(S/E) From St James’ Church walk out of the town centre uphill, along Upgate. Cross the traffic lights carefully and continue past Meridian View and the disused quarry. Turn right along the next track, which leads past several houses.
(1) Turn left past a bungalow, over a gate onto the footpath. Continue on an obvious path across the field to the corner. In the next field bear left through the hedge continuing along the path as it crosses footbridges and three more fields to the bypass.
(2) Carefully cross the bypass and rejoin the footpath as it crosses the small stream, then head for the left side of Brock a Dale plantation. Follow the path, keeping the plantation on your right, up the track, cross the next field with trees on your left,over the bridge, then continue on the footpath as it crosses diagonally the next 4 fields and emerges onto a lane and crossroads.
If you would like to visit St Vedast’s Church at Tathwell, go straight over the crossroads into the village which is situated around a spring-fed lake probably created in the eighteenth century. The water flows out over a cascade just behind the War Memorial. Follow the road to the left of the War Memorial, marked unsuitable for heavy traffic, up the hill and turn right to follow a narrow gravel path to the left into the churchyard. Though mainly eighteenth century brick, the church contains a simple Norman tower arch and two imposing wall monuments to the Hambly and Chaplin families who once owned all the parish.
(3) From the crossroads, take the road right, signposted to Louth (Raithby Road). This is a quiet road but please be careful, walking on the right hand side of the road and facing oncoming traffic. Once the road begins to descend, look down into the valley on your left where you will see a small uneven grass field.
This is the site of the medieval village of Maltby, where a cottage would have stood within each of the raised rectangles. The distinct moated square at the end of the field continued in use for a longer period.
(4) After approximately 1 mile, you emerge onto the Horncastle Road. Cross carefully, turning left downhill, then turn right to follow the footpath past some trees. Follow the path over grassland and into the 2nd field, head left towards the left corner and over the footbridge onto the road. Turn left and continue to St Peter’s Church.
The church was almost completely rebuilt in 1839. The bright and pretty interior contains box pews and a working barrel organ on the west gallery. In the windows are oval medallions of early German glass depicting biblical scenes.
(5) Opposite the church, go through the gate and into the uneven grass field. Follow the bridleway as it crosses the field to the left of the brick pillars and cross the stream at the footbridge, and continue to the small gate through the hedge.
(6) Cross over the track, and turn left up a slight rise and turn left, keeping the hedge on your left as you walk along the grass bridleway at the edge of the field. Ignore the bridleway gate on your left, but continue to the next signposted left turn.
(7) Cross the old railway line and go into a small area of woodland. Follow the path through the woodland and continue along the edge of the field walking round the Louth Flood Alleviation Scheme to join the tarmac path to reach Hallington Road. Cross the road and turn right to walk under the bypass bridge and into Hubbard’s Hills.
Hubbard’s Hills has been a public park since 1907. It was given to the town by the trustees of Augutse Alphonse Pahud, a Swiss who settled in Louth to teach German and French at the Grammar School. Since then, the deep valley with its meandering river has been enjoyed by the town’s residents and visitors.
(8) Follow the path along the River Lud through Hubbard’s Hills, along Crowtree Lane and turn left into Westgate Fields with its wooden leaf sculptures created as part of Louth Art Trail. When you emerge into Westgate, turn right and continue to St James’ Church, your starting point.(S/E)
