< Previous30 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLINCOLNSHIRE WALKSExploring Lincolnshireon footThe hilltop village of Barrowbylies just west of Grantham andthe A1 at an elevation of around300 feet on a site that has beenoccupied since Neolithic times.The village was recorded in theDomesday Book as “Bergebi”whilst All Saints church dateslargely from around 1215AD. Inthe C17th century the parson wasDoctor Thomas Hurst a former chaplainto King Charles I.Shortly after leaving Barrowby therising footpath gradually induces afeeling of mounting expectation that issuddenly fulfilled by what I call my“Surprise View” with the GranthamCanal glinting far below and BelvoirCastle in the distance.By the latter half of the 18th CenturyNottingham was an important meetingplace of several new midlands canalsand Grantham Corporation determinedto have their own canal so linking intothis potentially lucrative new transportsystem. Even following the industrialrevolution the poor conditions of theturnpike roads made it difficult totransport manufactured goods andagricultural produce. Grantham dearlywanted to export its local produce inWar provided some respite butclosure came in 1929 and formalabandonment in 1936. Some ofthe locks and bridges seen on ourwalk are 1790’s “originals” and arenow listed.A short section of the walk isalong an old mineral railway. Tothe southwest of Grantham layconsiderable beds of iron ore thatwere first quarried in the 1870’s aboveWoolsthorpe near Brewer’s Grave.Initially the ore was transported bycanal barge but production quicklyoutgrew the canals capacity and abranch railway was built from theformer ANB&EJR main line toWoolsthorpe. Eventually additionalquarries were opened around Denton,Harlaxton and Stroxton and thenetwork expanded to some sixteenmiles in length. High-grade foreign oreimports forced closure by 1974.The mediaeval village of Casthorpe,the “Chastingetorp” of which theDomesday Book implies a population ofaround eighty, was located nearCasthorpe House. (GR863355) Themodern Casthorpe Bridge (No 64) wasbuilt in 1994.The walk concludes with fabulousCANAL WILDLIFESURPRISEVIEWBARROWBY CHURCHBarrowby, Casthorpe andThe Grantham CanalSpectacular views are interspersedwith an abandoned railway and canaltowpaths on this month’s walk aroundthe Grantham Canal.exchange for coal and other supplies!The Corporation first debated buildinga canal in 1770 but only in April 1793was Parliamentary approval given and£75,000 raised from Grantham andNottingham businessmen to fund itsconstruction, which began that sameyear. The canal opened in1797 but it wassome time before it generated a profit,though it was certainly doing sobetween 1820 and 1851 but by thenthe railway, in the shape of theAmbergate, Nottingham, Boston andEastern Junction Railway, had reachedGrantham. The ANB&EJR took over thecanal three years later but was soonabsorbed into the Great NorthernRailway who (perhaps understandably)regarded the canal as competition; thusits slow decline began. The First World30-31:Layout 1 16/3/12 09:25 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY31LINCOLNSHIRE WALKSviews over the Vale of Belvoir from the hills near Barrowby.NOTES.Park by the green in Casthorpe Road,Barrowby.THE ROUTE.Behind the house at the corner ofBarrowby village green turn left along Mill Row, soonjoining an enclosed footpath behind houses, thencontinue across playing fields. On reaching a track turnright, keeping forward at a junction along a field pathbeside a hedge until the magnificent “Surprise View”appears encompassing the canal and distant Belvoir Castle. Go down steps to a stile then descend the field to itsbottom right hand corner and another stile by a metalgate. Continue downhill beside another hedge to a copseand footbridge. Cross this, bear left and on reaching awaymark post go right soon coming to steps up the canalembankment. Turn right along the towpath.At Casthorpe Bridge (No 64) cross the canal onto apath along the opposite bank. In the second field,beyond a footbridge, veer slightly left over an arable fieldand at its far corner join the abandoned mineral railway.Turn right. From the seat at the end of the accessibletrack descend left before turning right through an oldrailway bridge.Cross the canal again at Longmoor Bridge (No 62) andturn left - now on the towpath again. In half a mileacross bridge Number 61 is the former bargeman’s inn,the Dirty Duck, at Woolsthorpe Wharf. Our routehowever continues beside the canal for another three-quarters of a mile, leaving it at Stenwith Bridge (No 60).Go under this and turn right, cross the old railway/cycletrack and follow a path through trees to a road. Turn left.Follow the road for about half a mile and just round aleft-hand bend, by the first house, go right onto theaccess road for Casthorpe Farm. Bear right then left topass through the farmyard onto another access road; thencross a public road onto a further track past Coe Farm.In another three-quarters of a mile, just after the trackbends sharp left look for a waymarked path climbing thehillside to your right. Near the top bear left, contouringthe hillside to meet another track. Turn right, resumingthe uphill climb, and in 250 yards take the field pathsigned to the left, keeping straight ahead until a stile isreached at the end of a walled lane near Barrowbychurch. Turn right. Just beyond the church the lane forks. Keeping rightleads to an enclosed footpath heading directly back toCasthorpe Road; keeping left takes you into the villagefor the inn and tearooms.by Hugh MarrowsFACTFILESTART: BarrowbyDISTANCE: 8 miles • 13 kilometresMAPS: OS Landranger 130 (Grantham) • Explorer 247REFRESHMENTS: Barrowby - White SwanThe Cakehole - Delicatessen & TearoomsWoolsthorpe Wharf - The Dirty Duck (Rutland Arms)APPROACHINGWOOLSTHORPEWHARFTHE DIRTY DUCK INNBARROWBY VILLAGELONGMOOR BRIDGE30-31:Layout 1 16/3/12 09:25 Page 2open countryside surrounding places like the nearby andpicturesque village of Tealby. For motorcycle enthusiasts, thetown is a treat, with long, often straight roads between thetown and areas like Louth, come the summer, the air is filledwith the buzz of engines and the squeal of tyres.For the more sedate cyclist, the trails around the woodsoffer varying degrees of mileage to enjoy, taking in bothstunning open roads through the fields and deep, dark woods. There are hidden gems among the walks too, like achocolate shop tucked away down a farm track on the way toWillingham, and a café on the edge of the woods. As withmany places in our fair county,scratching the surface reveals alot more going on than firstmeets the eye.Just a mile outside of thetown is Market RasenRacecourse. Far more thansimply a racing venue, thecourse now has its ownrestaurant, run by recent localMasterchef contestant EamonnHunt, who has opened MaMaJ’s at the venue, serving upAlthough a small town, nestling as it does betweenGrimsby and Lincoln, Market Rasen has its fair share ofattractions. Small, but perfectly formed, the town has a longhistory and remains largely unchanged and unspoilt. Thetown is still centred on the marketplace and St Thomas’sChurch and boasts its fair share of independent traders,selling everything from fresh vegetables and local produce, toluxury homeware.Visit on a market day and you’ll find the town buzzingwith shoppers, the old mixing with the young up and downthe town’s main shopping area. A selection of cafes and pubsoffer up anything a visitormight want, but what is there todo?Many people return year onyear for the excellent campingat Walesby, taking advantage ofthe wide variety of outdoorpursuits on offer. There’s agenerous amount of publicfootpaths and bridleways thatcan wind all around the town,from Walesby Woods’ refreshingwalks among the trees, to more32 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYMARKET RASENJason Maguire rides Top Benefit at a recentmeeting at Market Rasen RacecoursePHOTO: PAUL DEERYRasen the barMarket Rasen is undergoing a quiet transformation that residents want toshout about. We look into why the town is worth a visit.Sarah Lamballe and Bev Farrow of MR BIG,the town’s newly-formed business investmentgroup, inside the Advocate Arms32-33:Layout 1 16/3/12 11:32 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY33MARKET RASENWe pride ourselves in our superb collection of premium quality, hand-made aromatherapy toiletries, gifts and natural health and skincare products10a Queen Street, Market Rasen LN8 3EH Tel. 01673 842722www.fragrancedgifts.co.ukIndulgenceFragrance for any & every occasionItalian food. The racecourse also hosts concerts and evenings of music.Past artists include pop star Peter Andre, meaning the venueis fast becoming known as an entertainment venue, as well ashosting private functions such as wedding receptions.The town’s train station is a marvel too, winning awards forits appearance. It’s managed by a generous Friends group,flowers stand in quaint little pots, litter is non-existent andthe benches are well maintained. A ‘poets corner’ takes up theedge of the first platform, complete with bench to sit downand enjoy resident’s literary efforts. Some of it is very quirky,making waiting for a train a pleasure, rather than a bore.This sense of pride is wonderful to see, and is spreading toother areas of the town, most obviously the High Street.Although busy with shoppers and offering the best inspecialist services and produce, more needs to be done toencourage people to visit.The newly-formed Market Rasen Business InvestmentGroup, or MR BIG for short, are determined to improve thetown’s prospects. Talking to members Sarah Lamballe and BevFarrow, their enthusiasm for the town is infectious. Sarahsays, “We started the group recently and have been bowledover by the response, we have had over a hundred peopleturn up to meetings. People want more transparency andwant to clean up the town.”This sense of community brings together Bev’s two years’hard work on the Market Rasen Guide, an online directorythat points people in the right direction for local services andthings to do by converting it to a new blog atwww.marketrasenguide.co.uk, which is worth checking outfor anyone in the area.This surely shows an enthusiasm to change the town’sfortunes, simple things like cleaning up shop fronts, clearinglitter and campaigning to let pop-up shops exist among otherideas the group seems to have in droves. The importantdecision has also been made to apply for the much-vauntedPortas Pilot Scheme. The scheme, headed by retail guru MaryPortas of TV fame will award twelve high streets throughoutthe nation with up to £100,000 to help fund improvementand regeneration initiatives.Richard Hallsworth, member of the Business ImprovementGroup and Partner at Nicholson’s Chartered Accountantssays, “We’ve got a lot to do, in a very short space of time, butthe opportunity was simply too good to miss. The project isreally focusing the efforts of group and ensuring we committo firm actions.’The Group expects to face stiff competition, as it has beensuggested that over three hundred submissions are expected,but as Richard explains, “The team are being pragmatic aboutour chances of winning. Of course we’d love the positivepublicity and financial support to help realise our ambitionsfor the town. But we’re all agreed that the exercise is valuablein its own right - as it will see us lay down a blueprint forpositive transformation in Market Rasen.”Why not take a visit to the town over the next fewmonths? You should see a town proud of its past as well aspreparing for its bright future.Lef: The Forestry Commission maintain many of the woodland surrounding the town. Here atthe Middle Rasen plantation, old trees grow alongside new saplings.Above: The start of the town’s Caistor Road, a welcoming sight on your arrival.32-33:Layout 1 16/3/12 11:32 Page 2Egg-citementabounds!34 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYEASTERIt’s maybe not so pronounced given the unseasonably mildwinter we’ve just experienced, but Easter is usually the firstopportunity we get to begin enjoying outdoor activities inLincolnshire. It’s a staging post to tell us that summer is on itsway and many of the county’s top attractions will be openingtheir doors for the first time this month.With the Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympicscoming up (never mind the seemingly inevitableembarrassment of England’s performance at Euro 2012), it’snot surprising that many of Lincolnshire’s attractions are thisyear emphasising that they offer the very best of British. Thecounty’s many beautiful attractions certainly have a richhistory so there’s no better time to take a closer look at someaspects you may have overlooked.What better opportunity to do that than from an open-topbus? The vehicles have been absent in Lincoln for nearly adecade now but they’ll be back on the road from Easter andwill be a familiar sight during the summer months. MattCorrigan of Lincoln BIG, who are running the new buses,says, “We are thrilled to be relaunching this service and weare determined to make it even more popular than itsforerunner – which last operated in 2004.”After its appearance over the Easter weekend, they will alsobe out on the rest of this year’s Bank Holidays and every dayin July and August. Areas such as Lincoln Cathedral, Bailgate,the Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Brayford and St Mark’s areon the route. These will be familiar sights to those whoregularly live in and visit Lincoln, and indeed if you knowthem inside out, there’s a role for you as well.Matt says, “We are looking for enthusiastic andknowledgeable people to join the team of guides which we arerecruiting for this new service and we want to ensure theyhave a sparkling commentary and some great stories to sharewith passengers. Lincoln has some fine buildings, a wealth ofIf you’re inspired by the beauty and character ofStamford, you could be the town’s first ever PoetLaureate this EasterEgg-citementabounds!The Easterholidays are theperfectopportunity toexploreLincolnshire atits best34-35:Layout 1 16/3/12 09:26 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY35EASTERhistory and also fantastic modern-day attractions. We’re surelocal people will have some interesting personal anecdotesabout these, which will help to make our tour bus serviceunforgettable.”Elsewhere in Lincolnshire there’s loads going on over theEaster holidays – which is great news if you’re looking forsomething to keep the kids entertained. In the North of thecounty, for example, the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre inScunthorpe will opening up its Easter Activity Table for thetwo weeks of the school holidays in April where everyone canget creative and produce something unique. On Good Fridayand Easter Saturday, meanwhile, visitors will have the chanceto create some oddball Easter eggs to add a bit of colour toproceedings.Further down the county, the Petwood Hotel in WoodhallSpa will be celebrating Easter Sunday with a special Easter EggHunt. This runs after a Sunday lunch which will make it avery special event for all the family – and of course the Hotelis one of a number of delightful venues in the county whichooze class and splendour. That’ll be vividly illustrated thefollowing week, on Saturday 14th April, where the centenaryof the Titanic’s maiden voyage will be marked by turning theclock back to 1912 for an elegant evening of dining andentertainment.Those full of the joys of spring may also be inspired byVerse 2012, Stamford’s poetry festival that takes place at thetown’s Arts Centre from Wednesday 28th March to Monday2nd April. There’ll be a host of visiting poets includingCamilla McLean, who’ll be hosting a creative workshop forkids on Saturday 31st, and the comic poet John Hegley, aswell as numerous opportunities to write and perform yourown poetry. In addition the hunt is on for Stamford’s firstPoet Laureate who will be crowned during the event andspend the next two years penning some suitably inspiredverse about the town and its people.Of course, Easter is also a great time to explore some ofLincolnshire’s grand country houses. Burghley, for example,opens its private South Gardens to the public from Monday2nd April, a few weeks after the house opens its doors for thenew season. It’s a particularly timely occasion to visitBurghley as the late Lord Burghley was one of the organisersof the last London Olympics back in 1948, and to mark thisconnection, later this summer the House will be offeringsurely one of the most exciting places to watch what’lldoubtless be a memorable games as it mounts a big screen inthe South Gardens.As you’ll see on the following pages, there’s much else toenjoy during the Easter holidays elsewhere in the UK – buthere in Lincolnshire there’s lots on offer and there’s bound tobe somewhere in the county you’ve yet to explore, so why nottake the opportunity to get out there?Take a look at Lincoln from a different angleas the open-top buses return to the streets34-35:Layout 1 16/3/12 09:26 Page 2Lincolnshire Today’s recent visit to CenterParcs at Sherwood Forest offeredexcitement and energy by the bucketloadSpring into action atCenter ParcsSpring into action atCenter Parcs36 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYEASTERLincolnshire Today’s recent visit to CenterParcs at Sherwood Forest offeredexcitement and energy by the bucketloadIt’s not all aboutaction andadventure – theAqua Sana spa is afantastic place torelax36-37:Layout 1 16/3/12 11:34 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY37EASTEROver the past few years, LincolnshireToday has often had the pleasure ofvisiting Center Parcs, and we’ve alwaysbeen hugely impressed by its quality asa short break destination. Each timewe’ve come away relaxed, energisedand full of stories of new experiences.Every time we’ve visited the boyswe’ve taken with us have been a littleolder and their tastes have changed.On our first visit a decade or so agothe boys were tiny and the pool, softplay area and toy shops were the mainattraction. Now the boys are twelveand thirteen, they enjoy the freedomCentre Parcs offers. They’re able to getout freely on their bikes to grabsomething to eat, swim, climb andexplore. Of course, it’s nice as a parentto know that they’re safe and enjoyingthemselves, especially as the worldbecomes more closed in and unsafe.The accommodation available isabsolutely fantastic and offers a realhome from home feel. This time wehad the added bonus of a sauna. Weall enjoyed drying out in there after anunexpected shower hit and we allbecame soaked through. The en-suitebathrooms in all four bedrooms alsohelped speed things along. Whenyou’re at Center Parcs staying in is notan option, especially with energeticboys and so many activities to do, sotime is often of the essence first thingin the morning.With over fifty outdoor activities onoffer, the boys chose to attempt theAerial Adventure, a thrillingcombination of tree trekking and, forthe fantastic finale, a whizz down anextra-long zip wire. The boys lovedthis and it was great to see people ofall ages working their way through thetrees.Center Parcs also excels when itcomes to dining options. We ate at theRajinda Pradesh, where the servicewas fantastic and the waiters werequick to offer advice and suggestionsso even the fussiest of eaters could findsomething they enjoyed. A furtherbenefit of Center Parcs that we madeuse of is the delivery service. For only£3.95 you can order a pizza, Chineseor Indian dishes to be delivered toyour lodge, making for a greatlunchtime treat.Those who long for the quiet lifeand who find some of the activities onoffer a bit too reminiscent of school PElessons for their liking still have plentyto enjoy at Center Parcs, however. TheAqua Sana is a great way to unwindand for the grown-ups to enjoythemselves just as much as the kids.We opted for the Indian head massageand I have to say it was so relaxing Ivery nearly feel asleep.2012 is a big year for Center Parcs asit marks its 25th anniversary in theUK, and is also starting constructionon a new park in Woburn Forest inBedfordshire to run alongside itsexisting parks at Sherwood Forest,where we stayed, and at WhinfellForest in Cumbria, Elveden Forest inSuffolk and Longleat Forest inWiltshire. In addition, Center Parcs areat the top of the government’s newleague table of energy efficientbusiness, and all four sites have againachieved Visit England’s 5-star rating,which confirms they offer “anexceptional standard, with a degree ofluxury” as judged by their mysteryholidaymakers.We’d certainly agree. With the boysanother year older, the experience justgets better and better and Center Parcsremains a great family treat.For more information on CenterParcs at Sherwood Forest, visitwww.centerparcs.co.uk.Center Parcs arecelebrating their 25thyear in the UK36-37:Layout 1 16/3/12 11:34 Page 2EASTER - ALTON TOWERSAt the end of the last season, some ofour intrepid, thrill-seeking staff atLincolnshire Today were invited toconquer all the top five thrill rides atAlton Towers. Helen, Angie, Lisa andJade, as well as Angie’s son Tom, werebrave enough to take a ride on Oblivion,Rita, Air, Thirteen and Nemesis over anaction-packed weekend. Helen says, “These were all adrenaline-pumping rides. Hanging above a verticaldrop, waiting to plummet on Oblivionhas to be the most nerve-wrackingexperience for all of us. It was the ridewe were most nervous about all day, butonce we’d been on, we were so glad wedid!” So what did our fabulous five ride on?Oblivion is probably the most famous ofall the rides at the park, and when itopened back in 1998 it was the world’sfirst vertical drop roller coaster – and it’sstill massively popular and exciting.With a maximum speed of 68mph, it’sthe third fastest rollercoaster in the UK.Passengers are suspended facing a large,dark hole, before they plummet into it. Our team were also lucky enough totake a ride on Thirteen, the world’s firstvertical freefall drop rollercoaster – onwhich the track and train freefallapproximately five metres in darkness.Nemesis, meanwhile, was the firstinverted rollercoaster anywhere inEurope. Passengers are strapped into ahanging rollercoaster train with their legsand feet hanging loose, which makes forone of the most unique rides in theworld. Passengers are turned upsidedown and in corkscrew shapesthroughout the ride. Our team also ventured into theForbidden Area to take a ride on Air –another first, in this instance the firstflying rollercoaster. Guests ride in aprone position and experience thefeeling of flight by “flying” close to theground, under footpaths and glidingnarrowly past trees and rock. Its slogan is“Assume the position”.The Lincolnshire Today team’s last taskwas a meeting with Rita, the erstwhileQueen of Speed. As the name wouldsuggest, it accelerates to 100km/h in just2.2 seconds (even faster than when itbegan). The ride is loosely based on dragracing and is certainly for you if youhave a need for speed.Rides like this mean it’s no surpriseAlton Towers is the most visited themepark in the UK and the ninth mostvisited in Europe, with around 2.7million visitors per year. The 2012 seasonlooks to be even more popular, with theterrifying new Nemesis Sub-Terra likelyto be the main attraction.The main season begins on 24thMarch and for more information, visitwww.altontowers.com.Alton TowersThe top theme park opens for the new season on 24th March with some newattractions and plenty of old favouritesHelen, Lisa, Tom, Angie and JadeAmazing adventure at 38 LINCOLNSHIRETODAY38:Layout 1 16/3/12 11:35 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY39FOOD & DININGKeeping it healthyIf you’ve kept up your new year diet, then well done, keep going! If you’veslipped, why not try these vegetarian recipes that are both easy to prepare andhealthy as well as tasting amazing!Ingredients:500g asparagus spears 375g ready-rolled puff pastry4 egg yolks200g crème fraîche100ml double cream2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan2 tbsp strong horseradishSea salt and freshly ground pepperBeaten egg for brushing 1 tbsp finely chopped chivesMethod:Clean the asparagus and trim away anywhite ends or peel carefully with a vegetablepeeler.Remove the pastry from the fridge tenminutes before use.Preheat the oven to 220°C, 425°F, Gas mark 7.Unroll the pastry and place on a bakingsheet, then take a sharp knife and with thepoint score a line round the pastry about 1cminside the edge. Lightly prick inside therectangle with a fork and brush the edges witha little beaten egg.Lay the asparagus in a neat line, all the tipsfacing the same way inside the border of thepastry.Mix together the crème fraîche, egg yolks,chives, horseradish and cream, season andspread over the asparagus tart and sprinklewith the Parmesan.Place in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes untilgolden brown and cooked (turn the oven downto 190°C if the pastry is beginning to catch)Serve with a tomato, basil and rocket salad toreally top it off!Asparagus, Horseradish and Parmesan Tart39-40:Layout 1 16/3/12 09:28 Page 1Next >