Viking Way
The Viking Way is a long-distance footpath running 147 miles between the Humber Bridge in Lincolnshire and Oakham in Rutland (map).[1]
History
The route was officially opened on Sunday 5 September 1976 at Tealby, by the Deputy Chairman of Lincolnshire Council; it was to be opened by the chairman, John Hedley-Lewis, but he was ill, and died the following December. Hedley-Lewis was President of the local Ramblers' Associations, and a memorial stile was made for him on the route at Stenwith, a half-mile north of the Rutland Arms[2] in Woolsthorpe-by-Belvoir.
The Countryside Commission recognised the significance of the Viking Way as a high quality long distance walk linking other major routes in Eastern England, these being the Yorkshire Wolds Way at the northern end, the Hereward Way and Macmillan Way from Oakham and indirectly via the Hereward Way, the Jurassic Way from Stamford and the southern end of the Peddars Way from Thetford.
Many prehistoric settlements were established on dry ground in the Lincolnshire Wolds and on the Limestone Heath. The route passes sites of early settlements. There is evidence that the Vikings exercised influence over the county in the 9th century: e.g. the place names ending in by, Scandinavian names recorded in documents and also names marked on coins. Much of the Viking Way is classified as a Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT) and is thus a vehicular right of way.
Route
Lincolnshire
The walk passes under the Humber Bridge, then follows the escarpment of the Ancholme Valley over the M180 at the A15 roundabout (Barnetby Top).[3]
It follows the Lincolnshire Wolds over the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty through Caistor, crossing the A46, and Horncastle, crossing the A158. It follows the River Bain into Woodhall Spa along a former railway, now the Spa Trail. It heads north-west through Stixwould, Southrey, Bardney, Stainfield, before reaching Fiskerton where it follows the south side of the River Witham towards Lincoln due west. It used to run alongside the river on Waterside South and then down Canwick Road, but was diverted in around 2002 to take a detour near Washingborough over the river.
From here it crosses the Lincoln – Grimsby railway, then enters Lincoln on Crofton Road then skirts the south side of Lincoln County Hospital, follows Lindum Terrace and crosses the A15. It passes Pottergate and enters the grounds of Lincoln Cathedral, passing the south side on Minster Yard. It heads down Steep Hill and follows the main shopping High Street of Lincoln, over the River Witham and crosses the railway at a level crossing. It follows Tentercroft Street then continues along Sincil Bank towards the football ground. It heads along Scorer Street towards South Park, and meets the old route on Canwick Road (B1188). It then runs along the southern edge of the South Common, and crosses the A15.
It runs parallel to the A607 to the west of Bracebridge Heath and through Waddington, Harmston, Coleby, Boothby Graffoe, Navenby and Wellingore along the Lincoln Cliff, then follows the old Ermine Street, crossing the A607. At Byard's Leap it crosses the A17 and follows the B6403 towards Ancaster. It heads west and meets the A607 again at Carlton Scroop, then crosses the River Witham and passes through Marston and Long Bennington. It was extended to Long Bennington in 1997 to allow walkers to cross the A1 on a road bridge, as previously they were obliged to cross the road directly, near Foston. It no longer goes through Allington, and crosses the A52 near Sedgebrook and a level crossing over the Nottingham to Grantham Line. It then follows what used to be called Sewstern Lane[4] and meets the Lincolnshire – Leicestershire border near Harston which it follows and crosses the A607.
It passes Saltby Airfield (the former RAF Saltby) and Buckminster, then goes through Sewstern where it briefly enters Leicestershire fully.[3]
Rutland
It rejoins the Lincolnshire border near to the source of the River Witham then enters Rutland and Thistleton. It passes alarmingly close to the former RAF Cottesmore and goes through Greetham and Exton. It meets the A606 and Hereward Way at Whitwell, then passes through the two watersports centres on Rutland Water at Whitwell and Barnsdale. From here it follows the A606 from Barnsdale Hill into Oakham. When the route was opened, it followed main roads from Exton to Oakham; the facilities at Whitwell and Barnsdale had not then been developed.[5]
References
- ↑ "Viking Way". Long Distance Walking Association. http://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Viking+Way. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ↑ Rutland Arms
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Viking Way". Visiting the Countryside; Walking. Lincolnshire council. http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/countryside/visiting-the-countryside/walking/viking-way/. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ↑ Vernon. "Sewstern Drift". Tithe Farm Bed & Breakfast. http://www.biffvernon.freeserve.co.uk/Sewstern_Drift.htm. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ↑ "Viking Way". Long distance route. Rutland county council. http://www.rutland.gov.uk/transport_and_streets/public_rights_of_way/long_distance_routes.aspx. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
Further reading
- Stead, John; The Viking Way (A Cicerone guide); Milnthorpe: Cicerone Press (1990). ISBN 1-85284-057-9.
- The Viking Way: Official Guidebook to the 147 Mile Long Distance Footpath Through Lincolnshire and Rutland; Lincolnshire Books (1997). ISBN 1-872375-25-1.
Outside links
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