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The North Kesteven Walking Festival is a celebration of the countless walking opportunities available within the district. Hundreds of walkers tied their laces and joined in last year for almost 200 miles of walking.
Walks will be scattered across North Kesteven’s 356 square miles of picturesque villages, medieval churches and thriving landscapes. With 94% of the district classified as green space you will explore rural towns full of history, arable land rich in wildlife and see why the area is favoured by many for exploration and outdoor adventures. A great place to walk together.
From short saunters to long hikes; all ages, abilities and fitness levels enjoyed the social walking experience only a festival can provide. The launch event at Hill Holt Wood saw visitors enjoying a day under the leafy canopy as the sun shone brightly. Heavy rains barged aside the sun and threatened to dampen spirits in the final week however, but the tough festival walkers took the rain in their stride and finished the fortnight with a final rendezvous at The Natural World Centre at Whisby Nature Park for a treasure hunt.
08:00 - Spires & Steeples Arts and Heritage Trail. 26 miles/Hard. Meeting Point: Lincoln Castle Square & ending at The Hub, Sleaford. Booking essential.
10:00 - Brauncewell. 9.5 miles. Meeting Point: Brauncewell Church.
10:00 - Riverside Mindfulness and Meditation with Wellness Lincs. Less than 2 miles. Meeting Point: The Hub, Sleaford. (£5 each, £2 for accompanied children).
10:30 - Clue Hunt at Whisby Nature Park. 1.5 miles. Meeting Point: Outside The Natural World Centre.
13:00 - Navenby Family History Walk with Mrs Smith's Cottage. 1 mile. Meeting Point: Mrs Smiths Cottage, Navenby.
09:30 - Father's Day at Hill Holt Wood, including woodcrafts (all day). 1 mile.
09:30 - Welbourn Herb Walk with the District Herbalist. 3.7 miles. Meeting Point: Village Hall. (£5).
11:00 - Family Storytelling at Hill Holt Wood with THE GRUFFALO (includes walk, storytelling and crafts, aimed at under 7's). <1 mile.
13:00 - Navenby Heritage Trail with Mrs Smith's Cottage. 2.5 miles. Meeting Point: Mrs Smiths Cottage, Navenby.
14:00 - Archaeology Walk with Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group. 1.5 miles. Meeting point Hill Holt Wood.
09:00 - Buggy walk from One NK. 1.5 miles. Followed by coffee and chat at One NK. Meeting point One NK.
10:00 - North Hykeham Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: One NK Leisure Centre.
10:30 - Whisby Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: Whisby Nature Park.
09:30 - Walcott Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: St. Oswald's Church.
10:00 - North Hykeham Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: North Hykeham Memorial Hall.
10:30 - Heckington Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: St. Andrews Church.
11:00 - Leasingham Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting Point: Leasingham Village Hall.
13:20 - Sleaford Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting Point: The Hub, Sleaford.
17:30 - Tattershall Bridge Summer Solstice. 3 Miles. Meeting Point: The Royal Oak Car Park. (Please note, there is no longer Ploughman's on offer
21:30 - Millennium Green Summer Solstice Sunset Walk. 1 mile circular. Meeting Point: Station Road entrance, North Hykeham.
13:30 - Ruskington Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting Point: Church Bridge, by All Saints Church.
18:00 - South Kyme Tower and Church, followed by Sausage and Mash at the Hume Arms (pre-booking essential £7.00) A one and a half hour walk around the village including a visit to the Tower and Church. Back to the Hume Arms for 7.30pm. Meeting Point: The Hume Arms.
18:30 - Navenby Sunset. 5 miles. Meeting Point: The Venue.
10:15 - International Bomber Command Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: Bracebridge Heath Village Hall Car Park (please note we do not intend to do a guided tour of the IBCC
11:00 - Skellingthorpe Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: Skellingthorpe Community Centre.
13:30 - Sleaford Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: Sleaford Leisure Centre.
10:00 - Metheringham Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting Point: Princes Street Sports Pavilion.
10:30 - Whisby Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: Whisby Nature Park.
10:30 - Temple Bruer. 6 miles. Meeting point: Temple Bruer Church. (This walk replaces the Navenby Wellbeing Walk
18:00 - Bassingham and villages walk. 6 miles. (Mid way refreshment stop at the Green Man in Norton Disney and optional stop at pub in Bassingham after walk). Meeting point: Hammond Hall Car Park, Bassingham.
22:00 - Bat Walk at Big Wood. 1 mile. Meeting point: Wood Lane.
10:00 - Summer Forage with Mrs Smith's Cottage. 1.5 miles. Meeting point: Hill Holt Wood.
10:30 - Clue Hunt at Whisby Nature Park. 1.5 miles. Meeting Point: Outside The Natural World Centre.
13:00 - Skellingthorpe History Walk, In Search of Queen Eleanor. 7.5 miles. Meeting Point: Skellingthorpe Community Centre.
10:00 - River Slea Litter pick with Co-op Rivercare. 2 miles. Meeting point: The Hub, Sleaford.
10:30 - Dog Agility Walkies with VIPPIES. Meeting Point: Skellingthorpe Community Centre.
09.15 - Buggy Walk. Meet with your buggy at One NK
10:00 - North Hykeham Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: One NK Leisure Centre.
10:30 - Whisby Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: Whisby Nature Park.
12:00 - Heckington and Brewery. 6.5 miles. Meeting point: Heckington Windmill.
09:00 - Billinghay & Walcott. 6.5 miles (mid way refreshments at St. Oswald's Church) Meeting point: Billinghay village hall. No dogs on the walk.
10:00 - North Hykeham Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: North Hykeham Memorial Hall.
10:30 - Heckington Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: St. Andrews Church.
11:00 - Leasingham Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting Point: Leasingham Village Hall.
13:20 - Sleaford Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting Point: The Hub, Sleaford.
18:00 - Navenby Heritage Trail with Mrs Smith's Cottage. 2.5 miles. Meeting point: Mrs Smiths Cottage.
09:30 - Martin Village and Beyond. Approx. 5 miles. Meeting point Martin Village Hall.
13:00 - Skellingthorpe Old Wood Habitat Management. 4.5 miles. Meeting point Community Centre car park, Skellingthorpe.
13:30 - Ruskington Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting Point: Church Bridge, by All Saints Church.
10:00 - Silk Willoughby and Sleaford. 6.2 miles. Meeting point: Horseshoes pub (Horseshoes pub will be open for refreshments from 12noon). No dogs on the walk.
10:00 - Branston Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: Village Hall.
10:00 - Waddington Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: Village Hall, Mere Road.
11:00 - Skellingthorpe Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: Skellingthorpe Community Centre.
13:30 - Sleaford Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting point: Sleaford Leisure Centre.
JULY
10:00 - Metheringham Wellbeing Walk. A one hour walk. Meeting Point: Princes Street Sports Pavilion.
10:30 - Whisby Wellbeing Walk.A one hour walk . Meeting point: Whisby Nature Park.
10:30 - RAF Cranwell North with Ray. 4 miles. Meeting point: Car Park behind main guard room. SOLD OUT!
17:00 - South Hykeham to Aubourn Circular (stop off at the Royal Oak for refreshments) 6 miles. Meeting point South Hykeham Primary School, Wath Lane. Booking essential for numbers of those eating at the pub.
22:00 - Bat Walk and moth traps at Hill Holt Wood. 2 miles. Meeting Point: Hill Holt Wood car park.
06:00 - Hill Holt Wood Moth trap reveal. 1 mile. Meeting Point: Hill Holt Wood car park.
10:00 - Butterfly Walk at Hill Holt Wood. Meet at the wood's car park.
13:00 - Wildflower Walk with Ranger John at Lollycocks Sleaford meet at Cogglesford MIll
10:00 - Wellingore and Temple Bruer. 8.8 miles. Meeting point: Village Hall car park. Call 01526 320118 to book
11:00 - Sleaford Riverside History Walk. 0.5 miles. Meeting point: Navigation House.
11:00 - Family Storytelling Walk at Millennium Green. 1 mile. Meeting point: Station Road entrance. (Aimed at under 7's).
14:00 - Heighington Herb Walk with the District Herbalist. 2 miles .Meeting point Gateway to Station Road recreation ground, Heighington (£5 each).
18:00 - Sunset Finale at Whisby Nature Park. Includes Pie and Pea supper followed by sunset walk (7.30pm). Distance approx. 3 miles. Cost £4.95 pie and peas, £1 extra for chips) Meeting point: Natural World Centre, Whisby. Call 01522 688868 to book and pay.
The festival thrives on the enthusiasm and knowledge of volunteer walk leaders. This year Hill Holt Wood are looking to add to their walk leader roster so if you’ve got a walk that you’d like to share in the district, or are already a walk leader and want to get involved to boost your walk numbers please get in. Every walk will be supported by a first-aid trained Ranger to ensure the walk goes smoothly, so you can concentrate on helping the walkers enjoy themselves.
The festival demonstrates North Kesteven District Council’s commitment to physical activity and is part of the Countryside NK partnership with Hill Holt Wood (a charity and social enterprise) who maintain over 130 miles of Stepping Out Walks in the area and have been running the festival since 2018. They are committed to sustainability and making this year the greenest so far. There will be a walks brochure created for the event detailing the walks (which run everyday for two weeks) and space for advertising to help cover the cost of publishing. As they are confirmed, all walks will have events created on social media and be announced here at the official page.
To enquire about volunteering, walk leading, advertising or about Hill Holt Wood and the festival please call 01636 892836 or email gavin.warhurst@hillholtwood.co.uk
