Linmet one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 75.00% of reviewers

Walked from Metheringham to Lincoln. Although this route is snailed, I am going to disagree with the previous reviewers - for me the missing level crossing on the GPX file should be an automatic failure, and I am going to draw and submit an alternative. This is almost a great route but it really needs a GPX that works for those who don't have local knowledge. I will write a detailed review with pictures on the new version.

Not much to add to other reviews. I walked this from Metheringham to Lincoln with a stop in Nocton. There was a bit of road walking but mostly on well defined paths. The signage for the Spires and Steeples Trail helped with navigation. Lovely countryside, nice villages.

This is a good route - I live on the route and regularly use sections of it, rain, shine or snow. The note above about the new route is important.

Take the junction at TF 03995 66919 and walk down the lane under the railway bridge. Immediately under the bridge turn right onto the track. This track is obstructed by a rock, to stop vehicles and makes a very suitable place to sit and have a coffee. Follow the well signed route from there, across Harmsworth Country Park to TF 05317 66334.

I usually walk on my own, quietly, and often come across deer on this route.

This is a very straightforward route. I parked at Metheringham Station, caught the train to Lincoln and walked back. The route follows the Spires & Steeples waymarked footpath almost all the way. The start however is poorly signposted. Leaving Lincoln Central railway station, turn right until reaching the pedestrian footbridge crossing the tracks. These are the only significant steps on the route. It would be possible to avoid by using the level crossing on the High Street and using Tentercroft Street to re-join the route, though it’s a fair diversion. Over the bridge, turn left to go under Pelham Bridge and along Great Northern Terrace, over a level crossing, and then enter the car park alongside Anglian Water’s offices with the large dyke on your right. Walk all the way down the car park and at the end you’ll join the Water Rail Way cycle route. This flat, level and tarmacked route is an easy walk down to Washingborough.

At Washingborough the first Spires & Steeples signs appear, but care must be taken following the route thorough the streets to the far side. In fact it’s a common point that the signage thorough the villages on this route at times were confusing, or indeed missing.

The section between Washingborough/Heighington to Branston was particularly wet during the review walk, with one flooded corner of a field that was just crossable. Had that been worse, it would have required a sizeable diversion back to Heighington to find another path to re-join the route. The following section was completely under water (between Sheepwash Lane and Cliff Lane). A small diversion onto Cliff Lane avoided the flooded section. Branston itself had a particularly useful Coop on Station Road, as well as a main bus route if required.

The section between Branston and Potterhanworth involves crossing the Lincoln-Sleaford railway line. The route as marked on the Slow Ways website and gpx file follows a footpath diagonally across a field to cross the railway at a pedestrian crossing. WARNING: THIS CROSSING IS NO LONGER USABLE. Though the footpath is there, the crossing is blocked off. Instead use the road shortly before reaching this point to cross under the tracks, and then follow the footpath alongside the track to re-join the route. Different online versions of OS maps show old and new routes marked, so take care.

There was some quiet road walking between Potterhanworth and Nocton, as well as some quite muddy field-walking, and Nocton to Dunston was on nice field tracks. A final section of road with a decent roadside path brought you to the end of the route at the Cross at Metheringham.

Generally a very good route, with the odd bit of flooded path after recent heavy rain that would have been an issue had it been much worse. The railway line crossing was an issue as there were no signs to say it was no longer a right of way. The route was mostly tarmacked cycleway or track but with enough field footpaths and one early set of steps to make it unsuitable for wheelchairs/mobility scooters.

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