(S/E) Leave the car park by the John Street entrance and turn right. At the end cross the main road into the Market Place. Go into the churchyard and follow the path to the left. Turn right at the road and then first left into Church Street. At the T-junction, turn left and continue to the end.
(1) Turn left onto Walesby Road. Where the road curves to the right, turn left down the bridleway.
(2) Cross the railway line and then follow the path, crossing the railway line again.
(3) Follow the path through the woods before turning left to cross a brick railway bridge. Follow the track to the right.
(4) At the end turn right over the level crossing.
(5) Ignore the footpath on the left next to the crossing. Turn left down the bridleway towards Otby Moor Farm. Go through the farm and follow the bridleway until you reach the tarmac road and then turn right.
As you walk along the road you may glimpse Claxby Church nestling in the foot of the Wolds.
(6) Where the road turns sharp left, turn right down a lane marked 'no through road'.
(7) Turn left up the track before you reach Claxby House Farm. Follow the track to the right, keeping the conifer trees on your left. Continue through a field with the hedge on your right.
(8) The Viking Way long distance footpath now joins and merges from the left. Bear right, and follow a track through a meadow and onto Moor Road, on the outskirts of Walesby Village. Turn left and go into the village. Turn right at the crossroads. At the T-junction, turn left.
(9) At the corner take the path to the church through the gateway straight ahead, under the trees.
As you go up to the church, you should be able to see some lumps and bumps on the ground. This is where the medieval village of Walesby was. This settlement shrunk in size in the 14th century. During these times, landowners were enclosing their land for sheep farming which meant the tenants could no longer use their land to make their living. Many had no other trades and had to move to the town.
(10) At the church, the path goes through the gates into the churchyard. Leave the churchyard through the gate opposite the church doorway and turn left. Follow the edge of the field towards a stile in the corner.
This is the well known Ramblers' Church. Inside the church there are many faces watching you - see the carved faces on a pillar near the door - there are a few others elsewhere in the building!
(11) Cross a few fields following the Viking Way. Do take care, as parts of this path can be muddy.
You may see some more lumps in the ground - these are not archaeological features but anthills. If you are lucky you may get a glimpse of a green woodpecker that eats the meadow ants living in the anthills.
(12) Continue along the path to the right of some buildings, to the driveway of Risby Manor Farm.
(13) Turn right onto the track. Cross the road and continue on the bridleway opposite.
(14) Bear left through the farmyard.
(15) At the main road, turn left. Where the road turns sharp left, turn right onto the footpath through the woods to return to Market Rasen.(S/E)
