Dozens of walks being held during festival

14 hours ago

Eleanor MaslinEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

South Kesteven Walking Festival starts on Saturday and continues for most of April

National Trust Images/Paul Harris A sunny field with trees in the background and a group of walkers standing around a man who is pointing into the distance and wearing binoculars around his neck. — South Kesteven Walking Festival starts on Saturday and continues for most of April

A range of walks are taking place in Lincolnshire this month as part of a new project.

South Kesteven Walking Festival starts on Saturday and continues for most of April.

Paul Stokes, the South Kesteven District Council cabinet member for leisure, said: "It's all being brought together under one banner to create an exciting festival which showcases the walks and some of the community groups our beautiful district has to offer."

In January, the council called on local groups to submit with their own organised walks for the festival.

Some of the free walks that do not require booking:

Deeping St James Parish Walk – 12 April at 14:00 BST, Deepings Lakes Nature Reserve, Crowland Road PE6 8RJ
Walk on the Wildland – 14 April at 10:00 BST, Boothby Lodge, Boothby Pagnell NG33 4DE
Queen Elizabeth Park Guided Tour – 23 April at 10:00 BST, Queen Elizabeth Park, Grantham NG31 8DE
Shine & National Grief Centre Walk and Talk – 24 April at 13:00 BST, National Grief Advice, Wharf Road, Grantham NG31 6BH
Wellbeing Walk Ancaster & Kelby – 26 April at 10:00 BST, Woodland Waters, Ancaster NG32 2RT

Some of the free walks that do require booking:

Market Deeping Town & Country Heritage Walk – 18 April at 10:00 BST, Market Deeping Town Hall
Aveland History Group Walk – 18 April at 11:00 BST, Aslackby Village Hall NG34 0HL
Deepings Walk, Low Locks to Town Bridge – 19 April at 10:00 BST, The Bell, Deeping St James
Bourne Time Traveller Walk – 18 April at 11:00 BST, Wellhead Park, Bourne
Meditation and Mindfulness Walk – 23 April at 12:00 BST, Bourne Woods car park, Edenham Road, Bourne PE10 0LG

The fully booked events include a guided military history around Londonthorpe and Bellmount, sunset near Belton House, and a 20km guided hike across Belton Estate, Barkston Airfield and Minnett's Hill.

National Trust Images/Paul Harris A group of walkers in coats, hats and wellies wandering along a lane surrounded by trees. There are quite a few orange leaves, suggesting it is autumn. — Belton Estate is offering several walks

Belton House, near Grantham, which is run by the National Trust, is taking part by holding events including a dog walk, an architecture and historical graffiti stroll, and a walk and talk on the Influential Women of Belton.

Those taking part in the National Trust walks will also receive free entry to the estate on the day.

Charlotte Beaver, visitor experience manager at Belton Estate, said: "Our regular walks programme is fantastic and really varied, so as soon as we heard about the festival, we knew we wanted to get involved."

The Guildhall Arts Centre is also running a walking theatre show in Allington as part of the festival.

Stokes said: "Get your walking boots ready and join this celebration of walks.

"Bring yourself, your dog, young family in a pushchair and enjoy the great outdoors on your doorstep."

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