Walking with Vikings

Lincoln isn’t just about the Romans. Once you’ve walked the canal, you can enter the world of the Vikings at Lincoln

Cliff. The spring-line ‘cliff villages’ dotted along this undulating ridge have ancient roots and are all joined together by the Viking Way long distance footpath. This area was once part of the Danelaw, the huge swathe of north and east England settled by the Danes and Norsefolk in the 9th century.

To view their realm, join the Viking Way near Lincoln railway station and follow it up Canwick Hill and along the ridge. As this is a rare stretch of high ground in the county, you can enjoy miles of countryside walking with an almost constant view across the seemingly limitless Lincolnshire plain. The characterful cliff villages of Bracebridge Heath, Waddington, Harmston and Coleby all have pubs, should you need a breather or sustenance, with The Bell at Coleby (thebellatcoleby.com; 01522 813778) the pick of the bunch. You can decide how many villages you want to take in (there are plenty more after Coleby if you fancy a longer hike) and as soon as you’ve had your fill, you can simply stroll the short distance to the main road that links the settlements and hop on a bus back to Lincoln.