South Kesteven Round.co.uk - 4 Little Bytham to Stamford

Holywell

Little Bytham to Stamford 11.8 miles

To The Finest Medieval Town In England

A Castle, 14 Churches, 2 Monasteries, 4 Friaries (that's not a chip shop). made Stamford the fineset Medieval town in England. Add into the mix an annual Bull Run and some fine coaching Inns and Stamford is just waiting to be explored. But before you get there, watch out for the record breaker hutrtling down the East Coast main line.

Map of this section of the walk

Print a copy of the walk instructions

There are pubs to visit on this section of the walk

Camping around Stamford but nothing on route

Little Bytham to Carlby 5.5 miles

It is said that everyone knows the name of three steam trains; the first - Rocket, the most famous - Flying Scotsman, the fastest - Mallard, but did you know that the record for the fastest steam train was set by the Mallard (No 4468) in South Kesteven. The train reached its record speed of 126 mph just outside Little Bytham as it sped down Stoke Bank towards Essendine. It was thought that the train could exceed this speed and a further record attempt planned, but this was subsequently cancelled due to the onset of the 2nd World War. The record still stands to this day.

The walk passes through the picturesque hamlet of Holywell with the restored lakes providing a lovely backdrop to the grounds of Holywell Hall. A building existed on the site as early as the 12th century, with the current house built and a church relocating to the grounds, in the 17th century. The site of one of the two Holy Wells, from which the area takes its name is located in the grounds of the hall the location of the second is unknown. These days the hall is used as a wedding venue.

In the original book Robert separated out this walk into two sections with a break at Aunby. I have decided to bring these two walks together only because it feels that Carlby is more of a destination.

Take the lane at the signpost 'Ford' keeping the stream on your right. You pass two footbridges and then after passing a weir continue towards a field gate and pass through a metal hand gate.
Continue ahead with the hedge on your left hand side and walk under a bridge beneath a disused railway. About 100 metres past the bridge , when the hedge ends on your, turn left so that you continue along the other side of the hedge until the corner of the field and follow the path to your right. Continue into the next field, beneath the pylon wires with the hedge now on the right hand side.
At the end of the field, turn left for about 40 metres and then right over a stile. Walk along the edge of a field and through a gate to the left of a tennis court. The path divides a garden, go through a second gate, over a track and proceed straight ahead again through a field gate. Continue ahead downhill keep close by the left of the field. At the bottom of the hill you will see a gate, go through this gate and pass a cottage on your left, continue straight ahead to a track which joins a public road. Turn left on this road, walk downhill and cross the bridge between the Holywell Lakes.
When the first road junction is reached keep right, signposted Stamford: at the second road junction bear left opposite the Hall gates (signposted Stamford). In about 250 metres turn left at a Restricted Byway sign , through a gap in the fence and follow the path with a hedge on your left. Continue on this path beyond a belt of trees and between arable fields into the small hamlet of Aunby. Walk between the collection of buildings and re-join the grass track just beyond.. Continue straight ahead on the track until you join the B1176 road beside a stone bridge.
There is now a section of road walking, but there are wide grass verges to step onto if needed. Follow the B1176 initially uphill and then walk down towards the crossroads in the valley. At these crossroads turn left for Carlby and continue walking along the road, under the main line railway until you reach the village of Carlby. Follow the High Street through Carlby until you reach a T-junction with the busy A6121 Stamford/Bourne road,

Carlby to Belmesthorpe Crossroads 3.9 miles

The cross roads are to the east of Belmesthorpe village and not in the village itself. However if you felt the need to explore Belmesthorpe, well I think that means visit the Blue Bell pub in the village, then at the cross roads turn right then immediately left, it's approximately 3/4 mile and a 20 minute walk. You can also take the footpath exiting the village from the south east, go along Castle Rise and at the top just as the road bends to the left you will see a public footpath sign on your right. This path leads to the Bridle Path just before it joins the public road (see next section).

Just before the Belmesthorpe crossroads the South Kesteven Round starts to follow the route of the Macmillan Way into Stamford, if you like to know more about the Macmillan Way check the links and download page

At the T-junction with Carlby High Street and the A6121 turn right along the pavement and cross the road after the bus shelter and go over the stile (not dog friendly). Bear right in this field to a stile (not dog friendly) and a bridge about halfway along the right hand hedge.
Bear left across the corner of the second field and cross a former railway line. Continue straight ahead across a large field aiming for the left hand side of the small wood in front. At the end of the field cross a footbridge and turn left on a grass track and then right towards the edge of the wood.
At the corner of the wood walk along the edge of the field, keeping this wood and the next small wood on your right hand side. After the second wood the path bears left around the field edge before crossing a narrow paddock and a large field to reach Braceborough Great Wood.
Walk straight ahead on a path through the trees to the far side of the Wood where there is a T-junction with a stoned track. Turn right here (ignore the footpath sign on your left) to reach the barrier at the edge of the Wood. Continue on the track to reach the public road. (The track is walked on a permissive basis by courtesy of HC Mair & Sons).
Turn right here and continue along this road, walking past Grange Farm then a short distance on Grange Farm cottages (both on your right) until you reach a public bridleway sign on your left. Turn left here
Proceed on a grass track and path dividing arable fields, after about half a mile keep a long narrow wood on your right hand side . Follow the track straight ahead beside the field edge and cross a bridge over the main line railway. Continue on this track crossing a footbridge beside a ford until the public road is reached. Turn right here. (From this point we follow the route of the Macmillan Way into Stamford ). At a T-junction which is Belmesthorpe Crossroads, turn left signposted Uffington . After about 130 metres turn right on a Bridle Path (horseshoe signpost)

Belmesthorpe Crossroads to Stamford 2.4 miles

Stamford is a beautiful and historic Market Town, which most people will associate with fine Georgian houses built from Lincolnshire limestone in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is also well known as a busy 18th century coaching town, being on the main north south route from London to Lincoln and York. Some of the old coaching inns are still in use today; the George Hotel, The London Inn and Crown, all worth a visit. The history of Stamford goes back much further than this, it was referred to as a market town in the Domesday Book. In the reign of William the Conquer a Norman Castle was built, a small section of the castle wall plus a section of the medieval town wall can still be seen today. In Norman times it was at the centre of the wool trade, famous for Stamford Cloth which was distributed via the Great North Road and the River Welland to the North Sea. In later years as the Welland started to silt up Elizabeth l ordered a canal to be built, the remains of which you will walk alongside in the Market Deeping alternative section. Most fascinating to me was that Bull Running was held on the streets of Stamford annually on November 13th (St Brice's day), this continued for 600 years ending in 1839 - move over Pamplona! The tomb of Sir William Cecil, Statesman to Elizabeth l and responsible for the building of Burghley House, is in St Martin's Church. There is so much more, so if you don't want to miss anything why don't you take a guided tour, you can see more information on the Discover South Kesteven Website. (see downloads and links page). After all that excitement you should chill out and take in the culture and atmosphere from one of the many great pubs and restaurants that Stamford has to offer.

Follow this lovely bridle path uphill between trees and tall hedges for about a mile, until you reach a public road. Join the road, proceeding straight ahead until after a short distance the road bends to the left . Turn right at a public footpath sign through some trees at the side of a farm gate and over a stile. On entering the field , where you get the first views overlooking Stamford, fork half left and in the field corner, in the dip, keep straight ahead to a footbridge over the river Gwash in the valley.
Once over the river veer to the left walking diagonally across a long grass field to the far corner. Turn right up a track between industrial buildings leading to Ryhall Road (A6121). Turn left here and continue past Stamford hospital on your left until you reach a roundabout and the impressive Whitefriars Gateway. If you are ending your walk here continue straight on or turn left past the Gateway. if you are continuing the walk.

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