On this grey and rainy day, ours is the only car in the carpark of the Freiston Shore Nature Reserve.

From here we set off south down a concrete track with flooded fields to either side. There are a few locals out walking dogs so we take the opportunity to ask them for their thoughts on access to the North Sea Camp Prison, which we know is right up ahead. On the map the public footpath is clearly marked as going right through the camp, but the people we ask are quite adamant that it is not possible.

I have however read a few blog posts recently where walkers have braved the no access signs, so I am not overly worried. In a little while we arrive at the gate where it states in no uncertain terms that we should not be thinking of climbing over it. After a few minutes of dithering Damian spots a very overgrown stile up to the right on which a discoloured footpath sign is just about visible. We decide to take a chance and climb up the slippery bank and over on to the other side.

The path is quite clear on the top of the grassy bank but we have an electric fence to our left which doesn’t inspire confidence. Almost tiptoeing past the administrative buildings we come to a gap in the electric fence and climb down onto the main path – to our left is a huge metal barn where a small flock of sheep are sheltering. Suddenly a man in working clothes appears from behind a building and starts walking purposefully towards us – I hold my breath but with a friendly nod he walks right past – I breathe out.

By now it is raining heavily and as we walk past row upon row of dirty lime green metal cabins which I assume are the prison barracks, I reason that the weather must be too bad for any of the prisoners to come out to play. On a good day they are allowed to do just that, as this is an open prison, dragged into the spotlight by the arrival of Jeffrey Archer, whose home it was for just over a year. For those who don’t know, Archer is an English novelist, life peer, convicted criminal, and former elected politician who remains a member of the House of Lords. Before becoming an author, Archer was an MP (1969–1974), but did not seek re-election after a financial scandal that left him almost bankrupt.

I did not think it wise to take photos inside the prison but here is one of Damian escaping over the final stile.

It is still raining heavily as we cross soggy fields heading towards the river and an area called The Haven. After the adrenaline of the prison break I am feeling a tiny bit miserable and this warning sign does not help

Ah well………

Soon the path reaches the river at a place marked on the map as Cut End cottages, perched very close to the river bank – the cottages are protected by wood and steel piles to ward off flooding.

A little further up the river bank we come across a bright blue sculpture/viewing point which has been built to commemorate the Pilgrim Fathers. The history of the various groups leaving England to escape religious persecution, is long and complicated but in short it was roughly from here in 1607 that the first attempt was made to escape the country. They failed because the captain of the ship they had charted to smuggle them out of the country betrayed them and they were arrested. A year later they tried again and this time they made it to Holland. Twelve years later they were on the move again and set sail for Plymouth to meet up with other Separatist groups, who were planning a journey to Virginia on the Mayflower. And the rest is history.

A little while later we walk past another memorial to those brave people.

From here the path turns inland and merges into a minor road called Scalp Road (I wonder…) which eventually takes us up to Fishtoft where we can call a taxi to take us back to our car. This has been a wet but interesting walk.

Distance: 9 miles