Four seasons in a single ramble for Doncaster walkers

We encourage this diversity, knowing there are no prizes for winning, and none are left behind.

And so it was on our latest walk.

As we drove from the car-share assembly point at the Rossington Park and Ride towards Lincoln, we had grey skies overhead.

Later we had snow, along with rain, sun, and howling gales.

However, none of it detracted from our fascinating and varied 11-mile walk south of Lincoln.

Nineteen of us set off from the car park and we soon made a right turn, heading west uphill towards the Viking Way.

The sharp climb up 240 feet was enough to take our breath away, as were the extensive views and clear blue skies over Lincoln.

On the flat, the going became easier, sheltered as we were from the howling wind by hedgerows.

Two of our regular dogs, Alfie and Archie, clearly enjoyed the ‘vigorous’ weather.

A coffee break gave us the chance to enjoy our first glimpse of Lincoln Cathedral.

Continuing north, we crossed the busy A15 and then along the southern escarpment of South Common, with more views of the cathedral, before reaching the even busier B1188, which we crossed at traffic lights.

We then headed south along the road to our lunch-stop, where we were permitted to eat our sandwiches in the beer garden.

However, we had only just sat down when blizzard conditions enveloped us.

Dogs were banned from the pub, so we all agreed to move on.

We could see the towering spike of the International Bomber Command Centre

ahead and at Gareth’s suggestion we spent a reflective 20 minutes visiting the Memorial Garden.

Retracing our steps back along the escarpment and across the A15, we then headed briefly east downhill, before turning south and hitting the now familiar mud and bog.

At a T- junction of paths, we turned right following the track through housing onto the Brant Road, then north over the bridge and left alongside the River Witham.

The swollen waters had not quite washed away the footpath and we were able to make our way gingerly southwest along a raised dyke, without being blown over by gales, before turning left across fields safely back to Waddington.

Finally, you might be interested to know that the word flak comes from Fliegerabwehrkanone, meaning anti-aircraft gun.

For more information about the Doncaster Ramblers and future activity, visit www.doncasterramblers.org.uk and download a full copy of the walk programme

Follow the Ramblers on Facebook – www.facebook.com/doncasterramblers - where GPS maps of many past walks can be found.