The route is waymarked with an alder leaf symbol.
(S/E) Start the walk on the edge of Fulletby, at the ‘T’ junction of the High Street and Belchford Road. Take the footpath in the corner of the field going downhill.
(1) Cross the field to Salmonby Carr. ‘Carr’ is an old Norse word derived from ‘kjaar’ - a marsh. Alders flourish in such boggy locations where few other trees will grow.
(2) After Salmonby Carr, the path eventually cuts through the hedge and kissing gate towards Salmonby Lake. A variety of water birds can be seen throughout the year here, including mute swans, Canada geese, moorhens, coots and ducks.
Follow the path towards the lake and cross the stream. Go to the left of the wood and cross the field, with the wood on your right. Leave this field in the right hand corner and cross another, before turning left down a driveway.
(3) Turn left at the road, and turn left again at the next junction.
(4) Take the first footpath on the right, keeping the hedge on your right. Turn right at the road then left along the footpath. Walk along the edge of the field to the lakes.
(5) Follow the path between the lakes bearing left before turning right over a bridge. You may just be lucky enough to see the brilliant flash of blue as a kingfisher whizzes by. Continue into Tetford, turning left at the road. If you need refreshments, Tetford has an inn, The White Hart. The Dymoke family are connected with the village and church. They have been the hereditary ‘champions of England’ from the time of Richard II and carry the Standard of England Flag at coronations.
(6) Follow the road left and continue to the outskirts of the village. Where the road turns sharp right, go straight ahead on the bridleway. The bridleway, Platts Lane, is part of a Roman ‘salt road’ - one of a number linking the east coast salt producing area, with Lincoln. Salt was of major importance to the Romans for preserving meat, fish and beans. Continue to follow the signposted bridleway to Oxcombe Road.
(7) When you meet Oxcombe Road, turn left and continue to Belchford.
(8) South of Oxcombe Road is a classic ‘English’ hedgerow. The hawthorns have been laid, and there are mature ash and sycamore trees every 15 metres.
(9) The glauconite in the Spilsby sandstone has weathered the church of St Peter and St Paul to the typical green colour – hence the local name of ‘greenstone’.
In Belchford, opposite the Blue Bell Inn, turn left into Dams Lane. Turn left down the footpath, following the Viking Way, to cross the stream. The Viking Way is a 147 miles long distance footpath running from the Humber to Oakham in Rutland.
Follow the waymarked path. At a track, turn right and then left uphill bearing left off the track to the field edge. Bear along the edge of the next field, with the hedge on your right then left.
(10) Bear left along the edge of the next field near the telegraph pole, turn right along the field boundary.
(11) Descend the next small field to cross the stream at the bottom. Go straight across the next two fields heading for the corner of the second, near the bungalow.
(12) At the end, turn left. Leave the Viking Way and continue straight up the hill to High Street. Turn left and return to the start.(S/E)
