Step back in time on July’s Viking Way walk of the month
Walkers are being invited to pull on their boots and explore three historic Lincolnshire villages as part of the latest Viking Way at 50 Walk of the Month.
July's featured route offers a gentle six-mile circular walk linking Cherry Willingham, Reepham and Fiskerton, giving people the chance to experience a section of Lincolnshire's famous long-distance footpath without tackling the full 149-mile trail.
The easy-to-follow route is ideal for families, casual walkers and anyone looking to discover more of the county's rich history and countryside.
Starting near Cherry Willingham, the largest of the three villages, walkers can enjoy a landscape that has evolved from Norman times into a thriving modern community on the edge of Lincoln.
The route then takes in Reepham, a village with even older roots. Mentioned in Anglo-Saxon charters as Refham, its name is believed to mean "the Reeve's homestead", offering a fascinating glimpse into Lincolnshire's early history.
As the walk continues, visitors pass through the area once occupied by RAF Fiskerton, a key Second World War airfield which opened in 1943 and was home to Lancaster bomber squadrons. At its peak, almost 2,000 personnel were stationed there before the base closed in 1945.
Although the airfield has long since disappeared, traces of its wartime past can still be found in the surrounding landscape.
The final section leads walkers through Fiskerton, close to the River Witham and the renowned Lincolnshire Limewoods – one of Britain's most important areas of small-leaved lime woodland.
Joining the Viking Way between Fiskerton and Cherry Willingham, walkers are rewarded with sweeping views across the countryside and, on a clear day, impressive vistas back towards Lincoln Cathedral.
Families are encouraged to make the most of the adventure by downloading free I-Spy sheets and the popular "50 Things to Look Out For" checklist, designed to keep younger explorers engaged along the way.
Maps, route directions and activity sheets are available through the Viking Way section of Visit Lincolnshire.
The walk also counts towards the newly launched Viking Way Badge Challenge, which encourages people to explore more of the trail.
Participants can earn a bronze badge for completing 50 miles, silver for 100 miles and gold for conquering the entire 149-mile Viking Way.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Viking Way, making it the perfect time to discover one of Lincolnshire's most celebrated walking routes – one step at a time.