A fairly easy-going walk in comparison to what I've done previously, I would recommend this walk to anyone who enjoys a walk around Rutland Water as I would say that was the highlight, otherwise it was fairly average and the accuracy of some of the route was so-so...

James Francombe

This route is a fail because it does not follow a right of way, it's a parish boundary, from Houghton Ingarsby Lane to The Dale Billesdon Coplow....

Ken

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. 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. 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. 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). Approaching North Witham I chose to use the quiet road rather than the less direct field path to the right. 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....

Hugh Hudson

The design of this route is mostly good, definitely better and safer than OakCol one, but the GPX plotting is wayward in places and potentially confusing, and it uses a path that does not exist north east of North Witham, so I have submitted a new version (OakCol three) and written a longer review with pictures there. The Viking Way part of this route is excellent....

Hugh Hudson

The creator of OakCol two clearly felt that the road sections of this route are problematic. In any case, the GPX plotting of both routes is wayward enough to be confusing in places, and since neither has any other reviews yet, I am planning to submit a replotted version with minor differences. The Viking Way sections are good, but some of the other paths are little used and harder to follow....

Hugh Hudson

From Oakham, we follow Catmose Street and Stamford Road out of the town - it is best to cross to the south side of Stamford Road early, as this offers the safer route across the ring road roundabout. Beyond the roundabout a good pavement/cycletrack follows the south side of the road for some distance, with a little detour to cross Old Stamford Road (i.e. the main road before the Rutland Water dam was built). After a while we leave the road to follow the reservoir edge around the Barnsdale hotel grounds (mostly tarmac but with a short rougher compacted gravel section), then follow a road uphill and turn right on a car park access road. Instead, follow the cars out then turn right a short distance to use the marina car park roads to find the cycle track. We then follow Main Street out of the village (there is a very short amount of verge walking beyond the houses), then bear right on a good if slightly muddy track past Chapel Spinney....

Hugh Hudson

The worst error is at the Whitwell car park, where going north along the access road (Bull Brig Lane) does not lead back to the cycle track - the supposed path is a private drive which has private signs at both ends and at least one locked gate (see attached pictures)....

Hugh Hudson

Here we leave the Leicestershire Round, and cross Main Street to take the footpath that starts across a playing field. We soon leave the main road, then take a lovely path through pastures and a small wilder area with gorse bushes, where we climb fairly steeply then follow field edges to the quiet Newbold Lane, which we follow into Somerby, turning right onto High Street, which has a good pavement on the north side. We then cross right through a small wood and up the hill to the Main Street of Cold Overton (no facilities here). The next field path can be a little confusing, as the line down to the left around a small fenced off area is not well marked, but you should find the exit easily enough if you trust the right of way line. We cross the road, go left a few steps and follow a little path to a large pasture, where the slope makes it easy to drift too far right, so keep an eye on the navigation....

Hugh Hudson

I have flagged it as don't know and submit a more tightly plotted alternative as ASHOAK 2, as there are a few places where the line could be clearer and a few more where the waymarks are not quite on the definitive line. I will post a more detailed review on ASHOAK 2....

Hugh Hudson

Much of the walk is through farmers' fields (signposted footpaths) but you can't just walk through the field because it's boggy or pre-planted so you have to skirt around the edges which adds a lot more distance....

Stephen Morse

The other highlight for me was a section of the path between Somerby and Cold Overton which runs through a semi-wild area of long grass between a stream and a wood, which makes an excellent habitat for butterflies and damselflies. Further up the path is a little overgrown, but once out of the wood we are in access land, so you can take any line you like up the steep slope right to reach the Burrough Hill fort. Beyond the village we take the field path to Cold Overton, which is not too difficult to follow, though at one point a degree of confidence is required to enter a farmyard, and it has a number of stiles. The rest of the route is an easy walk down Cold Overton Road and a simple street walk through Oakham to the meeting point in the market place....

Hugh Hudson

I eventually rejoined this route at Somerby and walked the rest of it, except that I stayed on Cold Overton Road because Manor Lane was also partially closed (possibly just to cars but I didn't fancy another retreat at this stage, and Cold Overton Road didn't seem dangerous). What I did of this route was very enjoyable, particularly the semi-wild space full of butterflies and damselflies on the footpath between Somerby and Cold Overton, though a few more points could have made the GPX better, so I'll flag it as a don't know until we know what the long term effect of the new road is....

Hugh Hudson

The Tickencote to Empingham stretch is pleasant but the trek around the Anglia Water car parks and cycling routes around Rutland Water are a little tedious, though safe and off road....

[email protected]

Good route, a bit overgrown on the Rutland Round. Lovely walk through Rutland water....

mjones69132

Nice route with great views over Rutland Water. Lots of options to stop for coffee or a beer....

Angela_walking