(24.14km)
30 mins
Between Horncastle and Woodhall Spa the Viking Way follows the Spa Trail a surfaced multi-user route along an old railway line. From Woodhall Spa it goes through an area known as the Lincolnshire Limewoods before joining the Water Rail Way to reach Bardney.
Starting point
Market Place, Horncastle, LN9 5HB
Parking
Linked to Public Transport
Refreshments
Dog Friendly
Points of interest:
Horncastle canal was a broad canal which ran 11 miles and linked the River Witham to Horncastle.
Woodhall Spa is a beautiful inland resort with Edwardian character, set amidst magnificent pine woods.
The Lincolnshire Limewoods are Britain's largest concentration of traditionally managed small-leaved lime woodland dating back over 5,000 years.
Bardney is a village and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire.
Water Rail Way - a mostly traffic free route between Lincoln and Boston.
- 1 Leave the Market Square by turning left onto Manor House Street. After approx. 40m turn left to walk past the church and to a road (A158). Cross the road and river.
- 2Turn right and follow the river to the swimming pool. Walk past the pool to the canal, but don't cross it.
- 3Instead turn left and walk beside the canal for approx. one mile (1.6 kilometres) to a road.
- 4Turn right and after the lodge turn left onto the bridleway known as the Spa trail. Follow this surfaced trail for approx. 3.5 miles (5.5 kilometres) to a junction with a road.
- 5Turn right and after approx. 300m turn left onto a public footpath which goes across a golf course. Please follow the signs as you cross the course. Continue along the path as it becomes a stone track and then a tarmac road and enters a residential area.
- 6At a T-junction turn left through two gates and then straight on to the centre of Woodhall Spa.
- 7At the junction turn right and walk along Broadway and Station Road to a roundabout.
- 8 Carry straight on, signed Martin, for approx. 0.5 miles (800 m).
- 9Turn right onto a public footpath immediately after Wentworth Way.
- 10At the end of the path, and at a road, turn right and almost immediately left to continue on a public footpath. Follow the path through a small wood and then turn right to walk around the field edge, across a bridge and then beside a wood to a track.
- 11Turn right and where the track bends left continue ahead through a gate. Bear right across the field and at the field edge turn left and follow the field edge.
- 12At the field corner turn right, past the cottage to a road. Turn left and follow the road with care for approx. 250m.
- 13Turn left and at the grass triangle, continue straight ahead along the 'No Through' Road. Follow the road for one mile (1.6 kilometre) to Stixwould Station House.
- 14Turn left into the car park area. Turn right and then right again to join the Water Rail Way towards Bardney and Lincoln. Follow this surfaced multi-user route for 1.5 miles ( 2.4 kilometres) to Southrey platforms.
- 15Walk between the platforms then turn right through the gate and continue straight ahead along the road into Southrey village. Follow the road for 500metres.
- 16Turn left onto Highthorpe.
- 17After approx. 0.25 mile (450 metres) and in front of a farmhouse, turn left. Follow the track to the corner of Southrey Wood.
- 18Turn right and walk alongside the wood and then ahead along a track into Bardney.
The route uses town and village pavements, field paths, a multi-user surfaced trail and roads. There are no stiles, but you are likely to encounter livestock.
more about the trail
Viking Way
The Viking Way is a long distance - 147 mile way-marked trail spanning from the River Humber through Lincoln to Oakham in Rutland. The route is signposted with an icon of a Viking helmet on a yellow disk.
