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North Lincolnshire CouncilPeople, health and careWalking in North Lincolnshire

Walking in North Lincolnshire

Information about walks in North Lincolnshire including Walking the Way to Health.

Finding a walk to suit you

There are many walks to be found within North Lincolnshire. You can be sure to find a walk to suit any ability or age. What makes walking in North Lincolnshire so special is you never know what you might stumble across. Walks in North Lincolnshire take in the mysterious and breath-taking; from historic airfields to a 12th Century Abbey.

View the complete list of  Walking the Way to Health walks for October 2022 to January 2023 [PDF, 1Mb], Walking the Way to Health walks for February to April 2023  [PDF, 1Mb] and or search in the interactive table below. Additional information is also available on the Visit North Lincolnshire website.

  • Everybody is welcome to join any of the walks, which are always relaxed and friendly.
  • All walks are FREE and are no longer than 3 miles (unless otherwise stated) please check the length of the walk beforehand. All walks are 90 minutes or less
  • Walks are led and supported by trained Volunteer Walk Leaders, one with first aid equipment.
  • In severe weather conditions walks may be cancelled, please call 0771 7586380 before 9.30am on the day of the walk if you are in any doubt that a walk will not be taking place.
  • Please wear comfortable shoes with grip and be aware that some walks may be muddy in places. It is also advisable to bring a drink with you, particularly in warmer weather.
  • Please consider residents and other road users when parking and allow adequate room for farming vehicles. Please do not park on verges, block driveways and consider the Highway Code when parking.
  • Assistance dogs are welcome on walks.
  • Choose a walk suitable for you (please note the start time, if you are new, please attend 10-15 minutes earlier to fill in a walker registration form).

Choose a walk from the list below or use the search bar. If you click on the title of the walk, a map showing the starting location and details will appear below the table.

Further information

How much physical activity should you do

It is recommended that you aim to do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each week. This could be brisk walking, swimming, gardening, dancing, playing sport or many other activities.

The 150 minutes doesn’t have to be all in one go, you can spread it across the week in short bursts to suit your lifestyle and fitness level. For example, you could do a 30 minute walk, five days a week.

You are encouraged to walk at your own pace, but at a speed that makes your heart beat a little faster and your breathing a little quicker.

Why choose health walks

Regular walking can help improve your:

  • confidence
  • stamina
  • energy levels
  • weight control
  • immune system
  • life expectancy

Walking can also help to reduce the risk of:

  • strokes
  • high blood pressure
  • stress and anxiety
  • coronary heart disease
  • bowel cancer
  • arthritis
  • poor sleep patterns

Walking the Way to Health

Walking the Way to Health is an initiative that aims to encourage you to walk in your own community.

Being physically active on a regular basis can significantly improve your health and fitness, and walking is ideal for building exercise into your everyday life. It is also a perfect way to see the natural environment around you.

The Walking the Way to Health Initiative in North Lincolnshire currently has led walks that are being run all over the county. All led walks are free and most are no longer than three miles each.

All of the walks are led and supported by at least two trained walk leaders, one with first aid equipment. Everybody is welcome to join any of the walks. There is no need to book, just turn up on the day and find one of the walk leaders (they will be wearing a high visibility vest). View View a list of walks and additional information [PDF, 223Kb]

Further information is available on the Visit.NorthLincs website or the Walking to Health website.

Walking the Way to Health Testimonials

The walks are now becoming very popular, with some getting attendances of over 60!

Don’t just take our word for it, see what some of our walkers have to say about the Led Health Walks:

”Great scheme, friendly atmosphere, nice people”

”The Walk Leaders make the the walks as interesting as possible. They are also very considerate. It really is like one large family going for a walk plus a chat and a ‘bun and coffee’ at the end – this also brings walkers closer together”

”An enjoyable outing, promoting a healthier lifestyle with leadership and companionship, very worthwhile”

”My son rings every night from Cyprus and I rarely have anything interesting to say. I can’t wait to tell him about my walk in the woods. He’ll be so pleased!”

”I have been on three walks in the last two weeks. I find the walks excellent, the leaders very good and everyone is friendly”

”Nice walks, nice people, nice morning out (and good for my health). A good selection of different people, all working together for a different purpose, no one left out”

”It is a pleasure to be walking again with a pleasant group of people who all have something in common – the pleasure of walking!”

“I have made over 100 new friends since I joined the walks and I didn’t know any of these people before “

“Whenever I come over to Lincolnshire from my home in America I join the walks , the people are so friendly and the countryside is so beautiful “

Walk Leader training

Would you like to become a Volunteer Walk Leader? Free training and support is available.

The volunteer walk leader training is a full day course (9.30am to 3.30pm). Cascade trainers have been trained to deliver volunteer walk leader training to volunteers. The one day volunteer walk leader training is a participatory training day which covers:

  • the benefits of physical activity
  • identifying barriers to physical activity
  • motivating people to walk
  • a demonstration health walk
  • components of a health walk
  • monitoring safety
  • how to lead a walk

What makes a good volunteer walk leader?

  • observant – being able to recognise / report any risks or hazards
  • enthusiastic – have an understanding of the Walking the Way to Health Scheme and the associated health benefits of walking
  • punctual and reliable
  • patient – this is particularly important for back marker walk leaders who need to motivate the slower walkers
  • good organisational skills
  • good communicational skills
  • approachable.

If you are interested in the walk leader training, please contact christine.johnson@northlincs.gov.uk  or call 01724 297631

Walking routes

The Viking Way

There are plenty of opportunities for the keen walker to enjoy North Lincolnshire’s lush and varied countryside, from the rolling chalk of the Lincolnshire Wolds to the tranquil Ancholme Valley.

The Viking Way

The Viking Way enters North Lincolnshire at Barton upon Humber after crossing the Humber Bridge. It then meanders its way southward across the region heading towards the city of Lincoln, from where it makes its way to Oakham in Rutland, its final destination.

This walk is 147 miles long and is linear starting at the Humber Bridge south bank viewing area from where it heads westwards along the Humber bank and passes underneath the bridge. Several access points give opportunities to visit the lakes and observation hides at Far Ings Nature Reserve.

It then continues through South Ferriby and up onto the chalk ridge of the Lincolnshire Wolds from where there are dramatic views of the River Humber, Reed’s Island, South Ferriby Marina and the Ancholme Valley.

It then leads down into Barnetby-le-Wold, a railway village from where this 14 mile section leaves North Lincolnshire and travels via Caistor, Lincoln, through the Vale of Belvoir, finishing at Oakham in Rutland.

The name of the route reflects the influence of Danelaw in the eastern counties of Britain and throughout its length the Viking Way logo of a Viking helmet appears on waymark signs. Appropriate Ordnance Survey maps together with a guide to the complete walk are available from Brigg Tourist Information Centre.

Ramblers

The Ramblers is Britain’s largest walking charity with 38,000 led walks every year. The Scunthorpe Group walk locally every Wednesday and Sunday and organise coach trips, walking holidays and social events.

For more information visit the Ramblers website.

Walking and cycling routes

The Ancholme Valley Way

The Ancholme Valley Way is a multi-user path that runs along the River Ancholme and will eventually link Brigg to South Ferriby.

Read further details on the Ancholme Valley Way webpage.

Stainforth and Keadby canal multi-user path

North Lincolnshire Council has entered into an agreement with the Canal and River Trust to develop proposals to introduce a multi-user path along the Stainforth and Keadby Canal as part of a £500,000 scheme to link Crowle to Scunthorpe.

The towpath improvements will provide new, sustainable routes to employment for the residents of the Isle of Axholme. It will also increase the number of people accessing the Isle for health and leisure.

Read more information on the Stainforth and Keadby canal page.

Contact

customerservice@northlincs.gov.uk
01724 297000