Lincolnshire

There's plenty to explore in Linconshire; the county is about forty miles wide and seventy miles long with a variety of scenery including fenland, woodland and, of course, the City of Lincoln. Although the county is one of the largest in England, its population density is one of the lowest, so there is plenty of open space and attractive countryside.

The Lincolnshire Wolds, perhaps the most famous landscape feature of the county, are certainly the best destination for country walking. This fourty mile stretch of chalk upland to the west of Georgian Louth is exceptionally pleasing to the eye with scenes of sheep grazing on green rolling hills, deep valleys with haging beechwoods and sunlight glinting on peaceful streams. The Wolds also offer a striking contrast to the flat fenlands, rising to their highest point near Normanby le Wold. Attractive villages around which to base walks are Somersby (birthplace of Lord Tennyson), with fine views over the Fens; Old Bolingbroke; Tealby and Wold Newton. There are others included in the guides below and they mostly seem to be in a time warp; sleepy, tranquil places that the modern world seemed to have no use for. But that's the world's loss, for to those who appreciate the countryside the Lincolnshire Wolds provides idylic walking.

If you don't like hill walking then the Lincolnshire fenland might interest you. Look at the Ordnance Survey map and you'll be hard pressed to find a height above 10m in this rich, fertile agricultural area. However, you'll also find it difficult to plan a convenient route, as the endless drainage ditches make for difficult passage. The overiding sense one has when walking in this flat landscape is one of big skies. A walk around Boston can give a feel of the Fens, and the town is worth visiting; you can't miss it as the Boston Stump, tower of the magnificent parish church, can be seen for miles. Spalding, during the tulip festival is also a riot of colour in the tulip fields.

	Guide Book: [For further information or to purchase]
	100 Walks in Lincolnshire and Humberside compiled by: Hugh Marrows, Glen Hood. Covering the whole of Lincolnshire and Humberside this book is ideal for family outings and as a valuable reference book for residents and visitors to the region. The wide choice of routes are spread very evenly across the county, so no matter where you find yourself, a walk in this book will not be far away. The walks vary in length from 2 to 12 miles, the majority being in the 4/6 mile range. They are listed in the contents by length, making it easy to find routes that suit your circumstances. In addition to the route descriptions, details are given of points of interest along the way, places to eat and drink and where to park the car.
	Lincolnshire and the Wolds Walks by: Brian Conduit. 28 routes with OS Explorer mapping. Locations include: Alvingham and the Louth Canal; Tattershall and Coningsby; Thornton Abbey; Spalding; North Carlton and Scampton; Barton and the River Humber; Tetford - Tennyson Country; Claythorpe Mill and the Swaby valley; Stamford, Easton-on-the-Hill and Tinwell; Boston and the River Witham; Isle of Axholme; Sea Banks of the Wash; Vale of Belvoir; Donington and the Bain valley; Woodhall Spa; Bourne Wood and Edenham; Chapel St Leonards, Hogsthorpe and Chapel Point; Old Bolingbroke and East Keal; Lincoln and the Fossdyke; Long Sutton and South Holland Main Drain; Southrey, Bardney and Tupholme Abbey; Crowland and the River Welland; Barnetby le Wold, Bigby and Somerby; Around Horncastle; Walesby, Claxby and Normanby le Wold; Tealby and Kirmond le Mire; Laceby, Irby-upon-Humber and Ayleby; Wellingore - four Lincoln edge villages.
	Village Walks in Lincolnshire by: Brett Collier. Within, or close to Lincolnshire's villages lies a rich heritage of ancient manor houses, priories, thatched cottages, parish churches, rivers and footpaths. The twenty routes in this book also introduce the walker to a nature reserve at Hoplands, birdwatching at Tetney Haven and Tattershall, a working windmill at Waltham, and several wartime airfields. The villages on which the walks are based have been carefully chosen for their interest and beauty. Among those not to be missed are Goxhill, Tealby, Bassingham and Hough on the Hill. In addition there is a brief history of the featured village and a seperate section about other places of interest nearby. The walks vary in length from 2 to 6.5 miles.
	Pub Walks in Lincolnshire by: Brett Collier. Walks from 1.5 to 5 miles. From Barrow Haven on the Humber to Gedney Drove End by the Wash, the walker can experience the sort of peace and quiet not easily found these days. The routes embrace a wide variety of scenery, from an exploration of the ancient town of Louth to strolls along some of the county's many waterways which abound with wildlife. Other locations include: Greatford; Deeping St. James; Castle Bytham; Pinchbeck; Harlaxton; Old Somerby; Newton; Aswarby; Anton's Gowt; Coleby; Tattersall Thorpe; Southrey; Dunholme; Minting; Belchford; South Thoresby; Tealby; Donnington on Bain; Little Cawthorpe; Theddlethorpe; Saltfleet; Susworth; Nettleton; Barnoldby le Bec; Burton-upon-Stather; East Halton.
	Pub Strolls Lincolnshire by: Brett Collier. 30 walks in this all-colour guide combine some of the most beautiful scenery in Lincolnshire with the opportunity to enjoy a meal and a drink in a good local pub. All the strolls are 4 miles or under in length. There is information about how to get to the start, where to park and places of interest to visit nearby. In addition there are photographs of the pubs and sights along the way, and maps. Locations are: Barnetby le Wold; Keelby; Weelsby; Nettleton; Marshchapel; West Stockwith; Binbrook; Morton; Louth; Scampton; Goulceby; Alford; Fiskerton; Halton Holegate; Skegness; Revesby; Stickney; Digby; Fulbeck; Cowbridge; Sleaford; Helpringham; Allington; Surfleet; Edenham; South Witham; Tydd St. Mary; Baston; Crowland; Stamford.
	Waterside Walks in Lincolnshire by: Brett Collier. 20 routes between 2 and 7.5 miles. They take the walker through some of the most beautiful countryside in Lincolnshire. There is also a seperate section about places of interest to visit nearby, such as the Humber Bridge Information Centre, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Cogglesford Water Mill, the Butterfly and Falconry Park, and the Spalding Bulb Museum. The walk starting locations include: Winteringham, Barton-on-Humber, Brigg, Tetney Lock, Willingham Woods, Huttoft, Marton, Donnington-on-Bain, Haltham, Wainfleet All saints, Wrangle, Haverholme, Woolsthorpe by Belvoir, Thurlby, Spalding, West Deeping.
	Short Walks from Lincolnshire Pubs by: Brett Collier. 20 circular walks of less than 5 miles. There is the gracious hostelry at Tetford, one time haunt of Lord Alfred Tennyson and Dr Johnson and the unusual 'two pub' pub at Laceby, separate outside but as one inside. From the curiously named Blue Horse in Skillington you can explore the secluded valley of the Cringle Brook and visit nearby Woolsthorpe Manor, birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton. Locations are: Uffington; Crowland; Tydd St. Mary; Witham on the Hill; Skillington; Woolsthorpe; Langrick Bridge; Folkingham; Scopwick; Candlesby; Aubourn; Stow in Lindsey; Nettleham; Tetford; Tetney Lock; Redbourne; Laceby; Bottesford; Stallingborough; Bonby.
	Walking Clost to Stamford by: Clive Brown. A walking guide booklet which admirably achieves the objective of getting you out in the countryside amongst beautiful scenery on carefully chosen routes full of interest. The directions are clear and precise and the pencil drawn sketch maps are particularly attractive as well as practical. This guide focuses on the Welland near Stamford with nine varied and interesting circular walks, mainly about 6 miles in length. The walk locations are: Stamford and Wothorpe Groves; Greetham and Fort Henry; Ryhall and Tolethorpe Park; Stamford and Easton on the Hill; Fineshade Abbey and Wakerley Great Wood; Ketton and Pit Lane; Great Casterton and Tickencote Park; Braceborough, Greatford and Shillingthorpe Park; Easton on the Hill, Ketton and Tinwell.