A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace. CONFUCIUS

Thursday 22 August 2013

The Viking Way: Tealby To Caistor

The weather had now turned cloudier, but it was still warm, and there was only the odd swift shower of rain. I passed this abandoned hilltop farm . . . 

. . . and this duckpond . . .

. . . before diving into a wooden hut to read about the rare Lincoln Longwool flock at Risby Grange . . .

After a few ups and downs through a deer park . . .

. . . I came to the disused church of All Saints, Walesby, also known as the Ramblers' Church. I'd been there before. In the Lady Chapel there's a stained glass window showing Jesus with a group of walkers and cyclists.


I forged on, via Normanby-le-Wold, Lincolnshire's highest village, to Caistor. This was one of the prettiest parts of the whole walk, and the views from the Wolds were outstanding.

12 comments:

am said...

Splendid walk. Splendid photos. As usual, I'm walking along quietly.

Goat said...

Well, first time I've had a chance to check in in ages and it's good to find you rambling again - and to be the first commenter. If I try really hard I can imagine myself hiking with Jesus - I've certainly walked with a lot of blokes who looked like him after a few weeks on the trail.

The Grimsby reference in the church reminds me of a lyric in a favourite Robyn Hitchcock song, '1974': "It feels like 1974 / Ghastly mellow saxophones all over the floor / Feels like 1974 / You could vote for Labour, but you can't anymore / Feels like 1974 / Digging Led Zeppelin in Grimsby / Oh Christ".

Looking forward to more shots from this walk.

Sabine said...

Thank you for these really lovely images of a part of England I used to know half a life time ago. Actually, mor than half now...

The Weaver of Grass said...

I know this area quite well and I believe Carmen still has relations up here doesn't she? Pretty countryside.

Ruth said...

Gorgeous. Amazing how much the landscape changed from your last post. I hope it was warm rain.

The Solitary Walker said...

Am: I'm enjoying for your company.

Goat: :-)

Sabine: Thanks for your visit.

Weaver: Yes, some of Carmen's cousins live in Claxby and Immingham.

Ruth: It's amazing and continually interesting how the English landscape can change so much in such a short space. Ultimately it's all to do with the complex and varied geology...

Goat said...

Oh, apparently I wasn't the first commenter ;)

Mark said...

I walked this stretch on Thursday - I see you were in Caistor again recently, I don't suppose it was Thursday, it would have been a shame to have missed each other so narrowly.
I walked from Caistor to Tealby and then through Willingham Woods to Market Rasen to catch a bus.
My Grandfather grew up in Nettleton and my father recalls riding on the handlebars of his dad's bike and then the steep climb up the hillside to the Ironstone Mine at Nettleton Top where Grandad was in charge of the stores for a while.
I had problems with my camera, so don't have a good photo of Castle Farm like yours.

The Solitary Walker said...

Yes, it was Thursday, Mark! How extraordinary. Just imagine bumping into each other in Caistor, as we could easily have done. I wonder if we would have realised? Will be doing the final Barnetby to Barton stretch before too long...

The Solitary Walker said...

PS Of course, I remember walking by the ironstone mine in that little wood, and down that grassy valley to Nettleton. My wife's aunt used to have a B & B in Nettleton years ago.

Mark said...

What a coincidence!
This area is rife with family associations for me - my Dad grew up in Osgodby and at that time many of the residents of the village seem to have been uncles, aunts or cousins.
Have you decided on another project for when the Viking Way is complete?

The Solitary Walker said...

My wife has cousins who live in Claxby and Immingham. Also, I myself was born and went to school in Gainsborough.

I've many long-term projects, Mark, but I don't suppose a lot of them will come to fruition. I still have the Grand Union Canal towpath walk only half-finished. And my grand plan to walk to Rome this year had to be aborted after several days! After the Viking Way it would be nice to continue along the Wolds Way through Yorkshire...