This walk links the quiet villages of Belchford and Scamblesby in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds. Enjoy grassy paths, a stream and some fine hilltop views. There are numerous springs nearby which first attracted Neolithic settlers to the area. Two streams converge here to form the source of the River Waring, which flows to Horncastle to join the River Bain.
Technical sheet
n°2321463
A Belchford walk
posted on 26/07/19 by Lincolnshire Wolds. Last update : 08/02/24
(S/E) Start the walk on the footpath beside The Bungalow on Main Road. (To reach the start, with the Blue Bell Inn behind you, turn right down Main Road. The bungalow and footpath are on your right.)
The outward half of the walk follows the Viking Way.
The Viking Way is a 147 mile long distance footpath running from the Humber to Oakham in Rutland.
(1) Walk along the field edges, cross the footbridge over the River Waring and continue along the public footpath with hedges on both sides.
(2) Juicetrump Hill is on your right. Some believed this ‘unnatural’ wedge-shaped mound was a Neolithic longbarrow. It is however a type of limestone outcrop – called roachstone. Roachstone is a rock formed of a harder material than the underlying Tealby clays and limestone, and so weathers more slowly, leaving strange looking hillocks. (There is no public access to Juicetrump itself.)
(3) Belchford Wood is an ancient semi-natural woodland, which is carpeted in spring with bluebells beneath the ash and oak trees. There is no access to the woodland.
As you go past Belchford Wood you have good views northwards over Scamblesby and to the preserved World War II mast at RAF Stenigot. This was one of the country’s first radar stations, coming into operation at the beginning of the war.
Go through several gates, following the Viking Way downhill to join a farm track, then a metalled road.
(4) Follow Mill Lane towards Scamblesby to a public footpath on your left, just past the last house on your left, opposite White House Farm. (If you reach a road junction, you have gone too far.)
If you need refreshments, continue straight ahead to the Green Man Inn, with its unusual sign. Retrace your steps to rejoin the walk.
(5) Turn left onto the footpath, leaving the Viking Way. Cross the field, go through a gap in the hedge and turn left. Continue through a section of trees. Where the path is crossed by a bridleway, turn left through the hedge and go uphill, across the next field. Head for the left hand edge of the hedge on the skyline. Go through the gap and continue through a gate, then head for another gate at the corner of the next field.
(6) Follow the track through Flintwood Farm where, in the field to your left, numerous ponds have been created and trees and wild grasses have been planted and sown to create a wildlife haven (there is no access to this area). Continue downhill until you reach Main Road. Turn left and return to the start.(S/E)
Waypoints
S/E : km 0 - alt. 89 m
1 : km 0.62 - alt. 91 m
2 : km 0.88 - alt. 103 m - Juicetrump Hill
3 : km 1.49 - alt. 109 m - Belchford Wood
4 : km 2.58 - alt. 77 m
5 : km 3.85 - alt. 90 m
6 : km 5.29 - alt. 128 m - Flintwood Farm
S/E : km 6.77 - alt. 89 m
Useful Information
Maps: OS Explorer Map 273
Parking: Considerate parking in the village.
Terrain: A mixture of footpaths, tracks and roadside walking - may be muddy in places.
Stiles: A few.
Refreshments & Toilets: Pub.
The Lincolnshire Wolds is a National Landscape, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1973. Covering an area of 558 square kilometres or 216 square miles, the AONB contains the highest ground in eastern England between Yorkshire and Kent, rising to over 150m along its western edge. Rolling chalk hills and areas of sandstone and clay underlie this attractive landscape.
The Lincolnshire Wolds has been inhabited since prehistoric times and the appearance of the countryside today has been greatly influenced by past and present agricultural practices.
A Countryside Service helps to protect and enhance the landscape through partnership projects with local landowners, farmers, parish councils, businesses and residents of the Wolds.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
Date of walk : 06/07/22 Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Great walk at this time of year: loads of fields left for sileage, full of wild flowers and grasses. Hilly enough to have beautiful views whilst the walk is quite easy, the paths are well maintained although one small part was "wilder" than the rest. We met no cattle and no one else. We started from the Green Man inn in Scamblesby which made the walk a little longer (5.22 miles). Another advantage of this walk is that there is very little road walking, especially if you start in Belchford and don't bother with the Green Man.
Chalkie
Overall rating :
4.3 / 5
Date of walk : 03/07/22 Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Going the other way round this circular may have been preferable for me, but a very enjoyable walk anyway.
100percent
Overall rating :
4.7 / 5
Date of walk : 25/10/20 Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good
An easy to follow route that delivered a quick return. Very enjoyable. Walked with our 8 year old in just over 2 hours.
Hogman
Overall rating :
5 / 5
Date of walk : 23/08/20 Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Great views of rolling countryside. A cracking walk, even better when combined with 'A Walk for all Seasons'.
alien.pearson
Overall rating :
4.3 / 5
Date of walk : 26/07/20 Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good
nice walk well signposted
Weasie
Overall rating :
4.7 / 5
Date of walk : 03/07/20 Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Walked this route with my husband and nine year old. Parked, with permission, in the Bluebell carpark.
The route was exciting enough to entertain a child, with lovely views, and a few small hills thrown in.
We were only unsure of the directions once, but soon found our way by finding a foot path sign ( it's straight through past the holiday cottages).
Good family walk.
