Brinkhill - South Ormsby Circular
You need to log in as a member of Walkingworld to access the details for this walk and have an active subscription. Please join, or log in above if you are already a member.
This walk explores the beautiful and unspoilt countryside of the Southern Lincolnshire Wolds. Most of the route is on level ground on bridleways, grass paths or surfaced tracks. The return from South Ormsby is across grassland, occupied in summer by cattle. Between Waymarks 2 and 4 it climbs Warden Hill. The resulting views over the Wolds are some of the best to be had in this area.
The area walked is not crossed by any major road, so is only visited by those living there or determined to visit; peace abounds. This is Tennyson country. He was born two miles away at Somersby and a visit to his birthplace is no chore. Harrington Hall (a mile from Brinkhill) is a Tudor hall rebuilt in 1673 and with a spectacular six-acre garden regularly open to the public. It is reputed to be the inspiration for the song Come into the Garden Maud from Tennyson's poem Maud.
The countryside crossed includes rolling Wold hills, reclaimed marsh, open parkland and working farmland. This area is quite heavily wooded, so birdlife abounds. Buzzards nest near Brinkhill in the wood adjacent to Waymark 9, marsh harriers visit the farmland around Waymark 5 and muntjac deer inhabit the whole area.
This walk is ideal for the less adventurous or a family including younger children. In summer most of the walking is clean and can be undertaken in trainers or good shoes. In winter or after heavy rain, parts of the starting bridleway and the path over Warden Hill can get muddy, as they are bridleways used by horses. Field gateways around Waymarks 8 to 10 can also be muddy. The line does cross two cultivated fields from Waymark 9 to 10 but one can be skirted on grass headlands and the remaining one is not especially sticky.
The later stages (Waymarks 8 to 10) cross grazing used by cattle farms and so care must be taken, with any dogs on a short lead. The route as described starts and finishes in Brinkhill but it can equally well be started and finished at Waymark 7, The Massingberd Arms. This allows the opportunity for a walk and then a pleasant meal to complete the experience.
England - East England - Lincolnshire - Lincolnshire Wolds
Features
Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Church, Good for Kids, Great Views, Mostly Flat, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, River, Wildlife, Woodland