Route: Normanby le Wold
Area: Lincolnshire Wolds
Date of walk: 5th April 2018
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.6 miles
Ascent: 700 feet
Weather: Sunny and cloudless
We parked in the small car park at the village hall in Walesby and after walking a short distance out of the village joined a path leading gradually uphill along the edge of the Wold. Following recent torrential rain the ground was very wet and our boots were soon caked with a thick layer of Lincolnshire mud. There were some huge views over the surrounding countryside as we continued to gain height
On reaching Claxby Wood we descended towards the quiet village of Claxby, taking a permitted path which brought us to the church – the first of four beautiful little churches that we’d visit on today’s walk
A short climb out of the village brought us back to the top of the Wold at the small settlement of Normanby le Wold, home to another delightful small church. From here we headed back south, enjoying more huge views, before descending gently back into Walesby. Unusually for such a small village, Walesby has two churches and we made a small detour to see these. The older, All Saints (also rather aptly called ‘The Ramblers’ Church’) stands alone on a hilltop above the village. In years gone by the village gradually moved downhill leaving the church isolated and difficult for the villagers to access, so a new church, St Mary’s, was built in 1913. For more information about this lovely village, visit the Walesby Parish Council website. We visited the new church before returning to the car and the end of a very pleasant walk in rolling countryside
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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Hellebore in the garden, and spring is properly underway at last
The start of the walk as we follow the quiet road out of Walesby
We leave the road to join this track
Our route will take us over the hillside in the background...
Huge views over the Trent Valley as we ascended the squelchy slopes
The path hugs the edge of the Wold at mid level
We arrive at the quiet lane leading into Claxby
Claxby ahead
We leave the road to follow a permissive path to St Mary's Church...
Grade I Listed St Mary's Church, dating back to the 13th century and restored in 1871
Inside the church...
The path into Claxby village
Entering Claxby
And walking through Claxby past a rather unnecessary sign
A short section along the road to Normanby le Wold
We leave the road here - we've learned through experience that 'bull in field' signs can almost always be ignored - though we kept a lookout all the same
Climbing back up to the Wold
Looking back
St Peter's Church, Normanby le Wold - we're not far from the highest point in Lincolnshire, at 550 feet above sea level
We follow the lane past the church
Looking back to St Peter's
We walk along the top of the Wold, with more huge views as we progress...
Start of the descent back to Walesby
Approaching Walesby
Having walked through the village we climb to the top of the nearby hill to visit All Saints - The Ramblers Church
The village was once adjacent to this church but moved downhill and became difficult to access, so it's rarely used now. However The Ramblers have a special service here on Trinity Sunday
Signal beacon in the churchyard
We descend back into Walesby for a brief visit to the last church on today's walk - St Mary's - which replaced All Saints when the latter became too difficult to access. The end of a lovely walk, enhanced by the four churches along the way
