Wolds Walks - On Foot from Fotherby

0.00 Miles
0.00FT
3 hours

Two circular walks, both 6 miles from Fotherby, one going through Utterby, the other through North Elkington.

Both walks start from Fotherby and onwards to Fotherby Common. One then heads to North Elkington, passing through the Deserted medieval village, the other takes in Utterby, passing Packhorse Bridge and St Andrew’s Church, before joining the disused railway line. On both walks there are fine views of the eastern edge of the Wolds, across the marsh towards the coastline and round to the Humber.

Distance: 6 miles (9 ½ km)
Time: Approx. 3 hours at a leisurely pace
Maps: OS Landranger 113 and OS Explorer 282
Parking: Roadside parking in the village – please park considerately. Map ref: TF 315 915. Postcode: LN11 0UG
Terrain: A mixture of footpaths over grass and arable fields and stone tracks. Some roadside walking crossing Fotherby bypass
Stiles: A few on the North Elkington route, none on the Utterby route.
Refreshments: Limited light refreshments at St Mary’s Church, Fotherby – usually open Wednesday’s during the summer months. The Brackenborough Hotel is nearby.

Produced by Fotherby Parish Council and volunteers, with material and assistance from Hugh Marrows and Lincolnshire Wolds Sustainable Development Fund.

Looking after the Wolds - The Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service works in partnership with the Lincolnshire Wolds Joint Advisory Committee and other groups and individuals to help protect, enhance and raise awareness of this nationally protected landscape. For more information about the Wolds, please visit the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB website.

Step by step instructions

Let's set off!
1

Face the interpretation board and turn left. After walking 200 metres turn right along Short lane and carefully cross the A16 bypass. Continue along to the lane junction and turn right, following the road up to Fotherby Common.
2

For the North Elkington Route:
Continue along the farm track to the footpath sign on the left. Bear left onto the footpath, which is normally marked on the ground, and aim for the tall tree where the hedgerows merge in the valley bottom. Cross the footbridge and turn right along a grass track, past some woods and skirting round an old pond to a stile on your left.
3

Climb the stile into the open grassy valley and bear left uphill passing some of the terraced fields of the earthworks. Aim for the top left corner of the field. Climb a double stile and follow the wire fence to the corner. Now bear diagonally left, through the deserted medieval village, to a kissing gate to the left of the first house.
4

Go left along the track to a bridlegate on the right and from it descend to the valley floor, along one of the former village streets. At the bottom turn left and cross the arable field in line with the electricity poles, aiming for the gap in the hedge. Turn right along the road. After 275 metres turn right onto the access road to Grange Farm. Walk through the farmyard and turn right at the end along a short track, passing a white cottage.
5

At the end go through a metal gate and turn left beside a hedge. (There are great views here looking back across the valley to North Elkington.) At the field corner go through a second gate and bear left along a grass track for about 90 metres. At a waymark turn right along a field headland with a hedge on your left to reach a 3-way fingerpost. Keep ahead now, gradually curving to the right as you pass around Fotherby Top Farm, through the farmyard and onto the access track. It will rejoin the outward route at Fotherby Common from where you retrace your steps to Fotherby village.
6

For the Utterby Route:

Follow the track, ignoring the footpath on the left and Fotherby Beacon on the right, to the next hedgerow on the right. Turn right along the footpath with the hedgerow to the left. Then follow the sign through the gap, continuing along with the hedgerow on the right.
7

At the field corner go through the hedge and bear diagonally left. The pathway should be visible on the ground, but aim for the right hand edge of the woodland on the horizon. Continue across the field, arriving at a grass area with a track to Grimble Wood. Don’t go along this track, but bear right down the hill, with Grimble Wood to your left. Aim for a large gap in the hedgerow with the footpath sign visible. Walk up the steps and turn right onto the track.
8

Continue along the track as it bears to the left and joins the road. Turn right and walk along the road through the village, passing the Packhorse Bridge and St Andrew’s Church. Continue to the A16, turning right onto the tarmac footway and carefully crossing the A16 at the refuge.
9

Turn right, then left onto Holywell Lane. Follow the lane to the former railway bridge. Take the Permissive Bridleway on your left and join the disused railway line. Turn right and pass under the bridge, continuing along for approximately 2 kms, ignoring the first set of footpath signs. (This permissive route is part of the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway and it is hoped that trains will once again run along the track.)
10

At the second set of footpath signs turn right, cross the track to the fenced footpath and continue to a footbridge. Go through the kissing gate, along the grass field to the second kissing gate. Continue along the lane passing St Mary’s Church to return to the interpretation board.
You made it! Well done.
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