Three Towns Walks - Walk Around Spilsby
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0.00 Miles
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0.00FT
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2-3 hours
A varied walk around this medieval market town, birthplace of Sir John Franklin, world-respected Arctic explorer.
- Circular walk - 4.5 miles
- Maps: OS Landranger 122 and OS Explorer 274.
- Parking: In the pay and display car park off Post Office Lane, Spilsby (Grid Ref: TF 404 661).
- Terrain: Along footpaths, which can be muddy at times. Some roadside walking, including crossing the A158 and A16. Generally level, with some gentle hills.
- Refreshments: Tearooms, restaurants, pubs and shops in Spilsby.
- Toilets: Public toilets in Spilsby Market Place, next to the bus shelter.
- Stiles: Numerous. Some are stock proof and therefore may be difficult for some dogs.
- Let's set off!
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1
From the Buttercross in the east Market Place, walk past the Tuck Shop to turn left into Queen Street. Continue straight ahead, passing the Post Office and Wellington Yard on your right and Ivy Cottage to your left. At the road end, carry on along the tarmac path.
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2
As the tarmac path bends to the right, turn left onto the narrow signposted footpath between fence and hedge. Follow this to a hidden stile between bungalows, then down bankside steps to the pavement. There, turn left to walk to the road end.
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3
Carefully cross Ashby Road, turning right along the opposite pavement. Just past the roadside seat, turn left to follow the signposted footpath over a stile into grassland. Bearing half right, continue to a footbridge and stile in the next hedge line, then across more old pasture to another. There, follow the waymarked path to walk diagonally left over the next field, heading to the left of a metal gate. Look out for a bright yellowhammer in the hedges as you go.
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4
Carry on into some very interesting old grassland, walking towards the gate in the next fence line. From there, stride out across field, heading to the left of the flat, grey farm sheds visible in the distance, to an obscured wooden gate in the field corner. Make out the corrugations of remnant ridge and furrow plough-land, and other ‘humps and bumps’, in the grassland around you. These are the protected remains of a deserted medieval settlement.
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5
Follow the signposted path straight over the next field, heading towards the electricity pole to the left of the large red brick house in the distance, to a hidden footbridge across the River Lymn. With the rise of the Lincolnshire Wolds before you, turn to walk beside the drainage ditch to a wooden gate and the re-routed A158 beyond. Notice the small tunnel to the right of the main bridge culvert, designed to allow badgers and other wildlife to safely ‘cross’ the new bypass.
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6
Cross the road with great care to continue, through a second gate, along a stone path to another footbridge. From there, follow the field edge path as it climbs towards Partney, emerging along a gravelled drive beside the Red Lion Inn. After pausing to admire the impressive greenstone tower of St Nicholas’ Parish Church, with its unusual ‘ship’ weathervane, turn left to walk along the pavement.
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7
Around the bend, carefully cross the road to follow the signposted footpath immediately past Wilton Cottage. Carry on, between fence and hedge, to a stile and footbridge. Bearing half right, continue across field to walk uphill with the fence to your right, following the waymarked path to a wooden gate above the re-routed A16. There, turn right to keep on the stone bankside path down to a crossing point.
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8
Cross the road with great care, turning left up the opposite bankside to a second wooden gate. There, follow the signposted footpath to walk across a field to a stile in the next hedge line. As you walk, look for shallow pits filled with dung. These are badger latrines and, depending upon season, they can be very difficult to miss! Then, continue ahead across old pasture to a stile and footbridge, making out the corrugations of remnant ridge and furrow plough land as you go.
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9
Carry on straight over the next field to walk with the hedge to your left. Keeping a look out for the electric blue flash of a kingfisher, turn left to follow the fence line of Partney Brick Pit to a footbridge. From there continue to a small footbridge in the hedge line towards the top left field corner, then across a second field to emerge, once again, beside the A158.
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10
Following the signposted footpath, carefully cross Sausthorpe Road and adjacent footbridge to continue over the field corner to a stile into the farmyard. There, walk diagonally right to a second stile, carrying on across field to the footbridge visible at the next boundary. Then, following the waymarked path, continue across another field, heading towards a signpost in the distant hedge line. Notice the flint in the soil at your feet. This hard, silica-rich rock can be worked to form a sharp, tough edge and was used by our prehistoric ancestors for both tools and weapons.
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11
Carry on straight over the next field to a large footbridge, some steps and a short walk into Mill Farm yard. There, continue between the two large farm buildings to a footbridge by a weir over the River Lymn. Please close the chain across this bridge after use. Then, follow the path through an area of old willow and alder trees to emerge, over a stile, into grassland. At the next footbridge follow the signposted footpath to walk diagonally right across field, heading between the stand of trees partly obscuring the house before you and the electricity pole to its right. Notice the distinctive spire of St Andrew’s Church at Sausthorpe becoming visible on the skyline to your right. On reaching the drainage ditch, turn left to follow the field edge to a stile. From there bear right around the pond, through an open gateway, to a stone track. Turn left to follow this uphill to emerge, once again, beside the A16.
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12
Cross the road with great care to follow the signposted footpath through a gateway, and over the field corner, to a gap in the next hedge line. From there stride out across the next field, passing a small pond and heading towards the large oak tree visible at the hedge corner. Then, with the hedge to your right, continue straight ahead along a field edge track, looking out for a sparrowhawk dashing low over the ground in search of prey.
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13
On arriving above a delightful wooded hollow, turn first left, then right down some steps into the hollow itself. Climbing up the far side, turn left, then right, to follow the fence line of Spilsby Primary School to the school entrance. Notice the pinnacles of St James’ Church tower on the skyline as you walk.
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14
Turn left to follow the fence line, then left again along Blacksmiths Lane to arrive beside Ashby Road, there, carefully cross the road to follow the car park sign into Reynard Street, walking to the rear of the birthplace of Sir John Franklin, one of the world’s most respected pioneers of Arctic exploration. At the road end, turn right into Queen Street, retracing your steps back to the Market Place, your starting point.
- You made it! Well done.