The starting point for the walk was the Three Horseshoes, Goulceby. The ramble was split into 2 halves, both about 3-4 miles long, useful for people wanting to do a short walk or those who like to go a bit further. 16 people and 2 dogs had come from all over Lincolnshire and beyond to join the walk, and they weren’t disappointed! The weather was kind to us, there were plenty of breaks in the clouds, and what grey ones there were didn’t give much cause for concern.
The first part began with a stroll through some of Goulceby’s delightful lanes, crossing a crystal-clear stream and then breaking out into the open countryside to the east. The route took us across gently rolling fields of barley and other arable crops, plus areas of pasture with grazing cows or sheep. We were lucky as the farmer had recently cut a swathe through a crop of wheat, so the public footpath across the field was very easy to follow. The sound of twittering skylarks accompanied us along much of the route and although easy to hear, they can be difficult to spot against the sky. Areas of mixed woodland provided a marked contrast to the open fields, intensely shaded with occasional shafts of sunshine penetrating the dense tree canopy. The vegetation at this time of year is still beautifully lush and green. The woodland floor in places is carpeted with compacted pine needles, a very pleasant surface to walk on. The tree species within the woods contained a number of non-native and ornamental varieties, probably the result of being planted to provide shelter from strong winds. There are types such as sweet chestnut, Turkey oak, copper beech and garden conifers, intermixed with more familiar native species including the common oak, beech and Scots pine. Hedgerows brimmed with flowers, including woody plants such as honeysuckle, elder, dogwood and the abundant pale-pink blooms of the dog rose. .
Part of our route followed part of the Viking Way, a 150 mile walking route across Lincolnshire, but we didn’t encounter any rampaging warriors, just a group of kids doing their Duke of Edinburgh award scheme!
The first part of the walk concluded by passing through a field with Lincolnshire red cows, then over the stream and back into Goulceby for packed lunches / drinks at the Three Horseshoes. We said farewell to one walker and welcomed 2 more for the afternoon stroll, which began like the morning through the village lanes, this time following the stream southwards. A short stretch along the quiet country lanes between the hedgerows brought us to the sadly disused church of St Peter, Asterby with its overgrown graveyard and healthy box hedges. We were entertained by a tree creeper which was running up and down the west wall.
Shortly afterwards we reached the highest point of the walk at Red Hill Nature reserve, an area of chalk downland managed to support a diverse range of flora and fauna. The chalk is exposed in places, and includes both white and red strata. To reach it involved the steepest uphill section of the walk, but the stunning views of the surrounding wolds and across the adjacent flatter land make the short climb worthwhile (there is a car park, for those wishing to return!).
The return to Goulceby passed through Manor Farm yard, the footpath having been diverted away from the house, and involved using a white gate in the tall wall off the lane, but once through the route was easy to follow. The path we took adjoins fields and hedgerows, and eventually we found ourselves in another overgrown graveyard of a now demolished church, then it was a short stroll past the cows back to the Three Horseshoes for a final drink for some, before saying cheerio after what had been a thoroughly enjoyable ramble.
