To prepare for the Lyke Wake Walk, I practiced my walking skills to get better at it. Most of my Saturdays now read “long walks” with one particular reading, “walk 20 miles”. Well, 20 miles is a long distance to cover but it was just half the distance of the ultimate challenge that I had to face.

But to stick to the plan, I took my OS map and planned my routes, starting right from my home. I didn’t dare to drive to someplace, walk, and then drive back home, so I decided that the best way was to start from home. Moreover, Lincoln’s scenic beauty and countryside aura gave me a lot of options to practice my walking as well as explore nature at the same time.

 

The Boultham Park Route

The park is a 50-acre park situated in the middle of a residential area outside the Lincoln city centre. Boultham Park has a lot of trees and paths to walk through. The park hosts the weekly Park Run in Lincoln as well.

The South Common Route

This stretch of land lies on the southeast boundary of Lincoln and covers the gap between the city and the nearby villages of Canwick and Bracebridge Heath You will see vast stretches of meadows, natural scrublands, and a few trees surrounding the edges.

The route is best for dog walkers and you get to see a lot of wildlife too- from horses to rabbits and moles.  I reached this walkway via the Viking Way.

The Hartsholme Country Park and Swalhome Lakes Route

The Hartsholme Country Park has all sorts of amenities in it- from cafes, campsites, parking, play areas, lakes, gardens, etc. The park covers more than 200 acres of land.  A local nature reserve, better known as the Swalhome Lakes is situated at the bottom of the park.

The Swalhome Lakes is a series of lakes formed from sand and gravel pits. It is home to a variety of flora and fauna. I have heard that it houses 24 butterfly species!!

Viking Way Route

A rather long walk of 147 miles, the Viking Way starts on the banks of Humber in the north and ends on the shores of Rutland Water. The pathway traverses through Lincoln, Wolds, Horncastle, Lincolnshire Limewoods, Lincolnshire Edge, and the Kesteven Uplands.

I consider myself lucky as this way is just a mile away from my home. I aspire to walk the entire stretch someday but for now, I usually walk from Waddington to Lincoln. The views are breathtakingly beautiful but it can be a little cold due to no shades and shelters.

Whisby Nature Park

This park is located a few miles outside of the city and is best to reach by car. The Whisby Nature Park was my last stop for exploring. I usually prefer brisk walking around one of the lakes for my practice and devouring the delicious homemade cake at the Natural World Centre Café afterward.

The view of the park is pretty picturesque although you see more man-made structures like the A46 running track and electricity pylons throughout the park. You can visit the park for other activities like bird watching and make your day more fruitful.

The Millennium Green Route

 

A rather unplanned route, the Millennium Green is located in North Hykeham. I was on my way to the Whisby Nature Park from the Hartsholme Country Park when I spotted a lake between some houses and discovered the scenic Millennium Green. The walk is a one-mile long and can be covered easily.

As I traversed back to my home from my Saturday walk, I realised that I had covered 20 miles, and thus, accomplished my mission.  The time I took to finish this mark was around six hours and ten minutes, which included a couple of loo breaks and some photo sessions. I was extremely exhausted but was proud of my achievement and after dome food, had a great sleep.