This morning's torrential rain had given way to bright sunshine, so we chose
to go for a stroll ... not as far as the last one, but more than around the
local park. Lloyd chose one around Newstead Abbey, starting from a nearby
village - Linby. We parked in a layby just outside the village of Papplewick
and headed up the track into the woods beside a very "managed" stream.
The stream ended at a weir out of a reservoir and a sign showing the extent of
the local trails. Bertie of course enjoyed the water
Coming out of the woods and crossing ploughed fields we came out onto the road
leading into Linby (the same road we had parked beside). Following the footpath
beside road through the village
At a small roundabout we turned 90 degrees right down the Linby trail - an old
railway line - odd since it was next to a working line
A lot of conservation work was on-going, but the track was good gravel and free
from most mud.
We followed this trail in a straight line until we reached the outskirts of
Newstead and Annesley Country Park at an old bridge with cast iron railings.
Turning 90 degrees right (again) we cut down to the road (Station Avenue)
leading to the Abbey. Again in a very straight line.
The straight road angled slightly as we got close to the abbey , end twisted
slightly through some woods, before opening out to the large upper lake and
views across to a large house on the far shore
The remains of the abbey and priory at the end of the lake, views across to the
fort (a folly on the lake side)
We stopped off for a drink at the café before rushing around the gardens (they
were due to close at 4pm and we were only just in time to get in.
The plan was to go around in such a way that we could escape out the back onto
our designated track back to the van, however it seems they closed the far
gate before the one we entered by and when we got there it was chained up, so
we had to go out the way we came in, and walk around.
The gardens were arranged in a number of rooms and we wandered through most of
them before exiting beside the priory, and the large cedar tree being abused by
children despite the sign not to climb on it.
From teh front of the abbey we continued through the car park to the cricket pitch where a path led around the side and through some woods before opening onto a lane - Robin Hoods way - Another right angled turn to the right and a long straight track
Around a gate and gatehouse, before more straigh track in the same direction that ended up at Papplewick hall
A short section on the road, until we could take a track through some grazing fields back to the end of the Papplewick trail with the weir. The final section was back along the stream to the layby and the van, keeping Bertie out of the water this time! A square route with relatively straight sides.
