South Kesteven walking festival brings dozens of routes to Lincolnshire this month

Walkers across Lincolnshire are being invited to lace up their boots for a packed programme of guided outings as a new festival gets under way in South Kesteven. The South Kesteven Walking Festival starts on Saturday and runs for most of April, bringing together a wide range of organised walks under one banner. The idea is to showcase both the district's landscapes and the community groups helping people explore them.

For Lincolnshire residents, the festival offers a chance to see familiar places from a different angle, whether that means local history, countryside views or family-friendly time outdoors. South Kesteven District Council previously asked local groups to put forward their own walks, helping shape a programme that reflects the area itself. Some of the early events have already proved especially popular.

Fully booked walks include a guided military history route around Londonthorpe and Bellmount, a sunset walk near Belton House, and a 20km guided hike taking in Belton Estate, Barkston Airfield and Minnett's Hill. Belton House, near Grantham, is among the best-known Lincolnshire locations taking part. The National Trust site is hosting several events during the festival, including a dog walk, a stroll focused on architecture and historic graffiti, and a walk and talk exploring the Influential Women of Belton.

Visitors joining those National Trust walks will also receive free entry to the estate on the day. The Guildhall Arts Centre is also adding something different to the line-up, with a walking theatre show in Allington. That gives the festival a broader feel than a standard series of rambles, mixing heritage, culture and outdoor activity in a way likely to appeal to different ages and interests.

Paul Stokes, South Kesteven District Council's cabinet member for leisure, said the festival had been created to showcase both local walks and the groups behind them. He described it as a celebration of what the district has to offer and encouraged people to get involved. Charlotte Beaver, visitor experience manager at Belton Estate, said Belton's regular walks programme was already varied, and that joining the wider festival was a natural step once organisers heard about it.

For many in Lincolnshire, walking festivals like this are about more than exercise. They can provide a simple way to reconnect with nearby villages, estates and green spaces that may sit just a short drive away but are easy to overlook in everyday life. With routes aimed at different audiences, including dog owners and families with pushchairs, the programme appears designed to make the outdoors feel accessible rather than exclusive.

In a county known for its open landscapes and long horizons, South Kesteven's new festival is putting local paths and stories centre stage for the month ahead.

This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.