Lincolnshire Tourist Guide

1,000 Years of Traditional Crafts Event in Lincoln

By popular demand, a smash-hit heritage event returns to Lincoln this September – and this year it’s bigger and better than ever.

On 29 and 30 September, 1,000 Years of Traditional Crafts returns to Lincoln Castle and the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. The spectacular event will showcase more than 50 heritage skills, including blacksmithing, stone masonry and stained glass. It will also be the first chance to see inside the brand new Heritage Skills Centre – the first new building inside the castle grounds for 150 years.

Councillor Eddy Poll, Executive Member for Cultural Services, said:

“After last year’s success we decided we had to make it a two-day event this time. That way people have plenty of time to see all that’s on offer. We’ve got lots of hands-on activities to keep you entertained, including a special marquee just for our younger visitors, who’ll be able to have a go at making a medieval musical instrument, traditional beeswax candle dipping and much more.

“And not only will this be your first chance to have a look round the new Heritage Skills Centre, it’ll also be your final opportunity to see the male prison before it’s transformed as part of our Lincoln Castle Revealed project. With so much to see and do, I’m sure this year’s event will prove just as popular.” 

Also making a welcome return will be the Taste of Lincolnshire Food Fair, with delicious county food on offer in Castle Square and throughout the castle grounds, as well as cookery demonstrations in Castle Hill car park.

Advance tickets are available now at a discounted price by phoning 01522 545458.

2012 is the time to explore your county of Lincolnshire

A recent article in The Mail reported that the UK Government is backing a marketing campaign to persuade people to support British holidays.

This will undoubtedly benefit Lincolnshire and a TV advertisement promoting Skegness on the east coast is currently being televised.

Photo: Skegness

With the recent economic times maybe now is the time that we all look at what we have on our doorstep rather than venturing overseas.  Although the weather in England cannot always be guaranteed, going abroad can bring its own pitfalls – delayed or missed flights, tummy upsets, sunstroke and accommodation that is not always up to our standards.

Lincolnshire has so much to offer, with over 140 attractions to visit, of which three are listed in Visit Britain’s Top Ten paid attractions in 2010.  Belton House in Grantham is listed at number 3; at numbers 8 and 9 are Lincoln Cathedral and RAF Waddington respectively.  Lincolnshire accounts for around a third of both serviced and non-serviced accommodation in the East Midlands area, making it accessible to stay in a different town every night whilst out on a walking holiday.

Photo: Belton House

With the forthcoming major events of the Jubilee and the Olympics it will hopefully encourage people to take time off work to spend at home.  To take days out or short breaks in their home county to explore the interesting and vibrant areas that are close by. 

The historic town of Spilsby already has plans underway for the Jubilee on the weekend of the 2^nd and 3^rd June.  Press Officer and Site Manager Councillor Tony Bailey says on their website ‘It was only right that the Jubilee Committee organise a day to remember. A   lot of hard work has been going on behind the scenes for the last six months, but we now have a programme of events so posters will be popping up very soon.’  The weekend will involve food, drink, entertainment, craft stalls, competitions, fun fair rides and lots more.

The Olympics Games have inspired Lincoln Cathedral to theme their Flower Festival in August on the Games, naming it ‘Dreams of Gold’.  There will be over 130 arrangements which will portray the Games from when it first commenced in 1896.  The festival will be available to visit from 16-20 August.

Lincolnshire maybe seen as being a rural county but it encompasses the city of Lincoln; the seaside towns of Mablethorpe and Skegness; the rolling hills of The Wolds and the flatlands of The Fens.  The county is steeped in history and heritage, and home to some of the oldest buildings in England.

Photo: Lincoln

Lincolnshire had 110,000 visits in 2010 with a visitor spend of £36 million, this was the lowest spend for over 6 years.  Visit Britain is expecting £17.6 billion extra visitor spend in 2012 across the country.  Let’s all ensure that Lincolnshire has a large slice of that spend and make 2012 a bumper year for visitors and income.

A Spring walk around Sleaford and beyond

Lincolnshire Tourist Guide took to the open road to make the most of the unusually sunny weather for March.  We headed off to Sleaford to follow one of Hugh Marrows walks featured in Good Tastes magazine.  The walk is 9 ¾ miles, however, there is a shorter option of 4 ½ miles if you don’t fancy nearly 10 miles.

Soon after leaving the town centre of Sleaford and following alongside the River Slea we arrived at Cogglesford Mill where flour is still produced today.

Continuing on, past Cogglesford Mill we passed a field of sheep with their spring lambs, walked under the A17 and a railway line and then we were out into open fields.  The route took us over a couple of stiles and through a farmers paddock - home to a beautiful grazing horse who paid no attention to us at all. Walking through the farmyard a magnificent peacock greeted us, before long we had an army of chickens clucking away too, all of them appeared to be looking to be fed!

Exiting the farm a small incline in the road led us to St Mary’s Church in Evedon.  The Church is a Grade II listed limestone Church built in the 13^th Century.  It leans heavily to one side and seats around 70 parishioners.  The village also has an unusual converted water tower which was originally built in 1915 and is now a stunning home.

At this point you can either take the longer option or the shorter option, we chose to take the longer one and walked through the remainder of the village.

Leaving the village we met two people on horseback who had just finished their morning ride and were heading back to their paddocks.  We took a right and this lead us back into open fields.  We stopped half way round to eat our sandwiches and apply a plaster to my ever growing blister on my foot!  The sky melted into the fields.  There was not a cloud in the sky and the only noise was from the birds singing and the various planes circling overhead from one of the nearby RAF bases.

We joined a road and followed this for about a mile and half to Haverholme. As we walked towards the hamlet the ruins of Haverholme Priory could be seen in the distance.  The Priory is reported to be one of the most haunted places in England.  Haverholme is named as the ‘island between two rivers’.

Joining back up with the waterway we head for Papermill Bridge and past a disused mill called Holdingham Mill.  The route then meets up at the shorter route at Holdingham Mill and at this point we retrace our steps back to Cogglesford Mill.

The majority of the walk is along grass tracks, canel paths and fields.  It felt great to be out in the open, breathing in the fresh air with the sun shining down on us.

It had taken us four hours in total with a stop for lunch and lots of stops for photographs.  We made it to Cogglesford Mill just in time before they closed to enjoy a cup of tea and a well earned sit down to rest our weary legs.

We sat on the garden chairs that were in the front garden, people were already enjoying refreshments and the late afternoon sun.  Hanging troughs along the front railings were planted up with vibrant coloured primroses, adding even more quaintness to the already charming property.

As we walked back to the car park we popped into The National Centre of Craft & Design that has a stunning viewing gallery on the top floor giving far reaching views across the town and beyond.  The building was converted in 2004 from a seed warehouse and now holds many exhibitions, their current exhibition is ‘Museum of Broken Relationships’ which is on until 15^th April.

Overall it was a great walk, had clear instructions for the route, offered peace and tranquillity along the way with open fields and skies.  There was plenty of wildlife to spot and a welcoming tea shop for both before and after the walk.

For more photos of the walk visit our Facebook Album.

 

Places to visit in Lincolnshire

There are many places to visit in Lincolnshire, one being the historic capital of the county, Lincoln.

As you approach, the city, crowned by its magnificent cathedral, seems to grow out of the flat lands surrounding it.

The main Ring road gives excellent access to whichever side of the city you need to enter by. Once there, the visitor will find there is so much to see and do – aside from shopping, eating out or visiting a friendly pub, there are plenty of interesting historical sites well worth a look.

If you are looking for places to visit in Lincolnshire one place not to miss is the cathedral is most definitely worth seeing, as is nearby Lincoln Castle. William the Conqueror built the original Lincoln Castle in 1068 in the south- west corner of the then crumbling Roman walls at the top of the hill. While the castle has been besieged several times over the years, in 900 years it has been used as a court and a prison.

                                                            Steep Hill in Lincoln

Visitors can also enjoy a boat trip on the river Witham and the Fossdyke Roman canal around historic Lincoln. The Museum of Lincolnshire Life is the county’s largest museum of social history, and the Jews House on Steep Hill, now a restaurant, is amongst the finest example of early architecture in the country.

Places to visit also include the popular family amusement attractions at seaside resorts Cleethorpes, Skegness, Ingoldmells, Chapel St Leonards and Mablethorpe, a trip along the magnificent coastline is well worth the effort. You can stop off at sleepy towns and hamlets, or drive through the Wolds, with its fine market towns and its popularity for walking and cycling activities.

Or perhaps you might consider visiting one of the many antique centres dotted around the county for which it has become world-renown. There are also many heritage sites of interest throughout the county.

Lincolnshire also has a very strong RAF heritage, and many of the airfields are world famous - the Red Arrows are based at RAF Scampton near Lincoln, and the famous 617 Squadron - the Dambusters - were first formed at RAF Scampton. It was from here that Wing Commander Guy Gibson, in Operation Chastise, led the attack on the dams in the Ruhr Valley during World War II.

The fishing port of Grimsby is in the North East of the county, and while the fishing fleets are not what they once were, the legacy and heritage of this major industry is still very much in evidence.

A trip to Hessle and the banks of the Humber River means a look at the very impressive and fifth-largest single-span suspension bridge in the world, the Humber Bridge, which connects North Lincolnshire to the East Riding of Yorkshire. Remember to take your camera!

                                                                Doddington Hall


Other interesting locations include Woolsthorpe Manor, near Grantham, the house where Isaac Newton worked, is managed by the National Trust and is one of their conservation, heritage and learning sites. Fans of literature can also racing the roots of Alfred Lord Tennyson, poet laureate, who was born in Somersby. And for nature lovers, the South east of the county is predominantly fenland, giving homes to many species of bird.

Lincoln Christmas Market

Lincoln Christmas Market started in 1982 with just eleven stalls. Today it is a thriving traditional market with over 250 stalls attending and drawing in visitors of over 150,000 from all over the country.

With only a few weeks to go until Christmas it is the perfect opportunity to get in the festive spirit and get all your Christmas shopping done. There is so much to see, try and buy, from handmade jewellery, toys, paintings, glassware and ceramics to the delicious food halls where you can sample some of the local specialities and enjoy a glass of mulled wine.

There is a strong German influence on the market as the town is twinned with Neustradt an der Weinstrasse in Germany. It has a strong friendship and alliance which has been in place since 1969. Lincoln is steeped in history with the Gothic Cathedral and Norman Castle located in the popular Uphill area. It is always worth allowing time to explore the cobbled streets and take in all the amazing architecture that the city has to offer.

Be sure to wear sensible footwear to get around the bustling steep cobbled streets, though. It is always advisable to wrap up warm as it is often very cold with temperatures dropping in the evening. Last year the event was cancelled at the last minute due to severe weather conditions. Already this year due to its popularity all the stalls have been booked and there is a waiting list for stallholders.

Lincoln is just as stunning by night as it is by day. With the fully lit Cathedral and Castle towering above the city; this magnificent sight can be seen for miles around. The Christmas decorations twinkling and glistening in the winter air and the smells of roasting chestnuts makes for a truly romantic, warming and festive start to the month.

If you have time to spend the weekend in the city there are lots of other things to do and see including – Brayford Waterfront, the theatre, museums, boat trips, as well as lots of well established places to eat and drink. The market is open from Thursday 1st December to Sunday 4th December. Thursday 4pm-9.30pm; Friday and Saturday 10am -9.30pm and Sunday 10am-7pm. There will be park and ride locations around the city for easy access.

Burghley House Craft Fair

Burghley House is a magnificent Elizabethan house located in the historical town of Stamford.  Built between 1555-1587 it attracts thousands of visitors a year and hosts the famous Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials every September.

The weekend of the 15 & 16 October Living Heritage Craft Fairs held one of their many organised craft fairs in the grounds of Burghley House.  There were several marquees housing exhibitors for cards, jewellery, pottery, artists, upholsters, clothing, glassware and food tents serving delicious homemade cakes, cheese, pies, chocolate and wine.  Many of the exhibitors came from as far a field as Cheshire, Devon and Perthshire.

On entering Burghley House there was a long drive through open green spaces edged in well established trees with free roaming fallow deer.  There are approximately 200 deer that graze at Burghley.  The grounds were free to enter and there were families, couples and rambling groups making the most of the beautiful day.  Enjoying a picnic on the grass, photographing the deer, admiring the stunning house, everyone had their own purpose. 

The Craft Fair was £6 to enter.  As well as the exhibitors there were also lots of demonstrations.  In particular a glass demonstration by E&M Glass, this drew in the crowds.  Making a 17^th century wine glass from start to finish, the kiln reached temperatures of over 900 degrees and used techniques from over 400 years ago.  Other demonstrations included pottery, painting, woodwork and jewellery making.

It was fantastic to hear whilst walking round the exhibitions talking to visitors with such passion and enthusiasm about their work.

On speaking with Lorna Henderson who designs and creates limited edition pieces of contemporary jewellery, she said ‘I’ve had a busy weekend and being local to me it is ideal and such a fabulous location.’

For the children there were puppet shows, ferret racing and an owl refuge tent to entertain them.

Mark Hughes from Living Heritage said ‘Burghley is normally one of our most popular craft fairs but this weekend has been average with visitor numbers being down which is disappointing in view of the strength of the weather.’

As well as exploring the grounds and admiring the external facade of the house there are guided tours of the house internally with eighteen State Rooms to view.  There is also a sculpture garden which has a collection of over 25 sculptures and a bonus Garden of Surprises all set in thirteen acres of land

There are lots of events held at Burghley House throughout the year and details can be found on their website.

To view more photos from the day click here.

Tea at Tealby

Nestling in the middle of the Lincolnshire Wolds, Tealby is said to be ‘one of the prettiest villages in the Lincolnshire Wolds’. Tealby Tea Rooms is located at 12 Front Street and just four miles from Market Rasen. The building dates back to 1880; double-fronted, it has a welcoming half-glazed green wooden door and a pretty swing sign hanging above one of the windows.

It was mid-morning when we arrived and we had planned our route to call in at the tea rooms for a snack and a pot of tea. We were greeted with a friendly smile by the owner, Mrs Glover. Being the only people in the tea room at this time, we chose a seat by the window. Our order of tea cake, cheese and ham toastie and pot of tea for two was taken by Mrs Glover.

Whilst it was being made we had time to leaf through the tourist information that was displayed on top of the piano and admire the local paintings that were hung around the room. The tea room was light and airing with a mix and match of chairs and tables adding to the quaintness and uniqueness. Our mid-morning snack was promptly served. Although the tea cake was slightly toasted more than I prefer it was still scrumptious and the pot of tea was a welcome refreshment. It had been a long time since breakfast. My friend was impressed with his choice and didn’t waste anything, finishing off his toastie.

Their menu also includes paninis, jacket potatoes, sandwiches, bacon rolls, homemade cakes and cream teas. Whilst clearing away our pots Mrs Glover told us how they make their own homemade plum loaf, which they sell at craft fairs as well as in the tea room. They are also expanding the kitchen and workshop into the adjoining room, which is currently a store room and a cut through to the visitor toilets.

Mary Bennett from The Teapot Trail said, ‘In such an unspoilt village one naturally hopes to find a good traditional tea room and the Tealby Tea Rooms are the very thing.’

We left the tea rooms and walked down Front Street towards the edge of the village; along Kingsway and crossed over a ford entering a public footpath. We met several other walkers with their dogs on the route enjoying the crisp morning air and taking in the open blue skies. We rejoined the public road at Beck Hill and walked up towards All Saints Church which dates back to the 12th Century. Being a clear day it gave panoramic views across The Wolds and beyond.

The village itself if steeped in history with connections to William The Conqueror and Alfred Lord Tennyson. The King’s Head is a 14th century thatched inn and is one of the oldest pubs in Lincolnshire.

We would certainly recommend stopping off at Tealby Tea Rooms and sampling some of their homemade delights. It is a great location to explore and enjoy some of stunning scenery that The Lincolnshire Wolds has to offer.

 

Information:

Website: www.tealbytearooms.co.uk

Telephone: 01673 838261

Prices: £1.20 - £4.75

Parking: On road

Disabled access: One step into Tea Rooms

Open: March – October, 7 days a week, 11am – 5.30pm.

Seats: Fifty

Groups: Welcome and talks on the Tea Rooms and local area available

A sanctuary of basking seals at Donna Nook

One of the places I had wanted to visit for many years was the Donna Nook Seal Sanctuary in North Lincolnshire, but there is only a short window of time each year to view this spectacular colony of grey seals.  This year I had made up my mind to go and it was well worth the wait to see these creatures basking in mud flats with not a care in the world.

 

After an hour and half car journey from the south of the county, travelling along single track roads that felt like we were driving to the end of the earth we arrived at the Sanctuary.  I’d purposely picked to visit on a week day thinking it would not be as busy but the car park was full.  Everyone was getting their winter coats, wellington boots, hats, scarves and gloves on as the wind was bitterly cold and fine drizzle had started.  Before we set off we had a hot chocolate at the mobile café to warm ourselves up.

We walked through the entrance and there in front of us was vast expanse of mud flats stretching for as far as the eye could see.  The sky was stormy, the tide was out and in the distance we could see the waves crashing down, the sky melted into the sea and a rainbow had begun to appear in the distance. 

As our gazed turned down from the sky to the land beneath and dotted all over were hundreds of seals, just lazing around on banks; in water filled creeks; snuggled up in a hole in the ground; tucked up against the wooden picket fence and pups huddled up suckling on their mum.  It was an amazing sight. Some of the bulls were charging at each other and making loud barking noises, raising up onto their front flippers against other males, in what appeared to be a display of terroritory protection. They certainly were not phased by humans watching and taking photographs of them and carried on with their business.

On the other hand the pups seemed very intrigued by us and appeared to be acting up to the camera.  One particular white pup, well he would have been white apart from some mud on him.  He had perfectly rounded black soulful eyes, a grey noise and a cute smile.  He was more than happy to wave his front flipper at us, roll onto his back, cover his eyes up with his flippers and then take them off as a child would do when it is playing hide a seek!  It was funny to watch and photograph.

Although the seals look cute, cuddly and harmless they are protected by a wooden fence as they will bite and have sharp claws, bulls can be aggressive and mothers may abandon their pups if they smell a human or a dog so it is important upmost care is taken when visiting.

As well as a reserve for seals it is also a bird watches paradise with an abundance of species to spot.  Neither the seals nor the birds flinched as two low flying planes zoomed overhead making us jump and duck at the same time.

A group of school children were eagerly firing questions at their tutors as they pointed out to the seals.  The children aged around seven to eight years old all had their clipboards with their pens tied onto it with a piece of string, so as not to loose it.  Their sheets of paper were blowing all over as they struggled to keep it flat and dry from the wind and the rain.  What a great school trip for them though I thought and wished we had been on trips like that when I was at school.

The bulls and cows (male and female seals) started to decend on 22 October this year at RAF Donna Nook Bombing with the first pups being spotted on 29 October.  By the time we visited on 22 November there were 339  bulls, 1047 cows and 953 pups already present, not that I counted them all, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust update their website each week with new births.  Typically over 1300 pups are born here each year.  Females can live up to 35 years and males to 25 years.  Two thirds of their time is spent in the sea hunting and feeding.

The Nature Reserve is managed by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust by dedicated volunteers and staff of RAF Donna Nook. It is reserves like this that have helped the grey seal population treble in British waters since 1960 to a population of 120,000.

Facilities are very limited at the Sanctuary with a small car park, a mobile café serving hot and cold drinks and minimal food.  Toilet facilities are located approximately a mile away and there isn’t any shelter from the sometimes harsh elements.  There are a couple of wooden huts which serve as information centres and sell gift products on behalf of the Sanctuary and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.

The viewing walkway itself is wide and concreted, making it wheelchair friendly and the wooden picket fence separating the public from the seals is approximately three-four foot high so it is no too imposing.

Information:

Location:         North Somercotes, North Lincolnshire

Admission:      Free.  Donations accepted.

Parking:           Free

Toilets:            Located at a separate site approximately 1 mile away

Facilities:         Mobile café on site.  Small information huts selling gifts

Click here to visit the Lincolnshire Trust's website for more information

Places to visit in Lincolnshire

There are many places to visit in Lincolnshire, one being the historic capital of the county, Lincoln.

As you approach, the city, crowned by its magnificent cathedral, seems to grow out of the flat lands surrounding it.

The main Ring road gives excellent access to whichever side of the city you need to enter by. Once there, the visitor will find there is so much to see and do – aside from shopping, eating out or visiting a friendly pub, there are plenty of interesting historical sites well worth a look.

If you are looking for places to visit in Lincolnshire one place not to miss is the cathedral is most definitely worth seeing, as is nearby Lincoln Castle. William the Conqueror built the original Lincoln Castle in 1068 in the south- west corner of the then crumbling Roman walls at the top of the hill. While the castle has been besieged several times over the years, in 900 years it has been used as a court and a prison

Visitors can also enjoy a boat trip on the river Witham and the Fossdyke Roman canal around historic Lincoln. The Museum of Lincolnshire Life is the county’s largest museum of social history, and the Jews House on Steep Hill, now a restaurant, is amongst the finest example of early architecture in the country.

Places to visit also include the popular family amusement attractions at seaside resorts Cleethorpes, Skegness, Ingoldmells, Chapel St Leonards and Mablethorpe, a trip along the magnificent coastline is well worth the effort. You can stop off at sleepy towns and hamlets, or drive through the Wolds, with its fine market towns and its popularity for walking and cycling activities.

Or perhaps you might consider visiting one of the many antique centres dotted around the county for which it has become world-renown. There are also many heritage sites of interest throughout the county.

Lincolnshire also has a very strong RAF heritage, and many of the airfields are world famous - the Red Arrows are based at RAF Scampton near Lincoln, and the famous 617 Squadron - the Dambusters - were first formed at RAF Scampton. It was from here that Wing Commander Guy Gibson, in Operation Chastise, led the attack on the dams in the Ruhr Valley during World War II.

The fishing port of Grimsby is in the North East of the county, and while the fishing fleets are not what they once were, the legacy and heritage of this major industry is still very much in evidence.

A trip to Hessle and the banks of the Humber River means a look at the very impressive and fifth-largest single-span suspension bridge in the world, the Humber Bridge, which connects North Lincolnshire to the East Riding of Yorkshire. Remember to take your camera!

Other interesting locations include Woolsthorpe Manor, near Grantham, the house where Isaac Newton worked, is managed by the National Trust and is one of their conservation, heritage and learning sites. Fans of literature can also racing the roots of Alfred Lord Tennyson, poet laureate, who was born in Somersby. And for nature lovers, the South east of the county is predominantly fenland, giving homes to many species of bird.

Click here to view places to visit in Lincolnshire.

Sample the uniqueness of Heckington

Heckington is situated 6 miles south of Sleaford just off the A17 Bypass and has a population of approximately 4000.

Dating back to the 10th century Pocklington's working windmill is the only eight sailed windmill in Europe. It is open to the public for viewing.

The annual Heckington Show has been running since 1864 and this year will be held on 24 and 25 July, it's a great day out for all the family!

Click here to view our photos of Heckington and Become a Fan on Facebook.