May 2019 – Walking in Lincolnshire

When Gerry was stationed at RAF Cranwell in 1973, he considered Lincolnshire to be flat and boring.  His view meant that in the intervening years Lincolnshire had not been high on the list of places to visit.  However, we have just spent a week based in a wonderful wooden lodge in Kenwick Park near Louth.  Louth is on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds which quickly dispelled the opinion Gerry had held for the last 46 years!

We had a wonderful week walking about 7 miles a day and visiting various towns, churches and old buildings. This was the delightful 12th Century church at Raithby.   However, it was walking on footpaths (brilliantly maintained) through fields, woods and crops that provided some of the best views.

.

One footpath in particular was a narrow track through chest high rape.

We also walked in nature reserves at Donna Nook and Gibraltar Head. Since neither of us were experts at bird spotting we can say we saw and heard quite a few different birds but we did recognise, egret, heron and buzzard along with the usual garden birds.  We also saw hares, rabbits, stoat, deer and several sets of ducklings and goslings

One of our other walks took us through the village of Somersby, the birth place of Alfred, Lord Tennyson the 19th century poet and indeed poet Laureate. The walk, which was pleasantly quiet and quite scenic, started and ended at the delightfully named hamlet of Bag Enderby where Tennyson’s father had been the Rector.

On another day, after a long walk, we visited Mablethorpe. The beach was very long and unspoiled but, as we were quite tired, we took the sand train to travel a mile and a half along the beach (and return of course).

Whilst on the beach, we couldn’t resist a selfie (so unlike us).

.

There is a dearth of National Trust and English Heritage properties in Lincolnshire but we made a point of visiting Tatershall Castle (disappointing), and Gunby Hall (pleasant enough but we weren’t that impressed with the rooms and descriptions).

On the other hand, Gainsborough Old Hall was a really great place to visit.  The Hall is among the biggest and best-preserved medieval manor houses in England dating back to the 15th century.  We were very impressed by the original structures and rooms especially the massive kitchen.

We found the facades of the building quite different and, taken separately, hard to recognise as the same building.

.

.

The last full day of our holiday was a Sunday so we travelled to Lincoln to visit the Cathedral and attend a sung eucharist.  Following the service we enjoyed a cup of coffee with some of the congregation in the Chapter House before exploring the Cathedral. We then walked the short distance (through a small street market) to Lincoln Castle. The weather was delightful and the crowds minimal because we were relatively early – a lovely way to end our stay in Lincolnshire.