjoy your visit to theLincolnshire countryside
This leaflet is one in a series of walk leaflets producedby Lincolnshire County Council’s Countryside AccessTeam to help you explore and enjoy the county’scountryside. If you have enjoyed these walks and wouldlike information on other walking routes in Lincolnshire thenplease visit our website.
If you encounter any problems whilst on these walks, such as anovergrown path or a broken sign post, please let us know so theycan be corrected.
We would also welcome your comments and suggestions on thewalk and leaflet to help improve future editions.
If you require this leaflet in another format please contact us.
Lincolnshire County CouncilCountryside Access Team
Tel: 01522 782070 Minicom: 01522 552055Email: [email protected]: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/countryside
