We’re a Ramblers group aimed mainly at people in their 20s, 30s and slightly older, offering led walks and social events across Herts, Beds and south Cambs.
This walk is for up to 20 people, including the leader.
Join us for a Stag Walkers away day from the historic town of Stamford to the grounds of Burghley Park, with extraordinary views around the 16th century mansion.
Stamford is just over an hour up the A1 from North Herts or around 75 minutes by train via Peterborough. The moderate-grade route is mainly through parkland, farmland and town, with a few gentle slopes.
We will start from Stamford railway station and head straight to Burghley House. Before approaching the mansion, we will cross the estate gardens where we may spot some deer including white stags roaming across the Deer Park. Then, we will reach Burghley House itself which is a 16th century Elizabethan country house built from 1555 to 1587 for Sir William Cecil and used in several films including Pride & Prejudice. We will have a quick break near the cafe where you are welcome to buy a quick coffee or a snack to take away and use the toilet facilities.
Afterwards, we will continue to roam the estate gardens enjoying some breathtaking views including the Lion Bridge, a Grade I listed bridge built in 1778 by renowned British landscape designer Lancelot "Capability" Brown. We will head out and ramble across Burghley Park designed throughout the late 17th to early 18th century, enriched with natural planting and sheep grazing stretching across 10,000 acres of land. Once we head out, we will be able to spot Barnack Windmill, a Grade II listed building built around 1797 and used up to 1914.
As we continue to walk along some country roads, we will loop around Barnack Hills & Holes Nature Reserve consisting of limestone meadows and mounds which were once used for quarrying by the Romans but are now enriched with rare species of wildflowers and wild insects. We will then reach the quaint village of Barnack where we will have our lunch stop by the village sign. You are welcome to join us for a drink at the Millstone Inn for an optional pub stop or visit St John the Baptist church if you don't fancy coming to the pub.
We will continue our final stretch of the walk crossing farmland before reaching the level crossing at the disused Uffington railway station where the station signal box still stands. Next, we will take a gentle stroll beside Welland Canal passing Spring Wood and cross some more farmland before returning to the scenic market town of Stamford, enriched with Medieval churches and dry stone buildings.
Once we cross the High Street, we will have a debrief at the market square where we may have time to stop at Central Tea Rooms. Otherwise, you are welcome to stop for a drink at one of the pubs around the town centre including the King's Head or the London Inn before heading back to the station via the town meadows.
Please note this walk is not suitable for dogs.
For information about walking with the group, including our dog policy, please visit the Stag Walkers website.
Booking your place: Please book your place using the free Meetup website/app. Join the Stag Walkers Meetup group and click the 'Attend' button on the event page.
Please do not turn up for a walk without booking, as places are limited.
If the walk is fully booked, please click 'join waitlist' then please check back regularly as you will likely get a place. The waitlist gives priority to single bookings so if you wish to bring a guest, we recommend booking separately.
Unless you opt in to further communications, we will only use contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk.
This is a circular walk.
The start time is when we aim to start walking and the finish time is an estimate.
Walks are graded Easy, Leisurely, Moderate or Strenuous in increasing order of difficulty. Please read the walk description to check it is within your abilities and contact the group if you are unsure.
Please:
We are a Ramblers group, non-members are welcome to try us out for three free walks before joining Ramblers as a full member.
As a charity we ask that non-members consider making a voluntary donation to Ramblers until they purchase membership. We suggest £3-4 per walk. You can donate in person or online.
The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1093577. Registered office: First Floor, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE.
Stamford Railway Station, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2JN Meet us by the station entrance accessible by public transport with public facilities available. Limited parking is available at the station for just £2 per day but parking with extra spaces is available at Wothorpe Road Car Park just under 5 minutes away from the station for just £5 per day. You can also park considerately along the side of the Old Great North Road (B1081) for free, roughly 10 mins away but spaces can be limited. Please offer car sharing. N.B. If arriving by train, please change at Peterborough station if coming from Hitchin direction. Best services to catch are the 08:50 Thameslink train from Hitchin which arrives in Peterborough by 09:39 where you should change for the 09:54 CrossCountry service to Birmingham New Street which arrives in Stamford by 10:06.
