The rights-of-way project, part three

The next nearest footpaths appeared to be around the village of Stickford. Confusingly very close to Stickney, both on A16. I found Stickford charming,  particularly St Helen's church.

The first was this very straight path of just over a mile. 

It crosses some very pleasant fields and, today, one freshly-ploughed one. 

 The church is small but covered with interesting carved gargoyles and faces.  It also had a bench perfectly placed for reflection and refreshment of body and soul.

The far end of this path has a pub marked on the map (both my paper Explorer and the OS app, which I assume is up-to-the minute). Said pub is the Jolly Sailor, Hagnaby Lock. It's a very pretty location but the pub is no longer open, so no refreshment for weary sailors or walkers. 

I retraced my steps most of the way back, but headed off up the road at this point to pick up the footpath and bridleway just to the North:

It's lambing time. It felt quite special walking among these new mums and their bundles of joy but at the same time a little awkward. I'm sure that neither they nor the farmer wanted me there at that time, so I didn't walk that path both ways, instead circling around using the road, crossing the A16 and back to my starting point. This made a circular walk of around 1.5 miles

Once again I've discovered a place close to home that I'll certainly be visiting again. 

The rights-of-way project, part two

After last week's epic walk just to reach the first footpath, I decided to change the rules slightly. 

Walking on our roads isn't much fun, you're constantly stepping onto the verge to let traffic past. I enjoy a cycle ride, so I've decided to cycle to the footpaths that I want to walk. 

This worked a treat. I locked my bike to a barrier and then continued on foot. The first was longer than either of the two that I walked last time, crossing several fields and a railway line.

There's the pedestrian crossing in the distance. No lights or barriers, just good old-fashioned keeping your wits about you. Only slightly scary.

The blackthorn blossom has been around for a while but it's great to see the hawthorn leafing up at the same time. 

Once out into the fields, I felt that this was the most enjoyable path that I've walked for a long time. (The great weather helped too!) Only slightly uncomfortable due to no clear path across one young crop but otherwise It felt incredibly peaceful. 

I walked that one both ways, then a short distance along the road is this one:

I shared that walk with three deer. There were a lot of hares darting about as well. 

The rights of way I've visited so far are fragmented but checking them off in a systematic way like this is fun and I'm discovering some great relatively-local places to revisit.