The Viking Way, Stage 2: Barnoldby - Nettleton

Last Wednesday we had arranged to walk the second stage of the Viking Way with Dorothy and Steve and this time our friend Brian was also joining us.  After our efforts on Stage 1 a couple of weeks previously in rain, we were hoping for better weather.  We were not to be disappointed as there was not a cloud in the sky all day.  We picked Brian up in Keelby at 9.00 and met up with Dorothy and Steve in the car park of the Salutation Inn at Nettleton.  Note the strategic finish point!!!  Leaving Dorothy and Steve's car here we drove back along the route of our walk to Barnoldby making sure we parked in the same spot as last time; we needed to make sure there were no gaps in the walking.  On the drive we passed a field absolutely bursting with cowslips in their prime; what a sight.  Our route continued south along the foot of the scarp slope of the Lincolnshire Wolds passing through the spring line villages of Bigby, Somerby, Searby, Owmby, Grasby and Clixby.  The edge of the Wolds here follows a sinuous curve as we walked south, giving us fine views of the route ahead.  In the far distance we could see the radar dome at Normanby-le-Wold, which we wouldn't reach until stage 3.  We soon seemed to reach Bigby and crossed the main Caistor to Brigg road and climbed up to the memorial column erected in 1770 by Edward and Ann Weston of Somerby Hall to mark their 29th wedding anniversary.  The column overlooks the village of Somerby and its very attractive church.  It was good to hear chiffchaffs in the woods here and all along the route today.  I also enjoyed the chattering song of a backcap with its flute-like ending.

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After a short road section passing the fine church the route continued across the fields to Searby where we stopped by the yellow brick church for our lunch.  The vicar in the 1860s was a bit of a handyman and he built the red brick "Rest and be Thankful" shelter opposite the church gate.  The man who lived in the cottage opposite told us that the original church had burnt down many years before and his cottage had been built from the stone and housed a chapel the arched roof of which was still inside.  Cowslips and pheasant's eye or poets narcissus were growing in the churchyard.

 After this the path led us over meadows past a hedgerow frothing with white blackthorn blossom and wonderful views out over the Ancholme Valley.  I was fascinated by the fact that the path linking these villages had at one time been paved and was obviously well used as a means of communication.  The path narrowed as it negotiated some woodland and here we heard a tawny owl calling.  The next village was Grasby where Charles Tennyson, brother of the Lincolnshire Poet Laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson was rector for 40 years from 1837.  The poet stayed here often and is said to have composed some of his work here.

Our route continued across fields towards the deserted village of Clixby with particularly fine views ahead to the highest part of the whole walk which lies to the south of Caistor and waits for stage 3.  There are only two farms remaining at Clixby along with the little gem of a 12th century church, which is cared for by the Redundant Churches trust.  Only parts of the church are still remaining and the 15th century font comes from Low Toynton near Horncastle.

The Wolds now fall back somewhat and the path followed a loop through several abandoned villages with only the main farms remaining, inorder to reach Caistor.  We climbed up to the top of the scarp at this point affording us an excellent view of the walk we had covered.  The market town of Caistor derives its name from to roman castra, or camp.  It was clearly a good defensive site and had ample spring water.  We had, in fact, noticed several spring on our walk through the spring line villages, all flowing well after the wet winter.  Instead of stopping here, though, we crossed the main A46 Lincoln road and wandered across the fields to Nettleton with good views ahead to our next day's walk.  The first pint in the Salutation was welcome as was the excellent meal we enjoyed.

An excellent day's walking; I look forward to stage 3.