Walk FactsIntroductionTThhiinnggss ttoo sseeee aanndd ddoo iinn SSlleeaaffoorrddSleaford is an attractive and historicmarket town described by Pevsneras: ‘An unpretentious but satisfyingcountry town with an air of well-fednonchalance.’

Sleaford has a wide range ofspecialist shops, accommodation,attractions, diverse places to eat anddrink and a number of pleasantriverside walks.

Markets are held on Monday, Fridayand Saturday each week, with apopular Farmers Market on the firstSaturday of each month.

For further information on the above,contact Sleaford Tourist InformationCentre on 01529 414294.

Cogglesford MillEast Road, Sleaford NG34 7EQTelephone: 07966 400634 www.heartoflincs.com

The Hub National Centre forCraft & DesignNavigation Wharf, Carre StreetSleaford NG34 7TWTelephone: 01529 308710 www.thehubcentre.info

Navigation HouseNavigation Wharf, Carre StreetSleaford NG34 7TWTelephone: 01529 414294 www.heartoflincs.com

The River Slea (Anglo-saxon, ‘muddyone’) is 18 miles long from its sourceuntil it joins the Witham at ChapelHill. It rises 75 metres above sealevel and enters North Kesteven fromthe west of Wilsford as The Beck.

The Beck becomes The Slea atBoiling Wells or Bully Wells spring. Itis joined by from the south by theNine Foot River. Both streams arefed by further springs at Guildhall andCobblers Hole and enter Sleafordseparately before joining up again atCarre Street.

The river is often dry at the NatureReserve at Rauceby Warrens wheredredging in the 60s to preventSleaford Golf Course floodingdestroyed the old river bed.

The Slea Navigation brought greatwealth to the town, and on Friday22nd June 1792, 4,200 pints of beerwere drawn for the town’s people tocelebrate the success of theparliamentary Bill that provided for ‘aNavigation’ or canal to be constructedthat would join the Witham toHaverholme Mill. The proposed canalwas to be 30ft wide at the surfaceand 4ft deep, with seven locks andeight brick bridges to be constructedat a cost of over £4,000.

Places of interest to visit nearby

ECS6857RT 2009

For more Stepping Out walks, further information on local attractions oraccommodation, please call or visit:Sleaford Tourist Information Centre, Money’s Yard, Carre Street, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 7TW Telephone: 01529 414294 Email: tic@n-kesteven.gov.uk www.heartoflincs.comDownload all the Stepping Out walks by visiting www.countrysidenk.co.ukwww.countrysideaccess.gov.ukwww.visitlincolnshire.comwww.spiresandsteeples.com

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EastHeckington

Haddington

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Go Stepping Out!Stepping Out

Walk

6a

North Kesteven District Council Heart of Lincolnshire

www.countrysidenk.co.uk

Distance 3.75 miles/6km

The Eastern SleaWalk LocationA linear walk from the centre of Sleaford following the River Slea.

Starting PointsMoney’s Yard in Sleaford (Grid Ref: TF 069 457)

ParkingThere are car parks marked on the map in Sleaford oralternatively park at Haverholme Park and walkupstream to Sleaford.

Public TransportFor information call the Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visitwww.lincolnshire.gov.uk/busrailtravel

Walk Length3.75miles (6km) and should take 1½ to 2 hours to walk.

Type of WalkMainly tracks following the riverbank.

Ordnance Survey mapsExplorer 261, 272 andLandranger 130

Many of the paths have been provided by the goodwill of local landowners. These aremarked by Highways Act signs. No special permission is needed to use these paths,but walkers are asked to help to ensure a continued welcome by only using thewaymarked paths and keeping dogs on a lead. Where paths cross pasture, youngstock may be present. If you have a dog with you please make sure it is under firm

control in these sensitive areas.

Whilst great care has been taken incompiling this information into this leaflet,North Kesteven District Council cannot beheld responsible for any errors, omissionsor alterations contained within it. Theinclusion of an establishment within thisleaflet does not imply any officialrecommendations by North KestevenDistrict Council.

The Eastern Slea1. Begin at Money’s Yard, near to

Sleaford Tourist InformationCentre. Turn left out of the carpark and follow Carre Streettowards St Denys’ Church. On theopposite side of the street is alarge stone portal inscribedNavigation Wharf 1972, andfurther along on the same side isthe entrance into the Wharf area.Cross over the road and continuethrough the wharf area pastNavigation House and The Hub.Continue past The Hub intoEastgate car park and cross thebridge situated at the bottom ofEastgate car park. Turn left andcontinue along the river bank.

2. On passing Sleaford LeisureCentre you will see a little bridgewith iron railings. Carry on overthe bridge and stroll along theriver until you reach CogglesfordMill.

3. Continue on the footpath pastCogglesford Mill, keeping theRiver Slea to your left. You willreach a kissing gate which willtake you through to open fields.Walk straight ahead following thegrass track.

4. When the path forks, eithercontinue straight ahead throughtwo kissing gates or turn righttowards the old railway bridge.Both of these routes will bringyou to the same point.

5. If you continue under the railwaybridge, turn left and follow thegrass track to the riverbank toyour left. Continue straight ahead.

6. At Bone Mill Lock you will walkunder the A17, and straight on.

7. Pass Holdingham Flour Mill onyour left (the old Navigation tollbooth is still visible) with thehamlet of Evedon to your right.

8. At Evedon bridge, site of the oldPaper Mill, cross over the road andbridge to continue walking straightahead on the opposite side,keeping the river on your right.

9. On reaching White House, turnleft and follow the path until youturn right. Continue past thehouses on your right followingthe footpath until you rejoin thepath next to the river. Turn left.

10. Continue straight ahead throughwoodland, keeping HaverholmePark and Evedon Wood to your right.

11. On reaching Haverholme Lock,cross over the two bridges onyour right and follow the footpathleft, with views of the gothic styleruins to your right. At the top ofthe path you will enter theStepping Out car park, bringingyou to the end of the walk.

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artsNK have worked with theRauceby Banks project group torefurbish Rauceby Banks. Illustrative plaques are sited in thefootpath going into Sleaford. This isan ongoing project.

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TThhee RRiivveerr SSlleeaa WWeesstt ttoo EEaasstt WWaallkkUsing leaflets 6a and 6b it ispossible to walk along the RiverSlea from its historic source atBoiling Wells to HaverholmePark. This creates a linear walkof 7.2 miles/11.6kms.

Beginning from the top car parkat the Bustard Inn in SouthRauceby, turn left down TomLane, left again into Main Streetand walk down Main Street toPinfold Lane. Turn left intoPinfold Lane and at the end ofthe lane take the right hand forktowards Ash Holt copsedescribed at Point 8 of theRiverside Walk (leaflet 6b).From here reverse Points 8 to 1to take you from Boiling Wellsthrough Sleaford to CogglesfordMill. Then pick up The EasternSlea walk (leaflet 6a) from Point3 to take you all the way toHaverholme.

�� Reproduced from OS Mapping with the permission of the controller of HMSO c Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes crowncopyright and may lead to civil proceedings. OS Licence 100017926.2009

Spires & Steeples is an inspirational26 mile Arts and Heritage Trail fromLincoln Cathedral to St Denys’Church in Sleaford. The trail isperfect for anyone who enjoysleisurely walks and has endlessamounts of art works, churches,with typical Lincolnshire landscapesand picturesque skies.

A thousand years ago there were 18water mills clustered around Sleaford.Historically important Cogglesford Mill(coggle = ‘cobbled’ ford) was saved andrestored to working order in the 1990s. It is still producing flour at least 250years after it was built.

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Spires & Steeples Artsand Heritage Trail

Rauceby Banks Project (Sleaford)

Stepping Out leafletnumber 6b

KeyCar ParksThe Eastern Slea walkAlternative Stepping Out route Tourist Information Centre

Rauceby Banks Project (Sleaford)

Spires & Steeples

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Sleaford

Stepping Out leafletnumber 7

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