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7 minute read
WILL’S WALKS
WILL’S WALK
Oakham canal
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Thanks to a lot of hard working volunteers we have a new area for quiet walking and enjoying nature. By Will Hetherington
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Diffi culty rating
The route
ACTIVE INFO
‘Oakham has a canal - where?’ That has been the usual response when I have mentioned it to people over the past few months. And to be honest I didn’t really know either until I saw on Facebook the great work being done by the Oakham Canal Green Corridor Project (you see social media can be used in a positive manner). So what’s the answer? Well, the old canal went from Oakham town centre to Melton Mowbray, but the section for this walk is to the north of the bypass and runs between the railway line to the west and the road to Ashwell to the east. A committed group of volunteers have been putting in plenty of hard labour over the past few months resurfacing the footpaths, rebuilding steps and installing new bridges. The funds are coming from a registered Paul Dadford is a local charity and it’s wonderful to see man who fi rst started to think the regeneration of what was a about improving the pathways tired area, almost completely around the canal eight years ago unfi t for walking.and the charity has now been running for just over 18 months: www.oakhamcanal.org There are a number of access points into the walking area, and you can just start from the centre of Oakham, but that involves an unedifying and labyrinthine route through the housing estates, so I parked in the good-sized layby just east of the railway crossing on Burley Road, which gives access to the canal halfway along the renovated section. You can also park in the layby next to Kimball Close at the northern end of the canal (or potentially even in the Enterprise Park). Thanks to the new permissive path along the western side of the canal it’s now possible to do a very pleasant loop of this wildlife haven, which is also used by the Oakham Angling Society. From the layby by the railway crossing I took the permissive path north through the woods along the west side of the canal to the layby at Kimball Close. I then dropped down on to the brand new path along the eastern side. This heads south, crossing Burley Road along the way, and after about half a mile there is a wooden bridge on the right, which leads back to the western side and into the woods. Alternatively you can walk on from here into the fi elds north of the bypass. The team, led by Paul Dadford, have done There is a calming atmosphere about the canal a tremendous job with the walkway and and its surroundings, which there is abundant birdlife down in this has only been enhanced by peaceful oasis. It’s worth a visit any time. the signifi cant work that has been done recently.
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The pathway along the eastern side of the canal has been dramatically improved by the volunteers. The path leading to Oakham.
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Essential information
WHERE TO PARK In the layby just to the east of the railway crossing on Burley Road, in the layby next to Kimball Close at the northern end, or in the Enterprise Park.
DISTANCE AND TIME The shortest loop is just over one mile but if you venture further south to Oakham it can be longer if you wish. Or if you start in Oakham and walk out, doing the full loop it’s about four miles.
HIGHLIGHTS Lovely new footpaths, birdlife and a sense of calm.
LOWLIGHTS It might not be the best one for the dogs around the canal.
REFRESHMENTS The Wheatsheaf in Langham or take your pick in Oakham.
DIFFICULTY RATING One paw. It’s a fl at path next to a canal.
THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE Dogs are not allowed in the canal and it’s pretty limited for them.
For your own safety and navigation make sure you have an OS map with you when you go out walking. You won’t regret it.
WILL’S WALK
Whissendine
This walk explores the farmland and quiet country lanes to the north of Whissendine. By Will Hetherington
Whissendine is surrounded by good walking routes.
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Difficulty rating
The route
ACTIVE INFO
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Park somewhere convenient in Whissendine and make your way to Stapleford Road which heads north out of the village. After the last farm buildings on the right you will see the footpath sign and gateway. Go through the first two pastures and you will come to an arable field where the path goes straight across. Depending on the time of year it may be easier and less damaging to the crop to walk around the field on the newly resurfaced path to the left. Either way you will come to the corner of this field and move into the next one before almost immediately doing a sharp left/right to keep you on the well maintained farm road with the hedge now on your right. Head downhill and stay on the farm road, turning 90 degrees left at the bottom and then gradually climbing to the next field margin and a 0 degree right turn. After one more sharp left turn you will come to Holygate Farm, which is part of the Stapleford Estate. Follow the waymarkers to walk around the eastern side of Holygate and then walk along the hedge to Holygate Road and the Keeper’s Cottage. Turn right here and walk down the road before taking the next right turn signposted to Whissendine and Teigh. Stay on this peaceful road for the next kilometre until it bends round to the right and you see a couple of houses on the left. Take the right turn here on to Station Road and According to the 2011 census past the Rutland sign to head back
Whissendine had the sixth towards Whissendine. largest population in the whole It’s nearly a mile on the road from of Rutland with 1,273 people. here, passing Pears Lodge Farm on the Behind Oakham, Uppingham, right and with views of Whissendine Ketton, Ryhall and Langham. Church ahead, before you will see the footpath sign on the right to walk the last stretch into the village over the fields. When you reach Whissendine Brook just north of the village you can either turn right and head straight back to Stapleford Road, go straight on to the White Lion Inn or turn left for a footpath to the church. It doesn’t really matter because it’s definitely worth a wander around Whissendine.
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©Crown copyright 2022 Ordnance Survey. Media 023/22 START/ FINISH
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A lot of the farmland roads here have just been resurfaced which makes this a great wet weather option.
Essential information
WHERE TO PARK Anywhere convenient in Whissendine. Or near the pub if that’s where you intend to fi nish.
DISTANCE AND TIME Four and a half miles/an hour and a half.
HIGHLIGHTS This is an excellent option for mud avoidance because most of the way is either on recently resurfaced farm tracks or quiet country lanes. Whissendine is an interesting village and the area around Stapleford Park has manicured grandeur.
LOWLIGHTS There’s a bit of a lack of charm on the way round but that’s the price you pay for dry underfoot conditions.
REFRESHMENTS The White Lion Inn in Whissendine.
DIFFICULTY RATING Two paws. It’s easy underfoot but still a decent walk with a few undulations.
THE POOCH PERSPECTIVE I didn’t see a lot of livestock out but almost half the walk is on the road. Whissendine Brook makes a good bathing spot on the way back into the village.
For your own safety and navigation make sure you have an OS map with you when you go out walking. You won’t regret it.