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Kinoulton Circular Walk
Route facts
Waterways:
Grantham Canal »
Difficulty: Moderate
Starts at: Mackley's Bridge Car Park
Ends at: Mackley's Bridge Car Park
An interesting walk which passes several interpretation boards and offers much of interest to the nature-lover, local historian and canal enthusiast.
Leave the car park, cross the road and go through the gap by the white metal gate onto the canal towpath. Just a few metres form the road there is a mile post showing the distance to the Trent. Some of the mileposts are original but a few have been replaced by the Canal restoration Society. The walk continues over the towpath crossing over Kinoulton Lane to Wild's Bridge and after a quarter of a mile the canal turns sharply to the left at a point nicknamed the Devil's Elbow. Carry on along the straight section to where the canal is crossed by a bridge known as Irish Jack's. Although the origin of the name of Irish Jack's bridge is unclear, it is likely that it was the name of one of the Irish navvies employed to build the canal.
Follow the towpath towards Kinoulton Bridge. Along this section, the margins of the canal are colonised by reeds. Go through the handgate at the end of the towpath onto Main Street Kinoulton.
Turn right and cross the canal bridge to the stile that leads onto the canal towpath on the other side. On top of the road bridge is one of the interpretation boards provided by the Canal restoration Society detailing the location and distances of villages along the Grantham Canal. Continue along a short narrrow section that opens up into a pasture field, with the path going along the side of the canal. Go over the stile at the end into another pasture where the path runs along the raised bank adjacent to the canal.
Shetland ponies can often be seen in this field. Notice also how the overhead powerlines have spheres attached to prevent water folw colliding with them.
Go through into the next field which shows traces of ridge and furrow. as the path continues alongside the canal, the Owthorpe Wolds can be clearly seen to the left with the line of poplar trees leading up to the Vimy Ridge Farm. Continue along the field edge path, through a small area of scrub to a track which leads to the farm buildings. After crossing over the track, follow the path to where it turns sharply to the right at the Devils Elbow.
Continue over the small bridge culvert to the stile in the next field. Along this section there are the recognisable spiky heads of teasels once used for combing out fleeces in preparation of wool for spinning, as well as many waterside plants. The path continues along the field edge to within 50 metres of the road then crosses to a gap in the hedge by a footpath signpost. Turn right down the road, then left through the gateway just below Wild's Bridge. Follow this field edge path to the stile at the end then cross diagonally in the next field to the road. Turn right and go back down the road to the car park.
Walking route with kind permission from Rushcliffe Borough Council and the Grantham Canal Partnership.
Getting there
Parking: There is a car park at Mackley's Bridge.
