(8.85km)
45 mins
Walking
Grainthorpe Haven Walk
Grainthorpe
A walk from the village across the arable landscape to the coast at Grainthorpe Haven. With small areas of woodland and a network of drainage ditches there is a wide variety of wildlife in the area.
Starting point
Methodist chapel
High Street
Grainthorpe
LN11 7JA
Grid reference: TF 383 972
Dog Friendly
Explore the coastal marshes, arable hinterland, Louth Navigation canal and the village of Grainthorpe on these three varied walks set in an area of coastal outmarsh.
In 1086 the village name was recorded as Germundtorp which derives from the name Germund and the old Danish word thorp and is interpreted as ‘Germund’s secondary settlement’.
The area between the village and the coast is dotted with small islands of higher ground, indicating areas where salt would once have been made, known as salterns.
Grainthorpe Haven is the northern end of Donna Nook coastal National Nature Reserve. Part of the reserve is also an RAF bombing range. The reserve is made up of dunes, saltmarsh, sandflats and mudflats. Over 250 species of bird have been recorded on the site with 47 species breeding on the reserve. The reserve has one of the largest breeding colonies of grey seal in the country. It is managed by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.
Looking north from the Haven, on a clear day you will see the Dock Tower at Grimsby, the lighthouse at Spurn Point and ships entering and leaving the Humber Estuary.
- 1With your back to the Methodist chapel turn left. After approximately 100m turn left onto a footpath and walk through a yard and across a garden and through a gap in a hedge. Turn left, cross a bridge and bear right across the field toward the corner of the hedge by the house.
- 2Continue straight ahead and follow the footpath across the field to a footbridge that will come into view. Cross the bridge and bear slightly left across the next field to a drain. Turn right and walk beside the drain.
- 3After approximately 0.25 miles (400m), turn left over the drain then right into a copse. Continue alongside the drain, but on the opposite side.
- 4At the track turn right over the drain and then left to follow the footpath alongside the drain. After approximately 0.25 miles (400m), as drain bends left, keep straight on across the field to meet the drain again. Continue beside the drain.
- 5At the track turn right and after approximately 150m turn left over the foot bridge beside some trees. Walk across the field, heading to the corner of the wood ahead.
- 6t the wood, bear left across the next field to a drain, the Seven Towns North Eau. Turn right and walk alongside the drain.
- 7At the sea bank and pumping station turn left to reach Grainthorpe Haven. Turn left again along the track beside the pumping station, heading back inland.
- 8At the drain and signpost, cross the bridge and turn left and follow the footpath beside the drain for approximately 100m before turning right along the signposted track. After approximately one kilometre and where the ditch bends right, continue straight ahead towards the house.
- 9Walk between the house and barn and follow the driveway for approximately 500m to where it bends sharp left. Follow the footpath sign into the field ahead but then turn immediately left to walk along the edge of the field but parallel to the track. At the field corner leave the field to join the road. Permission to walk this field edge has been kindly provided by Mossop Farms Ltd.
- 10Turn right and follow the lane to a T-junction.
- 11Turn left and use the roadside path. At the War Memorial carry straight on along the High Street, and walk through the village to the chapel and starting point.
This walk uses field paths, tracks and pavements. There may be stiles.
