South Kesteven Round.co.uk - 3 South Witham to Little Bytham

Castle Mound, Castle Bytham

South Witham to Little Bytham 11. 3 miles

The Bythams and Grimsthorpe Park

I feel as though this section should be renamed Roberts ramble as he lives in the Bythams, it would be a nice thank you for creatring the round. Roman Roads to ancient forests that were used to house bombs during the second world war. Castles and gifted stately houses, plus a walk among the mistletow. Oh and probably more importantly two villages with two pubs!

Map of this section of the walk

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There are pubs to visit on this section of the walk

Please let me know of any campsites on or close by the walk

South Witham to Morkery Wood 2.1 miles

Hopefully you will have enjoyed one or both of the two pubs in South Witham either as a reward for finishing the last section or to set you up for this walk, which takes you from the hubbub of the A1 to the tranquillity of Morkery Wood. It's quite a contrast but in someway it represents South Kesteven with the main North/South arteries of the A1 and East Coast Main Line Railway passing through the district, yet within a few minutes you feel as though you are miles away from everything. The route takes you along a path at the side of the A1, originally this section was the Roman Road named Ermine Street which ran from Bishopsgate in London to York via Lincoln. There is also some road walking for approx 15-20 minutes along Morkery Lane, which has wide grass verges.

Walk down Church Street with St John's Church on your right and into Church Lane, as it turns right go left through a gate (no 11 on the right hand post) and up a track. At the top of the incline go through a gate and continue ahead following the path towards a hedge in front. Cross over a stile and continue straight on towards another hedge. Go through a gap in the hedge, go straight ahead keeping the hedge on your right hand side, heading towards the A1. At the end of the field turn right into a garage forecourt heading towards Starbucks and a Travel Lodge. When the concrete path ends turn right on the grass verge down the slip road.
Where the slip road ends turn right, signpost Castle Bytham, and walk under the A1, continue along Morkery Road for approx 20 mins. There are wide grass verges to walk along. After the road bends sharply to the right you can see Morkery Wood in front and then where the road bends sharply to the left continue straight ahead into the wood. The footpath into the wood is not overly visible, if you head towards the right of the black and white sharp bend chevron road sign and look down you will see the path.
In a few metres you reach a hard core path that runs east to west, join this path and turn left. Where the track turns sharply right continue for approx a further 25 metres and then turn left along a dirt track between the trees. When this track reaches another hardcore path, turn left and continue into the Morkery Wood Car Park. At the end of the Car Park turn right along a main path.

Morkery Wood to Castle Bytham 3.0 miles

The name of Morkery goes back almost a 1000 years, with the wood being named after Morcar (Earl of Nurthumbria) the principal landowner within Castle Bytham parish prior to the Norman Conquest. In more recent times the wood was used as a bomb store for nearby RAF bases. A network of hardcore roads were built in the wood with 70 huts concealed beneath the trees housing the bombs. The RAF moved out around 1956 and the wood is now owned by the Forestry Commission. As you come towards the end of the main path in the wood, on the left you will see an 18th century memorial stone to 'Black Butcher' the favourite horse of General Grosvenor, master of the Cottesmore Hunt. The story goes that his favourite horse died beneath him at this point on the way back to Stocken Hall following a hunt.

When you reach Castle Bytham you have a choice of two pubs, Castle Inn or the Fox & Hounds, if you can't decide why not try both, its the last refreshment stop on this section of the walk as unfortunately the Mallard in Little Bytham is now closed.

Continue along the main path through the wood, about 160 metres before the end of the path, on the left hand side you will see the monument to Black Butcher. At the end of the wood walk round a gate and then turn left along a farm track signpost 'Restricted Byway' with the wood on your left hand side.
Immediately at the end of the wood, you will see a small marker post. Turn right across the field aiming for a fence in the far corner, you can see Stocken Prison to the right. When you reach the fence continue with it on your left hand side down into the valley. At the bottom of the valley do not cross the footbridge turn left and continue with the stream on your right hand side.
Follow this path for approx 15 mins and after crossing the second farm track , follow the path up an incline towards some trees and follow the path through a pedestrian tunnel under an old railway line. Cross over the stile and turn right along the field edge. At the valley bottom, turn left to a roadside stile.
Cross the stile and turn right, walk along the road to Castle Bytham. Keep straight ahead along High Street past the Fox & Hounds pub on your left, with the Castle Inn to the right of the village Green.
Veer left down the road signpost Swayfield to the village pond on the left and the Cattle mound on your right.

Castle Bytham to Creeton 2.0 miles

So often the clue to a village history or its location is in its name and so it is with Castle Bytham. Formally called West Bytham until a Castle was built in the 11th century, although the Castle is long gone, the 90ft Mound on which it stood is still very much there to be seen. In Anglo Saxon times the Castle Mound may have been topped by a fortified wooden structure, with the first stone Castle being built by the Normans. William lll and his army razed the castle, and although it was rebuilt it fell into disrepair early in the 15th century. To the south of the Castle mound and of the adjoining lane known as St Martins lie the remains of a large Carp rearing system, thought to have been an integral part of the economic and defensive development of the Castle.

After passing the Castle Bytham village sign cross over the road and beside the stone wall turn right over a footbridge across a stream. Follow the edge of a field and cross over a stile. Head slightly right and follow the white way marker posts up the hill, at the top of the hill go through a metal kissing gate and turn left
Proceed along the edge of the field and continue over a stile with Lawn Woods on your left, continue following the wood around to your left immediately after passing a ditch and before you go under the pylon wires, turn left at a footpath sign through a gap in the hedge. Follow the footpath through the field until you join a stone track which you follow around to your right towards the railway bridge. Go under the bridge to reach Creeton Village.
When you reach the public road turn right then immediately left. After crossing the bridge over the West Glen River, turn right along the pleasant village lane towards Creeton Church.

Creeton to Little Bytham 4.2 miles

This section of the walk passes through Grimsthorpe Park, which was landscaped by Capability Brown. As you enter the park you walk along an avenue of old trees covered in mistletoe, Christmas or not, why not sneak a quick kiss with your walking buddy (I was with Oscar the Dog so gave it a miss!). The walk does not directly pass the house but you do get a glimpse in the far distance, so here is a potted history, so you can say 'I was there!' The earliest part of the house St John's Tower dates from the 13th century and a quadrangle Castle was added to the tower in 1541. The north front was added in the early 18th century by Sir John Vanbrugh (no I wasn't sure who he was either) architect of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard. The castle was gifted to William 11th Lord Willoughby de Eresby in 1516 by Henry Vlll and his first wife Catherine of Aragon and Henry visited the castle with his 5th wife Catherine Howard in 1541. The house remains in the same family and the present owner is Jane Heathcote-Drummond- Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby.

Continue along the lane passing a farm on the left and the Old Rectory on your right, As the lane bends to the right you will see a footpath sign on the left, take this footpath into the field. Walk to the right along the edge of the field and continue through three more fields keeping the hedge/fence on your right hand side.
As the Woodland is reached on the right hand side of the third field proceed through a hunting gate on your right to enter Grimsthorpe Park. Keep straight ahead on the grass track. The track reaches a stile by a field gate, continue over the stile to enter a remnant of a medieval hunting forest with majestic oak trees. Go over a second stile to cross a tarmac drive leading to Grimsthorpe Castle, a glimpse of which can be seen to the left.
Continue straight ahead and over a third stile before reaching a forth. After the last stile follow the path to the right around the wood with fields on your left and after a short distance the footpath bends round to the left crossing a large arable field towards some trees in the distance. When you reach a concrete farm road turn right and walk for about 300 metres and turn right at a footpath sign at the side of a plantation.
Continue straight ahead on a path and track between arable fields. On reaching a belt of trees turn left and then after approx. 50 metres turn right onto a grass track with woodland on your right hand side. As the woodland ends continue along the grass path until you reach a track and a public footpath sign. Turn right towards a bungalow, then turn left and almost immediately right onto a grass Ride between Chestnut trees and following a line of telegraph poles.
Little Bytham Church becomes apparent in the distance as the Ride is followed downhill. Pass through a gate and follow the farm track straight ahead re crossing the West Glen river until you reach the road. Turn left and proceed through the massive blue brick railway arch. The first stone house beyond the arch was the former Mallard public house, commemorating the record breaking run of the Mallard steam engine (see next section)
Take the first left turn into Station Road, signpost Bourne, Stamford and continue until reaching a bridge over the Glen Brook (well before the second railway arch). Cross the road immediately after crossing the bridge and take a narrow lane passing a sign reading 'Ford', and a public footpath sign.

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