Walks you can reach from Heckington by train

Village greens and countryside.

Time: 3h30–6h30

2 lunch spots: Caffe Velo Verde (1h30–3h in), or the Royal Oak (2h–4h30 in)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Butter Cross

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

A long, mostly good route on field paths, riverside banks, quiet lanes and surfaced tracks, with stretches following the Spires and Steeples trail. Steps, stiles and muddy sections and in wet conditions ploughed fields can be very muddy. Some field crossings have no cut path on the ground. Predominantly follows the Spires and Steeples waymarked trail, though it diverges at several points. Ruskington, with shops and a railway station, makes a good place to break the journey.

Time: 5h30–11h

Warnings: Steps, stiles (around seven) and a small flight of steps down to the path below the A17. Ploughed fields and field paths can be very muddy in wet weather. Some field crossings have no marked path; the riverbank section is narrow at times. Note the route diverges from the Spires and Steeples trail in places.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A long but enjoyable route, the highlight being the sea-wall paths along the salt marshes, which are good and comfortable underfoot and very quiet. Field paths are clearly marked with good footbridges but can be muddy when wet and with one freshly ploughed crossing; some unavoidable road walking with plenty of verge. Follows good sea-wall paths along the salt marshes; passes Batemans Brewery near Wainfleet; uses a safe pelican crossing over the A16.

Time: 8h–16h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Excellent walk. Field paths.

Time: 2h30–5h

Warnings: Short stretch on a fast-traffic road with limited verge.

Walk details: Railwalks.

A route involving a lot of road walking, but apart from the A52 the roads are quiet and feel safe. Two unsurfaced footpath sections give relief and are easy to follow. Largely flat. Lincolnshire has poor footpath provision and so a less road-based line would be much longer.

Time: 2h30–5h

Lunch: A garage with a shop at the start of Low Road, roughly midway.

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a quarter of the walk. Some road walking is on a stretch of Low Road and Croft Lane where the pavement stops, though the roads are quiet. The footpath line can be lost in a caravan park.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A good, fairly direct and largely flat route with no steps or stiles, much of it well surfaced. The standout is a long, easy stretch of grassy or gravel canal towpath beside the Grantham Canal and with the towpath grassy and unsurfaced near the locks but more interesting than the parallel cycle track. Follows the Grantham Canal towpath, with restored locks and mileposts counting down from 33 miles. A train or bus links the two ends for a linear walk.

Waterway: two thirds along the Grantham Canal.

Time: 4h–8h

2 lunch spots: the Rutland Arms, or Old Forge Tea Rooms

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A most enjoyable walk. A long, pleasant but indirect walk through quiet arable farmland, mostly on good unsurfaced field paths with mown grass headlands and cross-field paths and plus quiet roads and riverside sections. Clay soil is sticky when wet; there are stiles and one short flight of steps. Passes Beacon Hill, Cranmer's Mound, a motte and bailey, the Elston Old Chapel and 3-metre green-man sculptures at Screveton; the riverside finish passes Newark Castle. A community shop at Elston (mornings, serves coffee); cafe/tea room at Screveton; garden centre cafe near the A46. Pubs bypassed at Flintham and Elston.

Lunch: A cafe/tea room at Screveton and a garden centre cafe near the A46; pubs at Flintham and Elston are just off route and may not be open midday.

Warnings: The unavoidable road section into Bottesford is the busiest, with a constant stream of large lorries and no pavement, only a narrow verge. There is one short flight of steps south of Flintham, and a level footpath crossing of the railway at Bingham. Cross-field paths are often not reinstated by farmers, so the plot is essential. The route avoids a A46 crossing.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A long, level walk that is fairly dry underfoot, mostly on good tracks and quiet roads with a section of the Grantham Canal, plus a few less-trodden field paths through villages. Plenty of stiles, a few steps and one steeper climb up the hill out of Harston. Follows the Grantham Canal out of Grantham. Can be split, and there are village shops/pubs at intermediate villages such as Harlaxton and Waltham-on-the-Wolds.

Time: 8h–15h30

Lunch: Shops and pubs in intermediate villages including Harlaxton, Denton and Waltham-on-the-Wolds.

Warnings: Plenty of stiles and a few steps; a couple of short sections without pavement on quiet roads, and a steeper climb over stiles up the hill from Harston towards Croxton Kerrial; some field paths a little muddy in places.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

The views from just below the Belvoir escarpment are wide ranging. An almost very good route: direct, scenic and mostly off-road across the Vale of Belvoir, crossing several old railway lines and a section of the Grantham canal towpath. Field paths range from well-cut to overgrown or chest-high crops needing determination; there are several stiles and some wet/muddy sections and with wide-ranging views from below the Belvoir escarpment. Plenty of transport heritage: several old railway crossings, a section of one old line, and the Grantham canal. A bus service links Bottesford and Melton via Harby, Plungar, Barkestone and Redmile. Several villages en route are poorly supplied with facilities; Bottesford has a Co-op and a tea room.

Time: 7h–14h

Lunch: There is a pub in Plungar on the route; pubs and shops in Redmile, Harby and Scalford lie off the route.

Warnings: The busy inner ring road into Melton must be crossed without a pelican crossing. Some cross-field paths are not cut, overgrown or have awkward stiles. A diversion runs around a building site near Melton.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

An exceptional walk over the meadow. A typical country walk with a few stiles but lots of easy gates, following the delightful Trent riverside path on a good surface shared with bikes and horses, with meadows where cattle may graze, an in-summer overgrown woodland path. There are quiet lanes and bridleways and a path alongside the Ouse Dyke; the riverside may flood in extreme conditions. Follows the River Trent riverside path. Carlton and Bingham are linked to Nottingham by rail and frequent buses.

Time: 4h–7h30

Lunch: Services in abundance at Gunthorpe.

Warnings: The riverside path may flood in extreme conditions. Cattle may be grazing the meadow. A summer-overgrown woodland path. A narrow no-pavement bridge on Chandos Street, though the road is fairly quiet.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Superb view of the Trent Valley. Mostly quiet field paths, some surfaced and free of stiles and with a final short climb up to The Cliffs above the River Trent. Some muddy patches when very wet. Uses parts of the Trent Valley Way. A substantial housing development at Newton means the bridleway nearby may be subject to temporary closures. Both ends are served by trains and a frequent bus service.

Time: 3h–6h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Mostly footpaths and quiet roads across farmland and through an escarpment and with a fair amount of road walking and a hill up into Grantham at the end. Some sections with overgrown brambles but passable; paths through farmland aren't always obvious. Uses a new path through access land on the escarpment.

Time: 6h–12h30

Lunch: A shop and a pub off route at Silk Willoughby.

Warnings: A long stretch of road between Oasby and Welby, though it has decent verges and is not busy; paths across farmland can be hard to follow.

Walk details: Slow Ways.