A1133
2 B12 0 B 12
0 B12
14
02
2
15
91
07 A6
9
B1429
A607
By Wood and Fen
91 B11
1 B119
10
8
7
Further information
Car Dyke
B11
4
12
3 A15
6
East Heckington A17
The Woodland Trust www.woodland-trust.org.uk
A153
North Kesteven District Council Heart of Lincolnshire
B6 4
03
16
A52
W1 Distance 3 miles/4.9km W2 Distance 4 miles/6.3km
A52
7 A60
Whilst great care has been taken in compiling this information into this leaflet, North Kesteven District Council cannot be held responsible for any errors, omissions or alterations contained within it. The inclusion of an establishment within this leaflet does not imply any official recommendations by North Kesteven District Council.
For more Stepping Out walks, further information on local attractions or accommodation, please call or visit: Sleaford Tourist Information Centre, Money’s Yard, Carre Street, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 7TW Telephone: 01529 414294 Email: tic@n-kesteven.gov.uk www.heartoflincs.com Download all the Stepping Out walks by visiting www.countrysidenk.co.uk www.countryaccess.gov.uk www.visitlincolnshire.com www.spiresandsteeples.com
11
Walk ECS6281RT 2008
Moor Lane, Potterhanworth Lincoln LN4 2DZ Telephone: 01522 790043
B1178
11
13
Introduction
B1395
Skelghyll Cottage
2
B1190
B1190
2
2 19 B1
Accommodation
178 B1
20
A15
Cross Street, Potterhanworth Booths Lincoln LN4 2DS Telephone: 01522 790123
B1
89 B11
The Chequers Inn
3
34
5 A1
Potterhanworth Booths Lincoln LN4 2AU Telephone: 01522 794798
4 A1
Haddington
Black Horse Cottage
Cross Street, Potterhanworth Booths Lincoln LN4 2DS Telephone: 01522 792549
58
B1 19 0
A1
The Plough
High Street, Martin Lincoln LN4 3QY Telephone: 01526 378838
A1
1
17
5
00
8 18 B1
Dunston Fen, Dunston Lincoln LN4 3AP Telephone: 01526 398341
Stepping Out
8 18 B1
The White Horse
Holmdale House
A1 5
A 15
High Street, Martin Lincoln LN4 3QT Telephone: 01526 320285
94 High Street, Martin Lincoln LN4 3QT Telephone: 01526 378528
0
Royal Oak
The Stables Studio
19 B1
88 Main Street, Martin Lincoln LN4 3QT Telephone: 01526 378100
92 High Street, Martin Lincoln LN4 3QT Telephone: 01526 378795
B1241
Post Office Stores
Chaplin House
B1398
Refreshments
Go Stepping Out!
A46
Places of interest to visit nearby
www.countrysidenk.co.uk
Car Dyke runs for 76 miles from the River Witham near Washingborough to Waterbeach in Cambridge. Archaeologists now believe that the dyke formed part of a Roman ‘ringvaart’ constructed at the beginning of the second Century. This system controlled freshwater and tidal flows, allowing the fens to be drained. Its purpose would have been to service industry (salt, iron and ceramics) rather than agriculture or trade.
In North Kesteven, Car Dyke is the dividing line between the limestone uplands of the west and the fenlands of the east. The narrow strip of fenland between Car Dyke and the river Witham was once known as the Witham Peat Fen. These fens are distinctive from the lowland regions south of the River Slea where the soil is silt and their natural state, marshland. Much of the peat has now been eroded due to intensive arable farming. Little is known about the first Roman draining of The Fens or even subsequent medieval works, but Car Dyke represents an engineering feat just as impressive as those famously undertaken during the 17th Century by the Dutch engineer, Vermuyden.
Walk Facts
Walk Location
Two walks from Dunston Fen car park and picnic site. Both walks follow sections of the historic roman Car Dyke.
Starting Points W1 W2
Dunston Fen Car Park and Picnic Site (Grid Ref: TF 0894 6386)
Parking W1 W2
Dunston Fen Car Park
Public Transport
For information call the Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/busrailtravel
Walk Length
W1 W2
3miles (4.9km) and should take 1 hour to walk. 4 miles (6.3km) in length and should take 3 hours at a leisurely pace.
Type of Walk
W1 W2
A circular walk around Nocton Wood on good tracks and footpaths. A circular walk through the countryside and pasture land. This walk has stiles on it.
Ordnance Survey maps
Explorer 272 and Landranger 121
W1 1.1
2.2
3.3 4.4 5.5
Nocton Wood Walk From the Stepping Out car park, walk through the picnic site and left onto the stony track. Follow this track along the Car Dyke, with open fenland to your right. Look out for the carved bench on your right before crossing over the Nocton Delph. Continue on until you reach a small group of buildings marking the hamlet of Wasps Nest. At Wasps Nest, turn left, up a gentle rise towards the wood ahead. As you reach the top of the rise look for a public bridleway sign, which points along a grassy path and crosses the field to regain the woodland. Take this path and follow it as it skirts the edge of the woodland, finally reaching a junction of paths at a grassy clearing. Turn left, keeping the woods on your left and follow the track until it emerges onto the road from Dunston. Turn left and follow the road for approximately 1500 metres until you return to the car park, which you will see on your left.
L North
Reproduced from OS Mapping with the permission of the controller of HMSO c Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes crown copyright and may lead to civil proceedings. OS Licence 100017926.2008
Marsh Harriers can often be seen swooping across the fen skies or dipping in and out of the woodland. They have successfully adapted to breed in the farmed landscape.
The small leaved lime woods near Potterhanworth, Nocton and across the Witham at Bardney are remnants of the great post-glacial wildwood, where the lime was the dominant tree. The Anglo-Saxon word for lime is linden – lime wood particularly favoured for use in shield-making.
ne La n e nF o t c No
2
Wasps Nest Ca
3 The old Forty Foot Bank or Midfendic east of Swaton marks the Roman coastline. The south of the A52 follows the route of the ancient Salters Way to the coast at Donnington. Evidence for Iron Age and Roman salterns has been found along Car Dyke.
On the Dunston bench are carved pheasant, coot, moorhen, heron, barn owl, fox and stoat all waiting for the green lady to kiss the frog and turn it into a prince. Carving by Nick Jones of artsNK and Cuts.
4
n To Dunsto e n a L n e F Dunston
yk
e
•
1
2
5
Me To
Car Park Nocton Wood Walk Dunston Fen Walk A Longer Walk Along Car Dyke Alternative Stepping Out Route
rD
Nocton Wood
4
Key
•
the
r
am ingh r e h Met n Lane Fe
m ha ing
5
•
1
•
10 3
Fenside Farm
•
Metheringham Barff
6
7
8
9 Reservoir
A fen is an area of flat land lying just above sea level. Before they were drained, fens were liable to flooding in winter caused by freshwater overflows from the uplands. Some fens were suitable for grazing in summer but animals were over-wintered on higher pastures to avoid poaching the soil.
Car Dyke
Starting from the northern end of the walk at The Plough in Potterhanworth Booths, follow the public footpath southwards on the bank top, eventually passing alongside Potterhanworth Wood. Continue along the route through sheep pastures and on to Wasps Nest Road, passing some of the Car Dyke sculptures. Beyond the hamlet of Wasps Nest the walk follows the route of the Nocton estate light railway. Pass Dunston Fen picnic site and walk through an area of pasture with wooded stretches to either side of the dyke. It exits onto a long stretch of concrete road with Blankney Wood to your right. Cross over Metheringham Delph. The footpath passes through further pasture along the bank top exiting onto the B1191 to Woodhall Spa on the edge of Martin village. Car parking is possible in the large layby opposite.
Many of the paths have been provided by the goodwill of local landowners. These are marked by Highways Act signs. No special permission is needed to use these paths, but walkers are asked to help to ensure a continued welcome by only using the waymarked paths and keeping dogs on a lead. Where paths cross pasture young stock may be present. If you have a dog with you please make sure it is under firm control in these sensitive areas.
W2 1.1
2.2
3.3
4.4 5.5
Dunston Fen Walk
Start your walk at Dunston Fen picnic site. On leaving the car park turn right and walk along Dunston Fen Road following the edge of woodland on your right. After 600 metres, take the small road to the left, signposted Metheringham Fen. Follow this road until you meet the junction with Fen road. Upon reaching the T-junction turn right. For a shorter route, you will see a stile on your left, which leads over a fence into pasture beyond. Cross over this stile and follow the path over pasture and alongside Car Dyke, to re-join the route at point 8 on your map). To follow the longer circular route, continue along the road with open fields to both sides. At the end of this road, turn left at the junction towards Metheringham and follow this road until it bends sharply right. As you reach this right hand bend, continue straight on along a grassy track, keeping the wooded area known as Hicks Holt to your right.
6.6 7.7
8.8
9.9
10
At the end of the track turn left, keeping near the field hedge. Continue along the narrow track, keeping field edge to your left. Continue along the grassy track, cross a small wooden bridge over a stream, and continue straight ahead until you reach the field edge. Turn left keeping the hedge on your left. Follow the field edge until you come to a path leading into an area of dense hawthorn, bramble, wild rose and elder. Turn left into the shrubs, with the steep bank of a reservoir on your right. Continue along this track, keeping Car Dyke to your left until you reach a bridge. Turn left and walk over the bridge. At this point you can take a shorter route back to your car by turning immediately left following the car dyke, through fields and over stiles, returning you to point 3 on the map. To continue the longer walk, carry on straight ahead, along a farm track for approximately 1000 metres. At the end of the track turn left onto the road, following your route back to the car park.