Easy hikes and walks around Gainsborough

Lovely woodland, popular with dog walkers. 2 mile and 1 mile loops. Relatively well drained and rarely gets too boggy Hard surfaced car park.

Located on the water’s edge of the River Trent in Gainsborough. On 10 May 1608, a group of Separatists (mainly women and children) decided to escape from Gainsborough in search of religious freedom. They left via the River Trent on a small barge called ‘The Francis’ which travelled to Stallingborough near Immingham, where they would meet a larger boat that would take them to Amsterdam in Holland. After 12 years of city live, some of them returned to England where they embarked the Mayflower in 1620 for their journey to America for a new life.

The path was very soggy in parts and the bridges low with narrow path. Consider going over the top for safety.

It does not look it but it’s a steep drop to the tow path. My advice when wet is walk down the steps onto the level.

This is the joint of the Trent and a marina with a lock protecting the Chesterfield canal. This is my commencement point to complete a cycle of the whole Chesterfield canal top to toe.

Gainsborough Old Hall in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire is over five hundred years old and one of the best preserved medieval manor houses in England. The hall was built by Sir Thomas Burgh in 1460. The Burghs were rich, flamboyant and powerful. Gainsborough Old Hall was not only their home, but also a demonstration of their wealth and importance. Burgh was a benefactor to Newark Church and also the founder of the Chantry and Alms House at Gainsborough. In 1470, the manor was attacked by Sir Robert Welles over a clash about lands, status, and honour, but it was not severely damaged. In 1484 Thomas entertained King Richard III in his hall. Henry VIII visited Gainsborough twice: once in 1509, and again in 1541 with his fifth wife, Queen Catherine Howard. The Queen was accused of indiscretions both at Gainsborough and Lincoln, and she was later executed.

A Georgian style church with medieval tower and a magnificent interior, the altar piece is a copy of the Da Vinci painting of the Last Supper. The first reference to a church in Gainsborough was in 1180 when it was given by Roger de Talbot, Lord of the Manor of Gainsborough to the Knights Templar of Willoughton. However, by 1730 this church was considered 'too dark and mean and incommodious' to suit the town's growing population and the decision was made to build a new church. Only the 15th century tower remains from the original medieval church.

Owlet Wood car park - maintained by woodland trust. Nice small woodland area, doesn’t get too busy really boggy in areas however this can be avoided, most of the paths are clean and would be suitable for buggies etc.