Walks you can reach from Swineshead by train

Largely flat, sticking to the south side of the South Forty Foot Drain on a good but unsurfaced footpath that can get muddy when wet and plus field and town sections. A two-mile section on the verge of the A17 west of Swineshead. Follows the South Forty Foot Drain; a surfaced cycle path runs as far as Hubberts Bridge.

Time: 6h–12h

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a fifth of the walk. A two-mile section along the A17 west of Swineshead, parts of which have no pavement (a verge and short stretches of old road can be used); one gate on the Drain path was padlocked, requiring a climb.

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.

Excellent walk. Field paths.

Time: 2h30–5h

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

Walk details: Railwalks.

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 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.

A generally pleasant walk mixing field paths, farm tracks, roads and lanes. The first part is along a busy road with pavement only at the start, then road verges; field sections can be very muddy after rain and footpath signage is not always clear. No facilities at Burton Pedwardine village midway. The railway station is about 0.4 miles from the start/finish point in Heckington village centre.

Time: 3h–6h

Lunch: No facilities at Burton Pedwardine village midway.

1 end-of-walk reward: Heckington Windmill tea room

Warnings: An early section is along a fairly busy road without pavement (a decent verge with clear views of oncoming traffic, but treacherous with more traffic); field paths can be very muddy after heavy rain, and footpath signage is poor in places, with one field near a solar farm completely unmarked.

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.

An excellent view of the Vale of Belvoir. A pleasant but indirect country walk, mostly on good unsurfaced field paths along the flood banks of the River Smite and tributaries, with some clay soil that gets muddy and sticky when wet. A road section leaves Bottesford and with stiles and a slightly overgrown nettly section out of Bingham. An out-and-back detour up Beacon Hill from Bingham offers a view of the Vale of Belvoir, with a First World War centenary memorial at the top. Passes Cranmer's Mound and a motte and bailey near Aslockton, birthplace of Thomas Cranmer, and crosses Crow Close, the remains of a medieval settlement. Pubs and shops at Bingham, Orston and Aslockton; ideally suited to arrival by train.

Time: 3h30–6h30

Lunch: Some facilities along the way which may not be open: a pub at Orston just off route by the church, and an inn and takeaway-coffee shop at Aslockton.

Warnings: The road out of Bottesford towards Orston has a constant stream of large lorries and general traffic with little consideration for pedestrians; there is some verge but care is needed. Waymarking around Abbey Lane and New Lane near Aslockton is poor. Muddy field-edge sections after rain.

Walk details: Slow Ways.