LOUTH "CAPITAL OF THE WOLDS" WALK

  PERMANENT TRAIL NUMBER 193

ORGANISED BY
LINCOLNSHIRE VIKINGS WALKING CLUB

BWF CLUB 89

START VENUE
THE LORD TENNYSON INN,
NORTH HOLME ROAD, LOUTH.  LN11 0JF

Map:  122/282 TF 324884

20KM

Route Description Updated 16 October 2009  Please check you are using the latest version if you printed this off a while ago.

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.

Key: FP=Footpath. BW=Bridleway. TL=Turn left. TR=Turn right. SO=Straight on.

**As at 16 Ocober 2009 : Pub for Sale.  Food available in town**

TL out of Lord Tennyson Car Park, TL (signpost ‘Town Centre B1520’), and TL again. Pass garage on your right & after 50m. TR into FANTHORPE LANE. At end of Lane descend steps to cross Louth Bypass With Extreme Care. Continue straight ahead and at end of metalled (tarmac) surface go SO up green Lane. (Farmhouse on your left). (This is an ancient track dating pre Roman times). Lane narrows to become a FP along side of a field with a hedge on your right. Carry SO & at corner of field pass through hedge. Keep the hedge on your right until the FP continues SO across the field, past the electricity pole, & to the left of the trees ahead. The FP enters the trees near the left edge and comes out behind them to pass over a footbridge and into the next field. Continue along the side of this field, with the hedge on your right, until you reach a metalled (tarmac) Lane. TL and keep to metalled (tarmac) surface, passing through ACTHORPE FARM.

(LANE MAY STILL BE CLOSED TO VEHICLES, BUT NOT TO WALKERS) Continue ahead on Lane and after passing through two cattle grid/gate structures you will arrive at the main road.  (This is in SOUTH ELKINGTON.  Refreshments can be purchased at the Village Store.)  Cross road With Care, and carry SO down CHURCH LANE. After passing the Church Institute on your right you reach the Parish Church.

The Lane twists past the Church and ends facing a long dwelling. TL in front of dwelling, after 10m. pass into field and continue along the BW that climbs as a track through the field. Pass down through a metal gate and on to another track. Continue ahead, but after a short climb ignore the wide track as it turns left; instead keep SO along left side of field ahead with hedge on your left until you reach a metal gate in the corner. Pass through gate and go down across the field and through two more gates to arrive onto a stoned track. TR along the track until it comes to a metalled (tarmac) road. TL down the hill, pass the WELTON LE WOLD sign and after 150m. TL onto a BW. The BW passes a small water treatment plant before turning left to keep hedge on your left. Pass through gate in corner of field then SO for 20m. & go through a wooden gate. After another 20m. TR up FP (stoned track) (Note inscription on seat) into the woods of Welton Vale. (Many species of trees were planted here in Victorian times, and the huge Redwood Pines are worth a second glance). Continue on the track right through the wood until   the FP turns right just before VALE END COTTAGE. Pass through the trees and cross stile onto a very busy main road.  TR along the grass verge and continue up the hill.  When reaching the lay-by use for safety reasons. As the lay-by rejoins the main road, cross the road With Extreme Care and TL up BW (just in front of ‘WELTON LE WOLD’ sign). Pass the tree plantation on your right then descend field to cross over small drain in corner and TR in next field so that the drain is on your right. At next corner pass through gate and FP will curve up left to gate in top corner of field. Pass through gate and veer left across the front of the farm building, the FP becoming first a stoned track then a poor metalled (tarmac) surface. Ascend the hill to reach a Lane with wide grass verges. TL along Lane and climb to brow of hill.

Carry SO and descend for approx.400m.TL at a FP sign just before the right hand bend. Pass between staggerd fences and using Louth Church spire in the distance as a marker ahead; follow FP across field coming out on a small metalled (tarmac) Lane. Cross Lane and pass through gap by wooden gate (found to the left of a brick water tank) and continue towards the Church spire on FP with hedge on your left. At end of field FP joins a BW. TR onto the BW and hedge is now on your right.  At corner of field go through metal gate and follow direction of arrow diagonally right to reach a small wooden gate in hedge below.  Pass through gate and Turn Left down the lane.  Continue ahead, being careful of traffic, and pass under the bridge carrying the Louth Bypass.  Cross a small bridge , then TL to enter the gate into HUBBARDS HILLS.

Q.4. Who gave Hubbards Hills to the people of Louth in 1907? (Name on board by River)

The metalled (tarmac) FP follows the River Lud through the Hills and comes out by Public Toilets. (Seasonal Café near toilets).  At toilets, TR and almost immediately TL to follow FP with River Lud on your right. At end of FP, TR over bridge and TL up Lane. Continue SO to end of (CROWTREE) Lane, but in doing so you will pass a large expanse of parkland on your left (Westgate Fields) and then the King Edward VI School on your right. On reaching end of Lane, cross the road slightly left, and proceed along the left side of GOSPELGATE for 10m. then TL down SCHOOLHOUSE LANE. A short way down a blue plaque on the wall on the left reminds you that Alfred Lord Tennyson attended school here. At the end of Schoolhouse Lane TR onto WESTGATE. Cross over road and pass by ‘The Wheatsheaf’ on your left. Continue SO and pass the left side of the Church. (St. James’ Church has the tallest Parish Church spire in England). Just before the traffic lights TL on FP between grass banks and proceed onto BRIDGE STREET. On reaching the bridge, cross the road & on the Old Mill building note the Flood Level arrow on the stone. (4.5inches of rain fell in three hours during the flash flood of 1920. 23 people were killed and many buildings destroyed).

Continue for approx. 20m. up the hill &TR into CISTERNGATE. Climb to brow of hill then TR to descend down GRAYS ROAD. As road bends left TR over wooden footbridge over River Lud. Immediately TL into ENGINEGATE WALK with river on your left. At end of Walk TR up BROADBANK passing Louth Museum on your left. (Outside the museum door is the Blue Stone glacial rock that found its way to Louth during the last ice age). At end of BROADBANK cross the road and continue along CANNON STREET. (Louth Town Hall is on your left & straight ahead is the back of the old market hall which has the same appearance as Kings Cross Station being designed by the same architect). At end of Cannon Street TR then immediately TL into NEW STREET to come out into the MARKET PLACE. TL and continue through main shopping street, first passing the front of the old market hall on your left, then after 100m. you pass the oldest existing pub in Louth, ‘Ye Olde Whyte Swanne’. Carry on ahead (but be aware of a narrow road off to the right & soon after this you will see another blue plaque on the wall between the shops on the right side, this is where the first CURRY’S shop in England was opened). Keep to the left pavement and on crossing a narrow road off to your left you will find after the second shop a large metal sign telling you that you are crossing the GREENWICH MERIDIAN LINE. Continue SO leaving the shops behind to cross RAMSGATE and pass the War Memorial on your left side. The Almshouses on your left were built on the site of the old House of Correction (Prison). (Plaque at end of metal fence). Passing many dwellings old and new you will see Trinity Church on the right. This was rebuilt in 1997 after being destroyed by fire.  Continue SO passing the ‘Lincolnshire Poacher’ on your left. At the next road on your left (RIVERHEAD ROAD) TL. Just prior to the ‘Woolpack’ pause to take note of the Development of the Riverhead Warehouses on your right. (This was the starting basin of the Louth Navigation Canal built in 1770 to convey goods to and from Louth to the North Sea, 12 miles away. The River Lud acts as a feeder). Continue to the ‘Woolpack’

At the ‘Woolpack’, TL, this will take you past the swimming pool, immediately after which you TR up VICTORIA ROAD. You pass the new Louth Playgoers’ Theatre on your right, then cross to the left pavement when convenient. On reaching the crossroads TL into KEDDINGTON ROAD and proceed to end, crossing to the right pavement. TR into HIGH HOLME ROAD & after 10m. follow road round to right (NORTH HOLME ROAD). At the pedestrian crossing cross to the left pavement and continue SO to pass Cordeaux School on the left and further up the road you will return to The Lord Tennyson Inn Car Park.

Welcome back, Lincolnshire Vikings Walking Club hopes you enjoyed the Louth "Capital of the Wolds" Walk

ENTRY FORM

I/We wish to be registered as having completed the Louth "Capital of the Wolds" Walk.

Date completed __________________________

Name(s) of those completing the walk: _________________________________________________

Address including Post Code for correspondance: _________________________________________________

Answers

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ENTRY FEE _________ at £1.00 per person

SEW-ON BADGE _________ at £1.50 each

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I enclose a cheque, payable to "Lincolnshire Vikings Walking Club" for £____________

Please send your completed entry form, IVV log books and SAE to :

Louth "Capital of the Wolds" Walk, Westmour, South View Lane, South Cockerington, Louth, Lincolnshire. LN11 7ED

It may be possible to arrange to meet you and get your IVV books stamped while you are in the area.  Please click on arthur@westmour.freeserve.co.uk to send an email.

Permanent Trail Postal Cards will be stamped on request if you do not wish to send your IVV books – YES/NO *Please delete.

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.