(8.05km)
30 mins
Walking
Halton Holegate Walk Long
Halton Holegate
This circular walk links the villages of Halton Holegate and Toynton All Saints on the southern edge of the Wolds. There are views towards the Wolds and the wide open fens. Mostly level walking it may be muddy and uneven in places. Halton Holegate is located one mile (one kilometre) south-east of Spilsby.
Known as Haltun Holgate in the Domesday Book, Holgate, meaning the road running through the hollow, originates from the Old English hol and the Old Norse gata.
Toynton St Peter and Toynton All Saints are documented in the Domesday Book. Known as Totintun, meaning the farmstead or village associated with or called after ‘Tota’ from the Old English, the affixes come from the church dedications.
Starting point
The Bell Inn
Halton Holegate
Spilsby
PE23 5NZ
Grid reference: TF 416 652
Parking
Linked to Public Transport
- 1From the pub walk eastwards down the hill heading towards St Andrew’s Church.
- 2As the road bends to the left take the public footpath on the right to the church. Follow the path along the hedge and past the church and out into the field. Bear diagonally right to the far right corner of the field. Follow the footpath through a private garden to the road.
- 3Turn left, walk past the school to the second public footpath on the right, as the road bends. Continue in the same direction through a copse, paddocks and gardens (following the waymarkers) to a bridge. Cross the bridge and keep to the left edge of the next field to the road.
- 4Turn right and follow the road for approximately 50m. Turn right into the field following the public footpath sign. Walk along the edge of the field keeping the hedge on the right for 300m then bear diagonally left across the field to a wooden bridge. The tower of St Peter’s Church at Toynton St Peter can be seen ahead.
- 5Cross the two bridges and bear right to the start of the hedge and small copse to a waymarker post. Go through the hedge and cross the field by bearing diagonally left and following the footpath sign to the tree and gap in the hedge line and another footpath sign. Cross into the next field and bear left to another footpath sign on the roadside, halfway along the field hedge.
- 6Turn right and follow the road into Toynton St Peter. In the village turn right towards Toynton All Saints and then right along Church Lane.
- 7Turn left along the public footpath between the barn and the church, through the churchyard to a field. Cross the field by bearing slightly left to a bridge in the hedge.
- 8At the end of the next field, where several public footpaths meet, turn right and follow the footpath across the field to a bridge in the hedge ahead. Cross the bridge and turn left along the field edge. At the end of the field continue straight on over a bridge to Pensgate Lane.
- 9Turn left to visit the village of Toynton All Saints, or to continue the walk turn right and follow the lane as it turns into a track and bends sharp left then right. Take the public footpath on the left, immediately after the bends, through an area of newly planted trees and hedges.
- 10At the track turn right along the public bridleway and past a number of fishing ponds. At the next junction turn left along the track marked public bridleway.
- 11At the next junction turn right along the track marked public bridleway. Follow the track as it turns into a tarmac road and enters Halton Holegate. Look out for an information board that will tell you more about the area. At the end of the lane turn left to return to the starting point.
Mostly level walking using field paths and green lanes, it can be muddy and wet in places.
You are likely to encounter stiles and livestock.
