Get Lost Mountaineering

South Elkington, Welton Vale, Whalebone Arch & Heron Lake

Start/Finish

The car park by South Elkington Shop/Cafe which is on the A631 road between Market Rasen and Louth. South Elkington is about 2 miles from the Louth by pass. Turn into the village by the war memorial which is opposite a wooden bus shelter. The car park is almost immediately on the right. Should it be full, just continue into the village and park sensibly further on. The shop/cafe/gift shop is well worth a visit but it has restricted opening hours so best to check before visiting. There is an outdoor seating area in nice weather. It is also worth leaving time to wander around Louth which is a traditional market town with some very pleasant shops and places to eat as well as several market days each week.

Distance/Time

8 km    About 3 – 4 hours

Peaks

No obvious peaks but the highest point is probably where the track from the church is left to continue ahead on a grassy path.

Explorer 282: Lincolnshire Wolds North

Introduction

No one would claim that any part of Lincolnshire is mountainous but walks on its gentle rolling hills are enjoyed by many. This is a short but pleasant walk which takes in open country, a picturesque village and church, the remains of an old whalebone arch and a very attractive lake. The remains of the old whalebone arch are very easily missed even when within touching distance! Many have sat on the bench nearby not realising that the remains of the arch are only about 2 metres away! Note that a short section, less than 1 km, is alongside the busy A157 where there is no path but a fairly wide verge most of the way.

Route

(1) From the shop car park, walk into the village. Pass the Church Institute then the church, after which the road becomes a track. Pass a small duck pond then a few more buildings before leaving the village on the track which soon starts to gently climb uphill. At about its highest point, the track goes left so leave it and continue ahead on a signed grassy path. Follow this to enter a nature reserve then quickly leave it again. Reach a track and go right to follow the track to a minor road at a small ruin. Turn left, slightly downhill, and follow the road around a right hand bend until some houses are in sight.

Pass a signed path on the left and continue past the houses which are on the fringe of Welton-le-Wold. Reach a left turn and follow that minor road uphill then down hill to reach the A157 (Wragby to Louth road). Turn left and follow this busy main road for less than 1 km to reach the footpath going into Welton Vale which is just before a large white house set back a little from the road. Walk through the pleasant vale which has a steep bank on the right. Stay with the main path/track, ignoring the small bridges across the stream on the left. Further on a rough track goes left which is also ignored. At the end of the vale, reach a bench at a crossroads. The remains of the old whalebone arch are about 2 metres before the bench on the path to Welton Vale side. Not much of them remains and there is no longer an arch just what looks like two poles with metal supports.

(2) Take the path/track which is a continuation of the path from Welton Vale. Soon reach a T junction after which the route is more of a path than a track. Continue ahead at each junction to pass a footbridge. Soon after, the path follows the outside edge of the wood with the wood on your left. Continue and soon Heron Lake will slowly come into view and the path becomes a track again. Go through a gate then follow the track around the end of the lake up the other side where it gradually diverges from the lake. This section will have been visible earlier from across the lake. Pass a walled garden, well off to the left and reach a gate. Go through, pass the car park on the left then take the minor road going left to avoid the busy A631 which is visible ahead. Follow the minor road. The entrance to the walled garden is passed (on the left) which now usually holds caravans. Continue to pass a caravan site on the right then follow the road around the end of the site – going right. A little further there is a kind of diagonal crossroads so go across to follow a minor tarmac road which soon goes past a large meadow and reaches the Church Institue passed earlier. Turn right and soon reach the shop car park.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 21^st May, 2025.