THE LINDSEY LOOP

This is East Lincolnshire's longest described walk, passing through 95 miles of the most scenic countryside in the east of the county. The walk forms a figure of 8 and is centred on the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. During the walk the market towns of Market Rasen, Caistor, Louth, Alford, Spilsby and Horncastle are visited as well as a number of villages.

The booklet is a 64 page spiral bound publication (ISBN 1-901184-13-7) which describes the route in 8 sections. Sketch maps of the route are included. Relevant Ordnance Survey Explorer maps for this walk are numbers 282 Lincolnshire Wolds North, 273 Lincolnshire Wolds South and 274 Skegness, Alford and Spilsby.

This publication can be obtained from bookshops for £5.95.

THE VIKING WAY

With a length of 147 miles, this is Lincolnshire's longest walk, a portion of which passes through the East Lincolnshire area. The route begins at Barton upon Humber on the south bank of the Humber Estuary, close to the Humber Bridge, the third longest single span suspension bridge in the world. After a short walk alongside the Humber Estuary, the route heads south to Caistor and on through the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to Horncastle. It then continues on, alongside a disused canal towards Woodhall Spa, from where it heads west to Lincoln and then south, passing west of Grantham and entering the county of Rutland to reach the Rutland Water reservoir and the town of Oakham, the end of the walk.

A 64 page guidebook is available describing the route in 13 sections, published by Lincolnshire Books in association with Lincolnshire County Council. The retail price is £4.95, ISBN 1-872375-25-1, available from bookshops or direct from the County Council. See the Lincolnshire County Council web site for details of how to obtain it direct or telephone them on (01522) 553052.

To aid planning of the walk, the County Council also produce an annual factsheet detailing accommodation/camp sites, shops, parking, public transport contact numbers and other useful information. For details of how to obtain the most recent factsheet, telephone the County Council on (01522) 553055.