サウスハイカムでののおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

Stunning location for a walk

Aubourn Hall itself is a rare 17th century manor house and something of an ‘architectural riddle’ set in 12 acres of secluded gardens, in the heart of the village of Aubourn. Surrounded by the wider Aubourn Estate which is made up of approximately 2,500 acres of farmland and woodland. The estate had 500 years of continuous ownership by the Nevile family.

The church building of today is what remains of the ancient parish church that was partially demolished in 1862 when a ‘new’ church was built between Aubourn and Haddington. All that survives of the new church is the tower and apse. The ‘new’ church is the village heritage room and is no longer used for worship. The chancel of the old parish church is home to St. Peter’s today. It dates from about 1200AD with a significant rebuild in the 14th century.

The River Witham is a river almost entirely in the county of Lincolnshire in the east of England. It rises south of Grantham close to South Witham at SK8818, passes through the centre of Grantham (where it may be closely followed using the Riverside Walk through Wyndham Park and Queen Elizabeth Park), passes Lincoln and at Boston, flows into The Haven, a tidal arm of The Wash, near RSPB Frampton Marsh. The name "Witham" seems to be extremely old and of unknown origin. Archaeological and documentary evidence shows the importance of the Witham as a navigable river from the Iron Age onwards. From Roman times it was navigable to Lincoln, from where the Fossdyke was constructed to link it to the River Trent. The mouth of the river moved in 1014 following severe flooding, and Boston became important as a port.

The present church may be the third to have been built on the site. The first recorded date of a Church in South Hykeham was 1138. The west tower was constructed in the 13th or 14th Century. In 1866 the St Michael’s and All Angels Church spire was struck by lightening. This was repaired and a programme of restoration commenced in 1869 including the erection of the south porch, removal of a gallery and installation of new windows. The interior was also improved and acquired its Victorian features.

The park was created by quarrying for sand and gravel, but nature has reclaimed the pits and bare sand, creating habitats for many species.

Whisby Nature Park offers a great series of trails around the many lakes and extending into the wood and marsh land area across the railway line. Car parking and visitor / cafe facilities make this a great place for a walk or run. Most paths are a hard surface of compacted limestone.

The scrub area around Coot Lake provides cover and breeding areas for a number of different species of bird including the nightingale. As a result of this dogs are not allowed on this walk between April and July inclusive (except assistance dogs).