Aubourn and Bassingham - long

A  circular walk through the villages of Bassingham and Aubourn and the countryside between them. This walk takes in the river Witham and the site of a medieval manorial complex.  There are views of a medieval dovecote and Lincoln Cathedral.

5.5 miles (nine kilometres)
2.75 hours

1. Leave Bassingham Village Hall car park and turn left. At the crossroads turn right onto Lincoln Road. At the T-junction turn right, past the war memorial, and follow the road as it bends to the right past the Wesleyan chapel. Follow the road around to the left and continue past the shops, post office and pub.
2. Turn left along Water Lane. Just before the road bends, turn right along the public footpath between a house and bungalow. Follow the path straight on along the edge of two fields to a road.
3. Cross the road and follow the restricted byway opposite to the right of the cottage. Cross the bridge and the field to the metal gate in the hedge. Follow the path with the hedge on your right.
4. Carry on in front of the farmhouse to the bridge and pedestrian gate in the hedge line. Bear slightly to the left and cross the field, noting the ridge and furrow formation, to a gate in the hedge. Walk straight across the next field to  the hedge. Continue straight across the next two fields. If you look ahead and to the right you should be able to see Aubourn Clock Tower. Cross the bridge and the next field to a footpath sign and across the narrow end of a field towards a bridge.
5. Cross the bridge and through the corner of a planted area of trees. Bear slightly left head for the first single tree to the right of the line of trees in the distance. If you look ahead and to the right you may be able to see Lincoln Cathedral on the horizon.
6. Cross the bridge and bear slightly left across the field towards the metal bridge over the river Witham. Cross the river. Turn right and then left following the restricted byway sign along a track between two hedges. Turn right at the footpath signs and walk straight on toward the single telegraph pole in the distance. You will notice that the ground in this area is very uneven in places. From here you can see the dovecote. Turn right to the gate in the hedge by the double telegraph pole. Cross the next field, and bearing slightly left follow the path across two fields to a road.
7. Turn right and follow the road over the river. Turn left onto a public footpath at the side of the sub-station. Follow the path alongside the hedge on your right, ignoring a gate on your right. As you reach the houses walk through a copse into the next field. Follow the line of the shelter belt behind the houses until you reach the end of the field and the gardens of Aubourn Hall. Turn right through the gate and then straight on along the edge of a paddock to a road.
8. Cross the road, turn left and then right and walk straight on along Chapel Lane. As it bends to the right, continue straight ahead, along Moor Lane.
9. Follow the road as it becomes a track, and eventually a restricted byway between two hedges. As you emerge from the hedges turn right and then left before the farm buildings to keep on the restricted byway. At the sharp right hand bend and just before the junction with the driveway turn left and then right and follow the footpath keeping the hedgerow on your left across the first field and then straight on across the next field to a road and turn right. At the T-junction turn left.
10. Follow the road into the village until it meets Linga Lane, turn right. At the junction with Lincoln Road turn left to return to the car park.

Aubourn and Bassingham route map

The walk is level and uses roadside pavements, tracks, and field paths which may be muddy at times.

There are no stiles.

You may encounter livestock.

• linked to public transport
• parking
• refreshments
• village/town

• historical interest
• river
• wildlife interest