THE VIKING WAY (Part 1)

DAY SIX 
 Whitwell to Oakham
(5 miles)

Breakfast at The Noel lives up to expectations: a sumptuous feast including cracking local sausages and bacon. What fantastic food we have had on this walk.

After packing the rucksacks for a final time we are soon on the 'road' again - this time heading into familiar territory as we skirt the northern shore of Rutland Water and head along the (always painfully) long, straight path adjacent to the A606. The grey clouds are gathering, and it feels like the heavens could open any minute, so yet again waterproofs are on as we head west.

Before too long (although it did feel too long) we were walking through the tree-lined streets of Oakham, heading for the official end of the Viking Way at the library.

Unfortunately we didn't have time to have a good look around the town. It does seem like a nice place ... but on this occasion we had to catch a train, so we were forced to keep to the main road through the town centre to reach the train station and our ride back to Peterborough.

So, that was the first (or second!) half of the Viking Way. We stayed in some lovely B&Bs with very helpful and friendly hosts, had some fantastic food ... and despite the wet weather,we had a thoroughly enjoyable trundle through Lincolnshire.

BRING ON PART 2 !!  ( ... or 1 ... ?)