By now, most of us are feeling full of Christmas food and ready for a brisk, wintery wander, writes Emma Mathias...
By the time you read this, it may already be snowing but fear not – it only makes the Lincolnshire landscape more like a winter wonderland.
This walk starts at Hubbard's Hills and ventures by the villages of South Elkington, Raithby and Hallington as well as skirting around Louth. Walk through the Hubbard's Hills valley floor, by the side of the River Lud, climb the steps and go along the upper path. Keep going through Westgate Fields, crossing them and turning left along the road at the far end. Pass the St Mary's Lane junction and go right into a signed lane. From a stile by a barn at the end keep ahead over a meadow to Louth by-pass.
Go over carefully and cross a farm lane. Go over two meadows before entering Cow Pasture Wood.
At the other side of the wood, go down to the road. Go over a stile opposite and into another meadow. Go right, reaching a footbridge and stile at the end. Cross these and go right to join a track. Go forward, keeping by the fence, until you reach a bridle gate. Go through and follow the path through Elkington. At a three-way sign, go left to Welton Vale.
Before the main road, look for a narrow path to the right. Go over the A157 to join a path along a meadow edge. Go over a stile, footbridge and steps, then cross the next field (steep) and go uphill in the following field. Cut through a gap in the hedge to complete the climb to Jack's Furze. At a track, bear left and take a right into Hallington.
At the entrance to Home Farm, cut through an orchard and head for the far corner. Walk by a fence and head diagonally over the paddock to the left corner.
Go over a stile onto an old railway close, near the former station. At a footpath sign, take the field ahead aiming to the left of Raithby church tower. At the next stile, go over Raithby's lost village site and round a big house. You will come to a road opposite the church.
Cross the road and into a field. Go right and pass a small brick building. At a footbridge, walk up, through a gate and to the left of the house. Go left along the path. At a sign, go left over the causeway and between two lakes. At a footbridge, cross the old railway, go right across a field and over another bridge.
Go left past a house and walk up the drive to a road. Here, turn right and return to Hubbard's Hills.
An easy to moderate 7.5 mile walk.
