Walk FactsIntroductionRefreshmentsPost Office Stores88 Main Street, MartinLincoln LN4 3QTTelephone: 01526 378100

Royal OakHigh Street, MartinLincoln LN4 3QTTelephone: 01526 320285

The White HorseDunston Fen, DunstonLincoln LN4 3APTelephone: 01526 398341

The PloughPotterhanworth BoothsLincoln LN4 2AUTelephone: 01522 794798

The Chequers InnCross Street, Potterhanworth BoothsLincoln LN4 2DSTelephone: 01522 790123

AccommodationSkelghyll CottageMoor Lane, PotterhanworthLincoln LN4 2DZTelephone: 01522 790043

Chaplin House92 High Street, MartinLincoln LN4 3QTTelephone: 01526 378795

The Stables Studio94 High Street, MartinLincoln LN4 3QTTelephone: 01526 378528

Holmdale HouseHigh Street, MartinLincoln LN4 3QYTelephone: 01526 378838

Black Horse CottageCross Street, Potterhanworth BoothsLincoln LN4 2DSTelephone: 01522 792549

Further informationThe Woodland Trustwww.woodland-trust.org.uk

Car Dyke runs for 76 miles from theRiver Witham near Washingboroughto Waterbeach in Cambridge.Archaeologists now believe that thedyke formed part of a Roman‘ringvaart’ constructed at thebeginning of the second Century.This system controlled freshwaterand tidal flows, allowing the fens tobe drained. Its purpose would havebeen to service industry (salt, ironand ceramics) rather than agricultureor trade.

In North Kesteven, Car Dyke is thedividing line between the limestoneuplands of the west and the fenlandsof the east. The narrow strip offenland between Car Dyke and theriver Witham was once known as theWitham Peat Fen. These fens aredistinctive from the lowland regionssouth of the River Slea where thesoil is silt and their natural state,marshland. Much of the peat hasnow been eroded due to intensivearable farming.

Little is known about the first Romandraining of The Fens or evensubsequent medieval works, but CarDyke represents an engineering featjust as impressive as those famouslyundertaken during the 17th Centuryby the Dutch engineer, Vermuyden.

Places of interest to visit nearby

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For more Stepping Out walks, further information on local attractions oraccommodation, please call or visit:Sleaford Tourist Information Centre, Money’s Yard, Carre Street,Sleaford, Lincs NG34 7TW Telephone: 01529 414294Email: tic@n-kesteven.gov.uk www.heartoflincs.comDownload all the Stepping Out walks by visiting www.countrysidenk.co.ukwww.countryaccess.gov.ukwww.visitlincolnshire.comwww.spiresandsteeples.com

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North Kesteven District Council Heart of Lincolnshire

www.countrysidenk.co.uk

W1 W2Distance 3 miles/4.9km Distance 4 miles/6.3km

Car DykeBy Wood and Fen

Walk LocationTwo walks from Dunston Fencar park and picnic site. Bothwalks follow sections of thehistoric roman Car Dyke.

Starting PointsDunston Fen Car Parkand Picnic Site(Grid Ref: TF 0894 6386)

ParkingDunston Fen Car Park

Public TransportFor information call the Travelineon 0871 200 22 33 or visitwww.lincolnshire.gov.uk/busrailtravel

Walk Length3miles (4.9km) andshould take 1 hour to walk.4 miles (6.3km) in length andshould take 3 hours at aleisurely pace.

Type of WalkA circular walk aroundNocton Wood on good tracksand footpaths.A circular walk through thecountryside and pasture land.This walk has stiles on it.

Ordnance Survey mapsExplorer 272 and Landranger 121

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Whilst great care has been taken in compilingthis information into this leaflet, NorthKesteven District Council cannot be heldresponsible for any errors, omissions oralterations contained within it. The inclusion ofan establishment within this leaflet does notimply any official recommendations by NorthKesteven District Council.

��Nocton Wood Walk Dunston Fen Walk1. From the Stepping Out car park,

walk through the picnic site andleft onto the stony track. Followthis track along the Car Dyke,with open fenland to your right.Look out for the carved bench onyour right before crossing overthe Nocton Delph. Continue onuntil you reach a small group ofbuildings marking the hamlet ofWasps Nest.

2. At Wasps Nest, turn left, up agentle rise towards the woodahead. As you reach the top ofthe rise look for a publicbridleway sign, which pointsalong a grassy path and crossesthe field to regain the woodland.

3. Take this path and follow it as itskirts the edge of the woodland,finally reaching a junction ofpaths at a grassy clearing.

4. Turn left, keeping the woods onyour left and follow the track untilit emerges onto the road fromDunston.

5. Turn left and follow the road forapproximately 1500 metres untilyou return to the car park, whichyou will see on your left.

Reproduced from OS Mapping with the permission of the controller ofHMSO c Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes crowncopyright and may lead to civil proceedings. OS Licence 100017926.2008

1. Start your walk at Dunston Fenpicnic site. On leaving the carpark turn right and walk alongDunston Fen Road following theedge of woodland on your right.

2. After 600 metres, take the smallroad to the left, signpostedMetheringham Fen. Follow thisroad until you meet the junctionwith Fen road.

3. Upon reaching the T-junction turnright. For a shorter route, you willsee a stile on your left, whichleads over a fence into pasturebeyond. Cross over this stile andfollow the path over pasture andalongside Car Dyke, to re-jointhe route at point 8 on yourmap). To follow the longercircular route, continue alongthe road with open fields toboth sides.

4. At the end of this road, turn leftat the junction towardsMetheringham and follow thisroad until it bends sharply right.

5. As you reach this right handbend, continue straight on alonga grassy track, keeping thewooded area known as HicksHolt to your right.

6. At the end of the track turn left,keeping near the field hedge.Continue along the narrow track,keeping field edge to your left.

7. Continue along the grassy track,cross a small wooden bridgeover a stream, and continuestraight ahead until you reachthe field edge.

8. Turn left keeping the hedge onyour left. Follow the field edgeuntil you come to a path leadinginto an area of dense hawthorn,bramble, wild rose and elder.Turn left into the shrubs, with thesteep bank of a reservoir on yourright. Continue along this track,keeping Car Dyke to your leftuntil you reach a bridge.

9. Turn left and walk over the bridge.At this point you can take ashorter route back to your car byturning immediately left followingthe car dyke, through fields andover stiles, returning you to point3 on the map. To continue thelonger walk, carry on straightahead, along a farm track forapproximately 1000 metres.At the end of the track turn leftonto the road, following yourroute back to the car park.

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KeyCar ParkNocton Wood WalkDunston Fen WalkA Longer Walk Along Car DykeAlternative Stepping Out Route

To Dunston

Nocton FenLan

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Dunston FenLane

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ToMethering

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Car Dyke• Starting from the northern end ofthe walk at The Plough inPotterhanworth Booths, follow thepublic footpath southwards on thebank top, eventually passingalongside Potterhanworth Wood.

• Continue along the route throughsheep pastures and on to WaspsNest Road, passing some of theCar Dyke sculptures.

• Beyond the hamlet of Wasps Nestthe walk follows the route of theNocton estate light railway.

• Pass Dunston Fen picnic site andwalk through an area of pasturewith wooded stretches to either sideof the dyke. It exits onto a longstretch of concrete road withBlankney Wood to your right.

• Cross over Metheringham Delph.The footpath passes through furtherpasture along the bank top exitingonto the B1191 to Woodhall Spa onthe edge of Martin village. Carparking is possible in the large lay-by opposite.

The old Forty Foot Bank orMidfendic east of Swaton marksthe Roman coastline. The south ofthe A52 follows the route of theancient Salters Way to the coast atDonnington. Evidence for Iron Ageand Roman salterns has beenfound along Car Dyke.

A fen is an area of flat land lying just abovesea level. Before they were drained, fenswere liable to flooding in winter caused byfreshwater overflows from the uplands. Somefens were suitable for grazing in summer butanimals were over-wintered on higherpastures to avoid poaching the soil.

Wasps Nest

Fenside Farm

Metheringham Barff

Car Dyke

Nocton Wood

Many of the paths have been provided by the goodwillof local landowners. These are marked by HighwaysAct signs. No special permission is needed to usethese paths, but walkers are asked to help to ensure acontinued welcome by only using the waymarked pathsand keeping dogs on a lead. Where paths crosspasture young stock may be present. If you have a dogwith you please make sure it is under firm control inthese sensitive areas.

Marsh Harriers can often be seenswooping across the fen skies ordipping in and out of the woodland.They have successfully adapted tobreed in the farmed landscape.

The small leaved lime woods nearPotterhanworth, Nocton and acrossthe Witham at Bardney areremnants of the great post-glacialwildwood, where the lime was thedominant tree.

The Anglo-Saxon word for lime islinden – lime wood particularlyfavoured for use in shield-making.

On the Dunston bench are carvedpheasant, coot, moorhen, heron,barn owl, fox and stoat all waitingfor the green lady to kiss the frogand turn it into a prince. Carving byNick Jones of artsNK and Cuts.

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