14.6km (9 miles) - 3hrs.
A misty day in Lincolnshire !! I know that most people are expecting a walk in the Yorkshire Dales and surrounds but my daughter and husband have just moved into the village of Heighington, just outside Lincoln and, as we were visiting we planned and did this liner route which started in the village of Nocton and ended back at their house. Well done to both of them for walking this distance (they're not normally walkers) and well done to Gill who hasn't been too well over the festive season but was glad to get back to walking.
As I said this was a misty walk - at one point we thought the sun might break through but, instead, the mist actually got worse as we progressed. Sadly, this didn't make for spectacular views and even less spectacular photography.
Anyway, the walk (as stated) began in Nocton (GR : TF057643) and soon picked up a green lane (GR TF058641) which headed away from the village towards Dunston, another of the small villages that seem to dot the countryside around Lincoln. The path (although I describe it as a green path) was actually partly metalled, so it was easy going.
At the end of the path we turned left past the village school and took the next left into a cul-de-sac with an easily spotted footpath sign at the end (GR TF065632). Here we met the worst of the recent weather as we had to cross the world's wettest field (well, paddy fields excepted !).Thankfully, the field wasn't that large and we soon met the appropriately named Green Lane (GR TF076637). A straightforward dog-leg brought us out at the wonderfully named Wasps Nest (GR TF080647).
A short stretch of road brought us to the edge of a dyke and another wonderfully named wood called Bottom Barff (I must begin to look up some of these Lincolnshire phrases !) . The end of this stretch joined up with another green lane before we skirted Burnt Wood and Potterhanworth Wood along the top of Car Dyke. Eventually this brought us out a Potterhanworth Booths (GR TF074679) alongside the sadly closed Plough Inn.
Unfortunately, the next couple of kilometres were along a quite busy road but we soon turned off the main road at Branston Booths (GR TF061691). The final stretch was along small country lanes turning down Brinkle Spring Lane and back in Heighington.
A nice walk - but no hills of course !! We have decided that we will go around the area later in the year when we can actually see further than 200 metres in front of us. A selection of photographs are available from this link
