Stage 2: Washinborough to Branston

START: St John the Evangelist, Washingborough. (GR018706)

DISTANCE: 2 3/4 miles : 4.5 kilometres

NOTES:

There is room for some considerate street parking in the vicinity of the church but better is Ferry Lane, the 'No Through Road' leading to the river and the old station (GR015708) or at Chapel Park (GR017708). Branston has both a village trail and an arts trail with leaflets available but details are also displayed by the restored sheep wash.

THE ROUTE

From St John the Evangelist in Washingborough, continue uphill where High Street becomes Pitts Road. Cross the Park Lane junction with Pitts Road and enter the drive signed as a footpath bearing off slightly left, past the community carved seat depicting aspects of the village's story. Follow this as it becomes a surfaced path through Pits Wood and at the next road cross and turn left.

Take the first right turn (Millstream Road) and follow it as it curves to the left until reaching a footpath on the right between houses 14 and 16. Bear left behind their gardens continuing downhill until you see steps on the right up to the former GN & GEJR railway. Cross the tracks with care, descend the far side and keep forward to a road.

Walk along the footpath/cycleway parallel with the road and at the first bend bear left through a kissing gate keeping by the stream at the lower edge of a large meadow to another kissing gate, and just beyond that a three way footpath sign. Stay by the stream now as far as Cliffe Farm, pass a barn and continue (still by the stream) until you can cross it via a footbridge. A few yards uphill, at a path junction, go right along a field edge and into a lane (Paddock Lane) that leads into the centre of Branston. Cross the main road, pass the inn and bear left up to the church.

Detour

This short detour to the Branston waterwheel is worth doing and takes in several of the pieces created for the marvellous and informative Branston Village Trail, available as a separate walk. From the church walk along Church Road and turn right at the green into Hall Lane. On the green are three carved wooden seats by village residents who worked with artsNK's associate artist Denise Marshall. Continue along Hall Lane to pass the former Bertie Arms and you will shortly reach Waterwheel Lane on your left. Walk to the end and past a garden to see the wheel itself. Return the same way or explore more of Branston's delightful, meandering lanes.