Route: Burton Stather to Winteringham
Area: North Lincolnshire
Date of walk: 20th July 2014
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 10.4 miles
Weather: sunny and warm, hazy, gradually clouded over
As this is a linear walk, we needed two cars and I left mine at Winteringham Church, then Gilly dropped me off at Burton Stather enabling me to walk back
The path out of the village followed the top of The Cliff, which is not so much of a cliff but an escarpment which gives great views over the River Trent. Further along the path at Alkborough there were views of the confluence of the Rivers Trent Ouse and Humber
At Alkborough I descended a permissive path down the escarpment to the Flats, a wildlife haven where I enjoyed some wonderful sightings including a barn owl, bearded tits, snipe, lapwing, curlew and much else besides. Further along the way I saw an avocet and a marsh harrier. This was a fantastic section for anyone interested in bird spotting
The surrounding landscape may be flat but there’s plenty of interest along the route, now known as the South Humber Heritage Trail (click here for more), and I really enjoyed the walk from start to finish
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
At the start of Andrew’s latest walk, I walk through the churchyard of the aptly named St Andrew’s Church in Burton Stather
Looking back along the River Trent from The Cliff
Further along the escarpment
Zooming in to Island House
Island House across the river and Island Sand further along
I follow the sign to Alkborough
From the Millenium Plaque in Alkborough, looking across The Flats
It was too hazy today to see some of the sights visible from here, which include the Derbyshire Peaks and York Minster
The turf cut maze known as Julian’s Bower
The confluence of the Rivers Trent Ouse and Humber beyond The Flats
I follow a permissive path down to The Flats
Flat by name and flat by nature
Looking back up to Alkborough
A deliberate breach in the flood bank to alleviate flooding elsewhere has turned this area into a wildlife haven - I enter the hide ahead to see what I can see
Looking across The Flats from one of the windows in the hide
Heron
A wow moment - a Barn Owl
Don’t forget your binoculars if you come here, there’s so much to see
Devil’s Causeway
Greylag Geese
I pass by the village of Whitton
Church of St John the Baptist Whitton
One of the several information boards along the Heritage Trail
The trail follow a raised causeway all the way back to Winteringham
A Peacock - there were hundreds of butterflies and moths along the way
Looking across the Humber
Approaching Winteringham
Journey’s end - Winteringham
