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An 8km walk starting in Long Bennington and taking in the nearby villages of Westborough and Foston. A lot of this route is alongside the river or across fields so it can be muddy at times.

Directions

Starting from the centre of Long Bennington, head south down Main Road. As you reach the school on your right, turn left onto Church Street.

The village war memorial is situated on the other side of this junction in a small garden.

Follow Church Street as it turns off to the right. Opposite Woods Close (on your right), follow the signed footpath to the left between the houses.

Cross the bridge over the River Witham and then follow the path to the right, alongside the river.

Go through the style. Here the ROW officially heads off across this small field, but it’s easier for everyone to follow the path along the dyke next to the river.

When you reach the hedge (near a small gate marked private), turn left and follow the hedge up to a small concrete bridge over a drainage ditch.

Follow the path along the hedge to your right until you reach a kissing gate. Head through and follow the path through the field, through another kissing gate and over the small bridge into Westborough.

On the right is All Saints Church. Walk past this and down the footpath towards a bridge back over the River Witham.

Shortcut back to Long Bennington

If you want to shorten the route slightly, turn right just after the bridge and follow the path alongside the river. This turns into a farm track and leads you to the bridge over the drainage ditch next to St Swithuns Church. Much of this is not a formal right of way but appears regularly used. The stretch by the river can be a bit muddy.

Strike out across the field and you will be able to see Foston on the small hill in front of you. The path will reach a farm track. Turn left and follow the track (the footpath does continue across the fields towards Foston, but it is often muddy and hard going so I prefer the slight diversion of the track).

The track reaches a crossroads with a tarmac road. Turn right here and head towards Foston.

Foston Ford

Turning left at this crossroad will take you down to Foston Ford, over the River Witham. There is a pedestrian bridge, but in the summer the water is shallow enough to paddle etc.

Follow the road into Foston, past Chapel Lane, and turn right at the end as you pass the St Peter’s Church (if you took the footpath up the fields mentioned earlier you will come out near the church and rejoin the route).

Follow the road down the hill. The pavement disappears as you go down the hill so take care with traffic, but it will come back soon.

This is the old Great North Road, from before the bypass (part of the A1) was built. As you pass the farm on your right the pavement returns. Continue round the corner and take the signed footpath off to the left. This heads towards some trees and then veers left, across the fields and back towards Long Bennington. You will see St Swithun’s Church as you approach it.

The path crosses a farm track and then a small bridge over a drainage ditch. This then leads through small field and a kissing gate, back to the end of Church Lane in Long Bennington. As you exit the field, St Swithun’s Church is to your left.

Head straight ahead down Church Street and you will find yourself retracing your steps from the beginning of the walk.

There are a couple of pubs, a cafe and the local Coop if you want to have a break.

Please pick up after your dog and take any litter with you – there are bins in all three villages so your shouldn’t have to carry it far!