LINCOLN: TOWN AND COUNTRY WALK

PERMANENT TRAIL NUMBER 166

14KM

ORGANISED BY
LINCOLNSHIRE VIKINGS WALKING CLUB - BWF CLUB 89                       

Route Description and Questions updated 2 May 2009.  Please check you are using the latest version if you printed this off a while ago.                  

Start Venue & Directions

The route description starts at Bracebridge Heath Village Hall and Viking Way car park but can also be joined by walkers arriving in Lincoln by Train or Bus/Coach. 

By Road: Starting point Bracebridge Heath Village Hall and Viking Way car park.  It is by the junction of the A15/A607 south of Lincoln.  The Viking Way car park is behind the John Bull Public House. Do not use the pub car park.

Rail/Bus/Coach.  Start the route at the Central Market (1). 

Combine the Route: You can combine this walk with PT 92: Lincoln Tourist Walk at the Stonebow (2).

THE ORGANISERS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ACCIDENTS, THEFTS AND/OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE BY THE ORGANISERS TO MAKE THIS A SAFE, ENJOYABLE AND MEMORABLE EVENT.

Route Description

Leave the Viking Way car park turn right towards the main road. Turn left past the Library and Police Station. To the right is the New Development, which is on the site of the old St. John’s Mental Hospital. Many of the original buildings are listed and have been revamped these include The Homestead Restaurant/Pub. Through the lights then straight ahead pass over a road leading into the Area Health Authority, then Stanley Crescent. Turn left at the Public Footpath post just before the 40miles per hour sign and just after exit road from the Health Authority grounds.

Original Route: Follow path after 200 metres bear left at f/path sign onto narrow path follow this around the back of the NHS buildings. The City of Lincoln is below on the right. Bear right on the track across the field towards a footpath sign on the top edge. The path is waymarked the Viking Way. At the next gates, don’t go through but bear right down the hill marked Public Bridleway. The hedge is on the left. Pass through the metal gates and continue ahead downhill towards the houses.

Alternative if Path Overgrown due to lack of use: Follow Path down the hill until you see a footpath sign ( Viking Way ) turn left over a small bridge then immediately right and follow to the footpath sign. Turn left and go straight ahead until you reach the corner of the field. Turn right and pick up the original path and continue ahead downhill towards the houses.  (The metal gates will now be behind you and the hedge will be on your left).

The old City Gas Works and the Cathedral can be seen to your right. Approx. 100m from the bottom of the field the path goes to the right diagonally towards a wire compound around an Anglian Water building. Follow this and go down the track towards the main road. Brant Road. Cross the road very carefully and turn left. Turn right after approx. 75 metres at the electric station by the bus stop -signposted. Follow this footpath crossing through bollards and over two roads keeping straight until you come to bollards/cycle path, go through to a grass area.  Straight ahead towards the gate and follow the path into the trees, around the pond keeping it on your right. At the riverbank turn right and follow this keeping the ponds on your right and the river on your left until you reach the bridge on Newark Road.

Turn left on the path, go along past the Esso garage to the Pedestrian crossing go over and turn right back to the Plough Inn. Go into the car park and leave by the gateway at the bottom onto the towpath, with the river on your right hand side. At the first bridge leave the river footpath; turn left onto pathway by lamppost 7. Follow this pathway and turn right into the park at lamppost 14 (Boultham Park).

Question 2: What colour is the slide in the play area to your left

Follow path towards lake, keep the grassy area to your left. At edge of lake turn right. Through the avenue of large trees and follow the path keeping the lake on left. As the path bears around the end of the lake go ahead passing large Xmas tree and bridge with green rails, then turn right onto tarmac path. Go ahead crossing further green railed bridge; turn right onto narrow path with dyke on right eventually emerging again onto the river bank footpath bearing left towards church spire.

Follow this path keeping the river on your right crossing Altham Terrace and footbridge over drain. To the right are the sluice gates used to control Lincoln’s flood defences and to the left an old folk's home which now occupies what was the first swimming pool in Lincoln. Boultham Baths outdoor pool. Ahead crossing next Dixon Street, then Boultham Avenue. The large works building to the left are one of the few remaining sites of Lincoln’s heavy industrial past. Formerly Ruston & Hornsby, heavy engineering works, responsible for the construction of diesel engines for locomotives. Now used by Wm Sinclair - Garden Products.

Question 3: Opposite Sinclair’s entrance who has the fishing rights as displayed on the white sign near the black railings

This area of Lincoln was the site of many other industrial works including Fosters the makers of the first tank named Tritton. On your right you will be able to see Vernon's Mill, which has now been converted into flats. The next area on the left is still occupied by Siemens formerly Alstom/EGT, the largest employer in Lincoln.

Next, cross over Firth Rd and look to your right to spot the refurbished stone barn. On ahead to the St Marks precinct. At the next bridge, with Burger King on your left, cross the road and continue on the path with the river on your right at the next road cross via the Pedestrian crossing and turn right over the footbridge and left into Brayford Wharf East. To the left is the Old Great Central Railway Warehouse now The University Library and on your right are the Lincolnshire Echo Offices. Over the level crossing and on ahead passing the University of Lincoln on your left and the Brayford Wharf. Ahead on the skyline can be seen the Castle and the Cathedral. Before the lights keep left down to pass under the bridge signposted City Centre follow the path to your right in front of M & S Turn left into St Benedict's Square, with St Benedict's Church at the end on your left. Turn left into the High Street and take time to look at the War Memorial on your left. Go up the High Street crossing the High Bridge. This was formally the site of the obelisk, which you will see later near Debenhams. At the HSBC (Midland) Bank on the corner take time to look inside if possible to view the magnificent ceiling. These are the coats of arms of all the Lincolnshire towns where the former Midland had branches. The stone arch in front of you is called the Stonebow (2) and is the home of the City Council. The adjacent Guildhall holds all the Civic regalia and is open to visitors on some Saturdays. [You can link with PT 92 Lincoln Tourist Walk at this point].  Turn right into Saltergate.

Go ahead passing the Stonebow Centre on the left and the back entrance of the Waterside shopping centre on your right. Turn right at the next road just before the Liberal Club and go down to the riverside. Turn left past two of the older pubs in the town The Witch and the Wardrobe first and The Green Dragon at the end. Turn right over the bridge to pass over the River Witham and right again onto the south bank. Waterside South. Ahead to turn left into Sincil Street the site of the Lincoln Central Markets (1). Continue ahead to the end with Imp Travel on your right. Turn right and cross the road by way of the Pedestrian crossing and turn left. Oxford Halls (student accommodation) is on your left. Siemens and Pelham Bridge is in front of you. Bear right into Oxford Street and go up the Steps on your right Signposted Lincoln City Football Club. The bridge gives you a view of the Central Station. As you come down off the bridge bear right across the car park and turn right onto Tentercroft Street. Keep to the left of the Street and at the end cross the road and go ahead until you have passed Debenhams on your left and reached The Glass House, turn left and then left into the square. Now you will see the Obelisk in front of you

Pass the obelisk, brought back from decay and restored to this site. The original stood on the Lincoln High Bridge early in the 20th Century. Then pass the Columned Facade of what used to be the St. Marks Railway station. Why not pay a visit to the Heritage Room, which is in the Lakeland Plastics shop – pictures of the Original Site of the Obelisk can be seen here. The old platform edging stones can be seen in JJB, Lakeland and Argos. Continue until you arrive at the High St. Directly in front of you is the Magistrate’s Court, one of the newer buildings in Lincoln. Cross the road with care then turn right, passing the round house which used to house the operating gear for the railway gate when Lincoln had two high street crossings. Continue ahead passing a number of Lincoln’s older buildings, on the right Lincoln Co-op Insurance, then the Central Methodist Church 1905. On the left the Unitarian Church 1725, the 12th Century St. Mary’s Guildhall.  The 1864 conduit by St Peter at Gowts was used as a water supply.

Question 6: What is the name and date of the Mayor shown on the conduit?