(8.85km)
45 mins
Walking
Fulbeck Long Walk
Fulbeck
The pretty village of Fulbeck is a great place to walk. This circular route will take you through the village and out into the surrounding countryside. Having walked up the escarpment you will be rewarded with fantastic views right across the Trent Valley and into Nottinghamshire.
Starting point
Sports field car park (A607)
Opposite the church
NG32 3JP
Grid reference SK 949 504
Parking
Linked to Public Transport
Refreshments
Dog Friendly
This walk is set around the attractive village of Fulbeck, one of a string of spring-line villages along the western edge of the Lincolnshire Cliff. In fine weather there are stunning views of the countryside, up and down the escarpment and across the Trent Valley to the rolling landscape of east Nottinghamshire.
Recorded in the Domesday Book as ‘Fulebec’, the village takes its name from the Old English ‘ful’ and Old Scandinavian ‘bekkr’ – the combined word meaning ‘foul stream’! Fulbeck is tucked away from the main road connecting Lincoln and Grantham, and has a charm all of its own which is best appreciated on foot. There are some fine 18th century stone houses, and dominating the village is Fulbeck Hall, home of the Fane family from 1632 to 2000. Much altered after a fire in 1733, the Hall became the headquarters of the First Airborne Division in 1943. It was here that Operation Market Garden was planned that resulted in the famous battle at Arnhem in 1944.
- 1Leave the car park and turn right along the main road. After approximately 30m turn right through a gap in a wall and follow the public footpath along the edge of the playing field. At the corner of the playing field go over a stile, and continue on in the same direction with the hedge now on your right.
- 2At the end of the field go through two gates, crossing a track which was once the Honington railway line, and then bear diagonally left across the field towards a telegraph pole and way marker post.
- 3Bear right across the field to a waymarker post to the left of a large oak tree. Turn left and walk beside the old hedge to another waymarker post close to the corner of the substation fence. Turn right along the bridleway (beside the fence) to a gate and road. Turn left on to North Heath Lane. Walk along the lane to the junction with the A607, crossing the disused railway line again.
- 4Cross the main road with extreme care and go through the gate opposite. Bear diagonally left towards the houses, reaching another gate and tarmac road. Turn right after 100m and walk down the road to the bottom of the hill.
- 5Bear left and then second right to follow a tarmac lane marked as a public bridleway. Continue straight ahead on this lane which eventually becomes a farm track, for approximately one mile (1.75 kilometres). Where the track bears right towards a farm, continue straight ahead on the bridleway, keeping a hedge on your left.
- 6At a sign where the bridleway crosses a footpath turn sharp left to follow the path diagonally across a field. Continue on the same line across a second field, using a distant church spire and mast as your aim.
- 7Cross over the minor road and follow the bridleway along the field edge, with a hedge on your left. After approx. 300m follow the bridleway and turn right across the field to the corner of the wood. Turn left and walk alongside the woodland and up the hill. Turn right at the end of the second wood. Walk around the field edge.
- 8On reaching the top of the ridge, and at a junction of bridleways, turn left along a grass track towards Fulbeck. Carry on along this track for approximately 0.66 miles (one kilometre), passing a radio mast and then a farm on your left.
- 9Just before meeting the main road, at a junction of a footpath and a bridleway, turn left along the field edge. Turn right over a footbridge and then go diagonally left across the field towards a house and footpath sign. Go down the narrow path between the houses. Continue ahead down the tarmac lane.
- 10Go straight ahead at the crossroads, following the High Street as it runs up through the village. Continue straight ahead at the junction with Scots Hill, and then turn right at the Hare and Hounds pub. Walk back to the main road and the car park.
The walk uses field paths, tracks and minor roads. There are stiles and you are likely to encounter livestock.
