Stainfield and Apley - Hardy Gang long

This walk goes through the small villages of Stainfield and Apley as well as through areas of new tree planting and the mature woodland of Hardy Gang Wood, one of the nationally important Bardney Limewoods. The walk uses quiet roads, field paths and woodland paths. It may be muddy in places if wet, especially through the woodland. You may encounter stiles on this walk.

5.5 miles (eight kilometres)
2.75 hours

1. Leave the car park and turn left along the road.
2. Follow the road as it bends to the left (signed Langworth). After approximately 900m turn left off the road and onto a bridleway. Walk across the fields by bearing right towards the right hand corner of the copse. At the fingerpost, cross the bridge and go through the gate.
3. Turn left and follow the field edge for approximately 150m to a fingerpost. Bear right across the field towards a wooden fingerpost to the right of an area of scrub. The remains of Barlings Abbey can be seen ahead.
4. At the fingerpost, if you want to visit Barlings Abbey turn left and follow the bridleway over the bridge. To continue the walk turn right (along the Viking Way). Walk straight ahead, alongside the hedgerow and ditch until you reach a gate and bridge at the edge of the woodland on your left (approximately 900 metres).
5. Enter the woodland and follow the bridleway straight ahead through the wood. The route through the wood can get very wet and muddy. If you want to avoid the wood, bear right across the field to a gate and fingerpost at the road. Turn left and follow the road for approximately 500m to a junction. Turn left and at the next junction bear right and rejoin the directions at point 7.
6. At the road turn right and walk 500m to a road junction.
7. Turn left (signed Bullington) and after 70m turn right onto a footpath. Follow the path along the edge of an area of planted trees.
8. At the edge of the arable field bear right to a bridge and fingerpost that will come into view. Cross the bridge and walk straight ahead along the right hand side of the ditch. At the end of the ditch walk straight across the field ahead and then along the hedge and fence line.
9. At the end of the field turn left and after 50m, and before the gate, turn right along a footpath behind some buildings and then around the edge of a garden to a road.
10. At the road turn left and after approximately 80m turn right onto a footpath. Follow the track for approximately 90m before turning right into a field and following the field edge straight ahead. At the end of the barn turn left over a stile and immediately turn right and walk along the field edge to a road.
11. At the road turn right and after approximately 100m turn left onto a footpath across the field, through some trees and across a bridge.
12. Turn right and walk alongside the drain. After 150m turn left onto a footpath beside a woodland, Foxhall Wood.
13. At the road turn right, walk past the church, and at the T-junction turn right to return to the starting point.

Stainfield and Apley route map

• parking
• village/town

• historical interest
• wildlife interest
• woodland