Walking from Lincoln to Boston
Route facts
Waterways:
River Witham »
Distance: 32.2 miles / 49.6km
Duration: 12 hours
Starts at: Lincoln
Ends at: Boston
Between Lincoln and Boston, there is barely a settlement worthy of the name. Even the spa town of Woodhall and sugar-beet village Bardney keep their distance from the river. The result is a remote, blissfully peaceful waterway walk.
As the route is quite long, there are many places to stop - campsites and caravan parks - so you can enjoy the walk at your leisure.
Getting there
Parking: There is parking along the route.
Public transport: There are good transport links at the start and end of the route.
Waypoints
1. Lincoln to Bardney (9 miles / 14.4km)
The route begins in Lincoln on the banks of the River Witham. You can get some food and drinks in the nearby supermarket to keep you going along the way. You will be walking east away from Lincoln, past Willingham Fen and Washingborough before you come to Five Mile Bridge. There is a pub nearby in Fiskerton, a short walk from the river. There is also parking here if you would like to start the route from here. Continue along the towpath, walking by Short Ferry, near to which is a campsite and caravan park with a pub. When you get to Bardney Lock and have crossed over the footbridges, you will be walking along Viking Way. It is another two miles from here to Bardney. There are a couple of pubs here and also a sugar factory.
2. Bardney to Kirkstead Bridge (6.5 miles / 10.4km)
Setting off from Bardney, continue walking along the towpath of the River Witham. Over two miles along, you will come to Southrey where there are a couple of pubs, a telephone and parking facilities. There is also a campsite and caravan park close by. Carry on alongside the river until you get to Kirkstead Bridge. There are some pubs, a phone, a campsite and caravan site nearby. There is also parking here.
3. Kirkstead Bridge to Chapel Hill (5.5 miles / 8.8km)
As you walk along the path by the river, you will come to the 'Tales of the Riverbank Visitor Centre', just past Thorpe Tilney Dales. Further along, there is another campsite and caravan park. As you come into Dogdyke, there are a couple of pubs if youa re neding some refreshments before arriving at Chapel Hill. There is a campsite and caravan park here.
4. Chapel Hill to Anton's Gowt Lock (8 miles / 12.8km)
Set off from Chapel Hill along the banks of the river. This section of the route is a bit quieter than the others as you will not meet any villages really along the way. There are a number of farms and a pub by Langrick Bridge. Anton's Gowt Lock is about another two miles from here. There is a pub by the lock if you need some refreshments before starting the final section.
5. Anton's Gowt Lock to Boston (2 miles / 3.2km)
From Anton's Gowt Lock, the river turns and heads south. On your way, you will pass a football ground and there will be a football stadium on your left as you come into Boston. There are many pubs in Boston, supermarkets, tourist information centre and a museum.
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