This short and easy ramble links two charming villages situated to the south of Lincoln and close to the Lincoln heath.
The ancient settlement of Dunston was recorded in the Domesday Book as a sizeable community with a population of around 200 people.
St Peter's church retains its medieval tower and an Early English doorway but was otherwise largely rebuilt in 1874. This was paid for by the Ripons of Nocton Hall.
In the mid 1700s the Dashwood family were the village landowners and Sir Francis Dashwood had the Dunston Pillar built on the heathland to the west in 1751, beside today's A15, as a land lighthouse to guide travellers.
The original lantern was replaced in 1810 by a statue of George III to commemorate the monarch's jubilee. This was only removed during WWII and now lies in Lincoln Castle vaults. However, a modern carving of George stands outside Dunston village hall.
In 1919 the Dennis family set about building Lincolnshire's largest 'Potato Railway' at Nocton – potatoes being their main crop – primarily grown for Smith's Crisps.
The line remained operational until 1964 but little of this remains today, though there is an iron post, possibly a watering point, in a hedge gap beside the bridle path at GR059638.
Henry VIII came to stay at Nocton Hall in 1541 and amongst subsequent owners was the Hobart family, one of whom, Robert, was Secretary of State for the Colonies and had Hobart in Tasmania named after him.
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Modern carving of King George III stands outside Dunston village hall.
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Later still, the Earls of Ripon owned the hall and the first earl (John) became prime minister in 1827/28, but only for five months. The Ripons built a new hall that burned down in 1841 and its replacement, eventually an RAF hospital for many years, suffered the same fate in 2004.
In 1862 Nocton's magnificent All Saints church was also provided by the Countess of Ripon, having demolished the Hobarts' earlier Georgian one, in memory of her late 'prime minister' husband. It is magnificent both inside and out having been designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the leading Victorian architect.
The approach path is one of several community artworks in the village. Several other artworks in Nocton comprise an arts trail that includes the Dandelion Sundial on The Green and a carved bench near the post office.
Perhaps the most delightful piece of all, however, is beside The Bridleway leading towards Dunston. This is The Cow created by Nocton schoolchildren from scrap farmyard tools.
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The Cow, below, was created by Nocton schoolchildren from scrap farmyard tools.
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Part of this walk follows a new Spires and Steeples trail between Lincoln and Sleaford.
* There are footpath diversions in Nocton whilst a new housing estate is being developed; my route avoids these. Take care on the road section leaving Nocton.
THE WALK* From the Red Lion walk through Dunston to the church. Bear left and cross the road to the village hall to see the George III statue.
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Nocton's All Saints Church was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the leading Victorian architect.
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* Return to St Peter's and go along Vicarage Lane, to the left of the church and at the junction with Back Lane turn left up to the cemetery. At a footpath sign bear right into the Nocton Estates farmyard, proceeding with a large building to your left until confronted by a new office block. Keep to the right of that along a grass bank (there is a waymark) by a green warehouse to a second waymark, cross a site road and go past another warehouse and further waymarks, finally joining a lane at a barrier.
* Follow this to a lodge and take the estate road on the right down to a four-way footpath sign and a Nocton Trail information board at a junction with a bridleway. (Remember this location for a return via the short route.] Both routes now turn left into Nocton arriving opposite the PO/shop. Look left for the carved bench.
* Turn right to explore The Green and visit the church, or go along Main Road from the PO corner to the village hall for the Nocton trail map and directions. (For the short route return along the bridle path and simply keep ahead for Dunston.)
* The longer return route begins from The Green. Take the footpath on the left just before the 'Sundial' which soon becomes an unsurfaced lane leading to a road. Cross to the pavement and bear right, then at a left-hand bend re-cross to a footpath sign by a garden. Ignore this but follow the road a little further over the end of Parklands Avenue to a disused lane on the right. Turn in here and at the end go right then left into Habbanya Road. Follow this round to its end and keep forward to meet a grass footpath. Follow the stream to a footbridge and turn right.
* Go through some woods to emerge near a footbridge. Cross this, bear left at the field corner to reach an estate road and then turn right. Continue through more woods and follow the road round to the right to reach the four-way footpath sign seen earlier; turn left there for Dunston.
* Reach Dunston near the school; turn left to return to the inn.
* Pick up copies of Hugh's books, Walking in the Wolds and Walking Through Lincolnshire's History, at the Horncastle News, Church Lane, Horncastle.
ABOUT THE WALK.
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About the walk
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START: The Red Lion, Dunston. (GR066631)
(By kind permission of the landlord)
MAPS: OS Landranger 121 (Lincoln), Explorer 272.
DISTANCE: 4.75 or 3.5 miles, 7.5 or 5.5 kilometres.
REFRESHMENTS: Red Lion, Dunston.