Walks near Lincoln by train

Off-road walking and cycling alongside canal and river — a waterside network of paths. Passes the historic Trent Bridge.

Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).

Canal, river, wooded track and roadside footpath.

Time: 4h30–9h30

2 lunch spots: Wilford Farm (1h30–3h in), or Dovecote Barn Café (3h–6h in)

Warnings: Short stretch on busy A453.

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Mixture of off-road cycle path and on-road sections. Part of the longer London-to-Lake-District route.

Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).

River, lanes and racecourse.

Time: 3h30–7h

1 lunch spot: Southwell Minster Refectory Café (2h30–5h in)

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

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.

Riverside, good paths and open views.

Waterway: four fifths along the River Trent.

Time: 4h30–9h

3 lunch spots: Gunthorpe (3h–6h in) — the Unicorn Hotel, the Anchor, or Tom Browns

2 end-of-walk rewards: the Wheatsheaf Inn, or the Cross Keys

Warnings: Irregular train times.

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Countryside and river.

Time: 4h–8h

4 lunch spots: Gunthorpe (3h–5h30 in) — the Anchor, or the Unicorn Hotel; plus the World's End (30m in), or the Red Lion (2h–4h30 in)

3 end-of-walk rewards: the Wheatsheaf Inn, the Cross Keys, or the Lord Nelson

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Recommended: A flat, mostly level walk: busy city and built-up streets at each end with a quiet, scenic, well-maintained towpath along the Beeston Canal in the middle. A cobbled bridge joins the towpath and there are a few short and steep inclines. Frequent buses and trams also run between Beeston and Nottingham; the route passes Beeston Station too.

Waterway: two thirds beside rivers and canals.

Time: 2h–4h30

Lunch: A quieter alternative at the Beeston side passes the Star Inn, the Victoria Hotel and a café at the Canalside Heritage Centre.

Warnings: A quarter urban. Cobbled bridge to join the towpath and a few short, steep inclines. Some busy street walking at the ends.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership.

Recommended: An excellent route; very enjoyable. An off-road and peaceful route using byways, the Chesterfield Canal towpath, farm tracks and with some walking through housed areas on safe pavements at either end. The canal section can get hemmed in by bracken and undergrowth; no serious hills. Follows the Chesterfield Canal towpath; passes Babworth Church, linked to the Pilgrim Fathers, with a display board; few benches in the middle third.

Time: 4h30–8h30

Lunch: The Chequers pub at Ranby is the only refreshment option in the middle third and needs a detour off the towpath; stock up at the start otherwise.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Recommended: A pleasant walk including woodlands and a stretch along the river and part of it on the Ironstone Way. The first part leaving Scunthorpe can be a little tricky to follow. Part of the route follows the Ironstone Way.

Time: 4h–8h

Lunch: Refreshments at Broughton.

Warnings: Crossing the busy A18 can be hazardous; you could instead cross Brigg Road near Ashbyville. Brigg is served only by the Saturdays-only Brigg line — a few trains on Saturdays, none midweek.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

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.

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.