I've been out and about exploring the trails again recently, resulting in two FKTs (Fastest Known Times). The first was an inaugural FKT (unsupported) for the 20-mile Wanderlust Way in Lincolnshire. The second was a women's FKT (supported) for the Arden Way in Warwickshire. Both were lovely routes in beautiful countryside, and blessed with gorgeous sunshine and blue skies to boot. Here are my accounts of the two runs, as submitted to FKT for ratification.
Wanderlust Way, Saturday 30th April 2022
Setting off from Bradley Woods, near Grimsby, at 10:23am on Saturday 30th April I had no idea what lay in store over the next few miles and hours! As a visitor to the area I wasn’t familiar with any of the route, or the terrain, and was relying on the waymarkers and an Ordnance Survey map for directions. But it was a lovely sunny day and I set out full of anticipation. Once out of the bluebell-carpeted woods the route crossed arable farmland before passing through Laceby Manor Golf Club. After crossing the A18 I then encountered the first climb of the day, up past Irby Holmes Wood to the village of Beelsby. Taking the path out of the village, I passed through some large agricultural buildings, a field of horses and across an arable field where there didn’t seem to be much evidence of a path at all! However, I spotted the way out at the corner of the field and emerged onto the lane and into the village of Hatcliffe. This was a pretty village, with a small stream running along the road and little bridges leading to the front doors of the houses. I passed the church and, once out of the village, took a left turn up a quiet country lane.
The route followed this lane for about a mile and a half, to cross the B1203 at East Ravendale, and made for a section of good running. A track led out of the village, and zigzagged around some fields and past a few woodland plantations. I passed what appeared to be a small stone quarry, before emerging into the village of Wold Newton from a narrow path through shoulder-high oilseed rape. I passed the church, and through a farmyard before taking the path through The Valley – a lovely wooded section full of trees beginning to burst into leaf, and a carpet of yellow Lesser Celandine. This is the southern-most part of the route, and the path then skirts the edge of Beesby Wood before turning left for the return journey. As I ran along the edge of some large arable fields, full of bright yellow oilseed rape, I looked across to my right. From my elevated position there were fantastic long-distance views towards the coast / Humber estuary.
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| Fabulous views towards the coast |
From Hawerby the path contoured along the slope, before dropping down to cross the A18. The path then continued into the village of Ashby cum Fenby, across a couple more fields and a footbridge to Brigsley and then on to Barnoldby le Beck. Skirting round the church of St. Helen the path left the village and continued across a flat landscape of large arable fields with drainage ditches. It reminded me very much of the British 100km Championships I’d won several years ago, just across the Humber estuary at Patrington Haven! I could see Bradley Wood ahead and before I knew it I was skirting the edge of the wood and back to the point at which I’d started. It took me 3hrs 46:53, which included numerous stops to navigate as I didn’t want to inadvertently follow the waymarkers on one of the shorter circular route options! All in all, it was a really enjoyable morning’s run in the sunshine in beautiful countryside.
The Arden Way, 7th May 2022
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| Starting at Henley-in-Arden village cross |
On Saturday 7th May, on a lovely sunny morning, I
stood by the Village Cross in Henley-in-Arden, alongside my training partner,
Steve. At 10:00am on the dot we were
off, up the High Street, into Station Road and soon off the road and onto the
trails. I was bowling along quite
happily, ticking off the landmarks – Henley Golf Club, past a pond, through a
nature reserve, past the Chapel of St. Mary and into the village of
Ullenhall. Soon enough we were crossing
the A4189 and passing through Cadborough Farm.
I was slightly nervous about this section as on some of my recce runs
there had been cattle in the fields that paid me more attention than I was
comfortable with! Luckily, though, no
cattle this time (despite big signs saying ‘beware of the bull’) – just some
really pesky gate chains to deal with!
As the path turned to the left there were some amazing long-distance
views over the countryside to the south-west.
The first 4 miles were completed! |
| Approaching Chesters Green from Cadborough Farm |
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| Towards the River Arrow at 7 miles |
The next section took us through Morton Fisheries and across
some fields of meadow pasture. There
were some cattle in one of these fields, but luckily minding their own business
in a far corner! Some of the fields were
quite hard going underfoot, where they’d been churned up by hooves and now
dried into ankle-turning lumps and bumps!
Soon enough we came to a track which we followed through the grounds of
Studley Castle Hotel, passing people enjoying their morning coffee on the
terrace! A green track took us down to
St. Mary’s Church and cemetery, before emerging onto the fields alongside the
picturesque River Arrow at around 7 miles.
The next mile generally followed the meandering river, through Spernall,
past a small derelict church and crossing the river to run through part of the
recently planted Heart of England Forest.
We eventually emerged onto the road near the entrance to Coughton Court
National Trust property at 9 miles. On
one of my recce walks we’d watched the Red Arrows give a display here, but
unfortunately there was no such excitement today! A short road section took us back across the
River Arrow, by a ford which is always popular with children and dogs, and onto
a stony track. This is the first major
hill of the route, and it seemed a relentless slog up Windmill Hill, before
emerging onto Spernal Lane!
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| Approaching the end of the track after Windmill Hill |
The next section took us along a ridge with views down over
Alcester, over an abandoned railway bridge and past a trig point at 66m. From here we dropped down to the road, which
we followed through Alcester town centre, past St. Nicholas Church and across a
small park to the old Stratford Road. It
was here that I said goodbye to Steve.
It had been great to have his company for the first half, but now I was
going it alone for the second half! I
exchanged my empty drink bottles for full ones and continued on my way. Crossing the confluence of the rivers Arrow
and Alne, I glanced down to see a heron standing in the water, looking out for
fish no doubt! From Oversley Green the
road steadily rose uphill, and became a track / path over the A46 and
continuing uphill along the side of Oversley Wood. At the top of the wood I took the route
option for good ground conditions, as described in the official Arden Way Guide
booklet, which followed the edge of the wood before dropping down along a track
to Valley Farm on the edge of the village of Exhall. By now I was about 15/16 miles and over two
hours into the run and it was starting to feel quite hot (the temperature got
up to about 20 degrees C) which, coupled with the hills was beginning to take
its toll. I ran along the opposite side
of Oversley Wood, under the A46 underpass, and off across the fields again.
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| Approaching Haselor village |
Going through the villages of Upton and Haselor the path
then involved another steep climb through a field to the church of St. Mary and
All Saints. But at least there were some
good views over the River Alne valley to my left! After going through the village of Walcote
there was another uphill section before I skirted the edge of Withycombe Wood,
where the bluebells were in full bloom and looking lovely. The next village was Aston Cantlow, which I
arrived at through yet another churchyard – St. John the Baptist. |
| Leaving Aston Cantlow churchyard |
From Aston Cantlow the route crossed back
over the River Alne, followed by a long gradual uphill through arable farmland
to reach the lane at Glebe Farm. After
passing the Dan Skelton Racing stables I found myself running though a field of
buttercups where the racehorses were grazing.
Luckily they only paid me the slightest attention, as I didn’t fancy my chances
trying to outrun a racehorse! I was
finding it pretty hard going by now, but kept pushing on as best as I could,
through some fields of pasture with lovely wildflowers, a steep downhill
through some woodland, followed immediately by a steep uphill through a paddock
and onto the lane.
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| Reduced to a walk in Bannam's Wood! |
I knew now that I was only about 3 miles from home, but
those last few miles are some of the hardest on the route! A long uphill pull through Bannam’s Wood
reduced me to a walk, but I took the opportunity to take some fuel on board and
admire the bluebells in this Ancient Woodland and SSSI.
Once at the top of
the hill I managed to pick up my pace and started to feel quite good again. I was running at a pretty decent pace, but
the number of stiles I had to drag my weary legs up and over really slowed me
down, and made me quite frustrated! I
think there were about 11 stiles in those last 3 miles, plus a few gates too!
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| Negotiating one of the many stiles |
Finally I was running past the allotments, up
and down the steps of the footbridge to cross the railway line at Henley
station, and the last little bit through the houses and onto High Street.
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| Back at the village cross in Henley |
I finished back at the village cross, exactly
4 hours, 28 minutes and 47 seconds after I’d started. I really enjoyed the run; it was fabulous to run through
some of Warwickshire’s most picturesque and scenic countryside, with lovely
blue skies on a sunny spring day. A big
thanks to Steve for his company on the first half, and to my coach, Les, for
constantly popping up around the route to take photos, give me drinks and
generally make sure I was OK. Looking
forward to doing it all again sometime.
A few stats from the route:
• 21 stiles
• 93 gates
• 12 bridges
• 1 underpass
• 7 churches passed
• Villages passed through / edge of: Henley-in-Arden, Ullenhall, Studley, Spernall, Coughton, Alcester, Oversley Green, Exhall, Haselor, Walcote, Aston Cantlow, Little Alne.
• Approx. 1600 ft ascent.
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| 4hrs 28mins 47 secs. |
