On Saturday 29th September Harlaxton Manor will host the grand opening of the 4th South Lincolnshire Walking Festival, providing a rare opportunity to visit the stunning historic property and its grounds, now owned by the University of Evansville, Indiana, USA.
The family friendly event offers a packed programme of walks and tours throughout the day*, including:
Harlaxton House Tours (10.15am & 2pm): Learn how the Manor, built in the 1830’s for a wealthy Nottinghamshire businessman, played a key role in England’s history throughout the years.
Harlaxton Walled Garden Tour (10.30am & 1.45pm): Join Harlaxton’s Head Gardner for a tour of the 6.5 acre walled garden, one of the largest in Britain!
Harlaxton Family Garden Trail (10.45am & 2.15pm): A great opportunity for families to go and explore the stunning gardens and see what you can find with the fun family trail.
Harlaxton’s Military History (11.15am & 1.30pm): Harlaxton’s history from the trenches of WW1 to operation Market Garden in WW2.
Safeguarding Harlaxton’s Heritage (12.30pm): Tackling Heritage at Risk in the grounds of Harlaxton Manor.
Canal & Reservoir Circular (12.30pm): A gentle afternoon stroll by canal and reservoir.
Viking Way and Canal Walk (10am): an energetic 10.5 mile walk along the Viking Way and Grantham Canal, departing from Harlaxton Manor and returning in time for tea!
*Some walks have limited availability, places will be allocated on a first come first served basis on the day.
Those wanting to explore the grounds at their leisure can join one of the self-led trails around Harlaxton Woodland.
The event, which runs from 10am to 4pm, offers something for all ages and abilities and with no admission charge it makes for a fun and affordable day out for all the family. Refreshments will be served in the conservatory throughout the day. All walks are free, except house tours where a small fee of £2 applies. Donations to the South Lincolnshire Walking Festival are welcomed.
The launch event marks the start of a 14 day festival, offering over 60 walks on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 29th September – 28th October.
The festival will conclude with a finale event at Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre on Sunday 28th October, where the Heritage Lincolnshire raffle will be drawn. Tickets for the raffle will be on sale at the launch event and can also be purchased at www.heritagelincolnshire.org/raffle. A range of prizes are on offer including a family ticket to Lincoln Castle. All money raised will help Heritage Lincolnshire to save the Old King’s Head in Kirton.
To find out more about the South Lincolnshire Walking Festival, pick up a copy of the festival brochure which is out now. Copies are available from your local library or tourist information centre, or it can be download from the festival website (https://southlincswalking.com). Walks are also listed on the South Lincolnshire Walking Festival Facebook page.
The festival is organised by Heritage Lincolnshire with support from Lincolnshire County Council, Access Lincoln, North Kesteven District Council, South Kesteven District Council, Boston Borough Council and South Holland District Council.
Natalie Lunt, Walking Festival Co-ordinator for Heritage Lincolnshire, said “We are delighted once again to co-ordinate this highly successful walking festival in South Lincolnshire thanks to our partners, supporters and volunteers.”
South Lincolnshire Walking Festival 2019 