Oakcol three

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Oakcol here.

Walked from Oakham to Colsterworth. I was planning to follow OakCol two, but missed the bridleway that bypasses the Whitwell car park and decided that since there are toilets and a cafe there (in summer) and the bridleway looks little used, it made more sense to stay on the Rutland Water cycle track a little longer. The route through Whitwell village is now correctly plotted, and I have tried to ensure that all waypoints are actually on the route. Most of the walk is very easy to follow, as the Viking Way is well signposted. The exceptions are Whitwell village (where part of the route looks rather like a private drive), the left turn into the field north of Great Lane (which could do with a fingerpost) and the two large fields either side of New Road, which could have done with a more visible path. North of South Witham it appears that most walkers walk round the edge of a vegetable field, but the right of way line is shorter so I have shown it here as it is the definitive line.

From Oakham, we head out on the pavement/cycle track of Stamford Road, which crosses the by-pass fairly safely then joins the Rutland Water cycle track just beyond Old Stamford Road. The track remains by or near the main road for some distance before heading right past the Barnsdale Hotel. A short road section has a few ups and downs, and the track continues fairly easily to the Whitwell car park, where there is a cafe and toilets (both closed on an early spring weekday).

We turn left and head for Whitwell village, where we go right onto Church Street and follow an unsurfaced lane between walls out to the main road. Cross with care and patience, then take the path uphill through the pub car park (there are a few steps here) which follows field edges to Exton, a charming village with some interesting buildings. From here wide farm tracks take us most of the way to Greetham, but eventually we leave the track to the right and cross a muddy field to join another farm lane. A shortcut path straight on takes us into the village, where there are a few more steps down to Main Street, where there is a pub off route to the left.

We continue almost straight on along Great Lane, which is quiet, and closed to vehicles by locked gates north of the village. We reach another minor road and go half right on a good track. Watch out for the unsignposted field path left - as I can confirm this is very easy to miss (I had to backtrack). This part of the Viking Way in unsurfaced, a little muddy and riddled with deep horse footprints. We cross Hooby Lane and continue straight on. Eventually we reach a signposted footpath junction, where the Viking Way heads left and we go right across the field - this was recently ploughed and the path line was unmarked - I hope it is better when the crops are higher. After crossing New Lane the next field also had almost no trace of a path, but fortunately the footpath sign at the far side can be seen from a distance.

We cross a bridle path and beyond the path into South Witham is clearly marked and better trodden. An old railway embankment is crossed (fairly steeply on both sides), and High Street is reached through a pub car park. Since I already knew by this stage that I would be submitting this new route, I felt no qualms about straightening the line through the village by using the path almost opposite, which takes you to the church and another pub (currently closed looking for a buyer).

Beyond the village we follow the second footpath sign right. Aim to the left of the buildings. In the next field, following the right of way line would have involved trampling a vegetable crop, so I opted to follow the locals and use the field edge by the nascent River Witham. These meant going back uphill to rejoin the path, so I have opted to plot the route on the right of way line here. Once out of the first field the path is clearly visible and trodden.

Approaching North Witham I chose to use the quiet road rather than the less direct field path to the right. We continue past the church and cross the river on a footbridge by a ford. One more little used but unobstructed field path takes us to Stamford Road, another quiet road with wide verges which we follow into Colsterworth where it has a pavement. The meeting point is by the church on High Street. The bus stops on High Street are only served on weekdays, but have services to Grantham and Stamford - on Saturdays the buses only go as far as Bourne Road, and the last bus to Grantham is early in the afternoon, so when finishing here, ensure you have a plan to get home or somewhere to stay!.

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