< PreviousCountryside & NatureThe Ancholme ValleyThe Ancholme Valley from SouthFerriby to Brigg is a popular placefor ramblers and lovers of nature.An abundance of wildlife, history,stunning scenery and delightfulbridges can be found here,including the stone and timbersuspension bridge at Horkstow,designed by Sir John Rennie.Normanby Hall Country ParkNormanby Hall Country Park, inthe heart of North Lincolnshire,offers 300 acres of parkland,woodland, duck ponds and deerpark. With a magnificentVictorian walled garden andsuperb herbaceous borders in thesunken garden, it really issomewhere to escape the stressesof everyday life.Far Ings Nature ReserveFar Ings Nature Reserve, run bythe Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, isa habitat for many of Britain’srarest birds including the bittern.The visitor centre has a first floorviewing area with spectacularpanoramic views across the lakes,estuary and riverbank. NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE | COUNTRYSIDE AND NATURE10Peace, tranquillityand outstandingnatural attractions Alkborough Flats & Julian’s BowerIn a superb setting, where therivers Trent and Ouse join toform the Humber, AlkboroughFlats is a haven for wading birdsand wildfowl and is ideal for birdwatching and leisurely walks.Overlooking the flats is Julian’sBower, a medieval turf maze cutby monks in the 12th century, andmarvelled at by visitors forhundreds of years.Waters’ Edge Country Park & Visitor CentreThe wonderful 110 acre Waters’Edge Country Park & VisitorCentre is home to rich and variedwildlife including many rare andmigratory birds. With walksaround ponds, through reed beds,woodlands and wildflowermeadows, friendly ducks to feed,and an abundance of wildlife tospot, not to mention the visitorcentre where you can learn aboutthe history of the site, it is perfectfor any nature lover. Isle of AxholmeThe Isle of Axholme is known forits historic landscapes and ishome to rare and stunningwildlife such as the Large HeathButterfly, grass snakes and theNightjar in areas such as CrowleMoors and Belton. The newBelton Visitor Centre will open insummer 2018 to welcome visitorsto this fascinating area.11NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE | COUNTRYSIDE AND NATUREHorkstow BridgeWhether you like shopping for designerpieces or something quirky for your home,take time to discover North Lincolnshire’stowns and markets. BriggNestled on the edge of theAncholme Valley, the historicmarket town of Brigg is thegateway to the LincolnshireWolds. Here you can enjoyindependent shopping, discoverthe old courts and yards off thepedestrianised town centre, take astroll along the river or enjoy oneof its bustling markets. When youare ready to rest your feet, youcan stop for a drink, a deliciousafternoon tea or a pub lunch inone of the many eateries in thetown.EpworthDiscover the rich culture andheritage of this charming markettown. Epworth is nestled at thecentre of the Isle of Axholme,once a unique island. The areawas drained by a Dutch engineerVermuyden and has now becomea popular visitor destination.Epworth has a rich history andheritage. Walk in the footsteps ofJohn Wesley and follow theWesley Trail around the town, orbrowse the unique boutiques andshops along the historic streets.When you have finished why notrelax in a friendly tearoom, cafeor local pub?Barton upon HumberSituated In the shadow of themagnificent Humber Bridge onthe banks of the Humber you’llfind Barton upon Humber. In latemedieval times Barton was themost important port on the riverand has many fine merchants’houses. Today the town centre ishome to a wide range of friendlyindependent shops, welcominginns, cafes and visitor attractions.Browse the fine art at TheRopewalk gallery, take a step backin time at the WilderspinNational School or stretch yourlegs along the Humber bank andpop into the Waters’ Edge VisitorCentre with its unique range ofcraft inspired gifts. Market shoppingFor centuries, North Lincolnshirehas had a great tradition ofmarkets, particularly in the townof Brigg. The 800-year-oldvibrant street market still runseach Thursday, filling the MarketPlace with a huge variety ofgoods. The award-winning BriggFarmers’ Market held on the 4thSaturday of the month is a realtreat for fresh, local produce.For the committed marketshopper there are two furthermarkets in the area. Ashby streetmarket has a character of its ownand takes place each Thursday,and Scunthorpe’s main marketdays are Friday and Saturdaywith the Food Hall open fromMonday to Saturday.North Lincolnshire TouristInformation CentreWhilst in Brigg, it is the perfectopportunity to discover moreabout the area at the NorthLincolnshire Tourist InformationCentre, which occupies themagnificent Buttercross building.Pop in and see the friendly staffwho would be happy to help youmake the most of your visit.NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE | MARKET TOWNS & INDEPENDENT SHOPPING12EpworthMarket Towns & Independent ShoppingBrigg13Normanby Hall Go Ape’s Tree Top Adventure andTree Top Junior provides perfectoutdoor family fun for those agedseven and over. Take thechallenge and take home yourcertificate of achievement, butmost importantly, pricelessmemories to last a lifetime. And the fun doesn’t stop there…Normanby Hall Country ParkNormanby Hall Country Parkoffers the perfect backdrop to thetree top adventure. With award-winning gardens and wildlife, afull schedule of events, walks andtrails through the woodland, asplashpad, farming museum, giftshop and café, there really isplenty to keep the fun going. Waters’ Edge Country Park & Visitor CentreWaters’ Edge is a free family dayout packed with wildlife andnature. Explore the country parkand nature reserve, discover howgreen you are with the interactivedisplays, watch the kids have funin the play areas or just chill outby the ponds and feed the ducks.With an amazing events calendarincluding the hugely popularannual Wildlife Day, gift shopand café, Waters’ Edge is perfectfor families and nature lovers ofall ages. Pink Pig FarmThere is so much to see and do atPink Pig Farm. Meet the animals,take a tractor & trailer ride, visitthe farm shop and café and enjoylots of farm themed fun andadventure. The indoor play barnmeans the fun carries on all yearround. Arial TrailAlso contained within thewoodland of the Pink Pig Farm isthe Arial Trail. This high ropeadventure is fun for all those overone metre tall, consisting ofsixteen elements to tackle beforethe zip lines bring you to the endof your challenge. Elsham HallThe beautiful lakeside setting ofElsham Hall takes you to a worldof secret gardens and woodlandadventures. With lots of animalsto see, fish to feed, a playground,gift shop and beautiful tearoom aswell as a programme of eventsand activities, this is a lovely dayout for all the family. NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE | FAMILY ATTRACTIONS14Wonderful attractions and exciting family-friendly events makeNorth Lincolnshire the perfect place to spend time together. This is just a taster of our familyattractions.For more take a look atpage 20or visitwww.visitnorthlincolnshire.comNot just for kids...Go Ape!Normanby Hall Country Park15Eat, drink and be entertained16 Winteringham FieldsSan PietroThe Baths Hall, ScunthorpeOn the menuLocal producers and growers arepassionate about what they doand fresh, locally sourcedingredients are often high on themenu when eating out in the area.There is even the opportunity tomeet the suppliers and discovertheir wonderful produce at theaward winning Brigg Farmers’Market and other popular foodevents held throughout the year.Eating and drinking outWhether you are looking for alight lunch, afternoon tea or evena culinary dining experience,North Lincolnshire has plenty tooffer. With quaint tearoomsserving delicious homemade food,country pubs with lovely views toaward winning restaurants, youwill be spoilt for choice.When it comes to your drink ofchoice, be it sipping cocktails orsampling real ales in an award-winning pub, there is somethingfor everyone. EntertainmentIf you enjoy theatre and the arts,then why not combine a pre-theatre dinner with a show? Thearea’s entertainment venues hosta wide range of performances tosuit every taste. The Baths Hall,which attracts top acts fromaround the world, is the largestentertainment venue whereasthe Plowright Theatre and RoperyHall have more intimate settings.The Plowright Theatre is knownfor its quality entertainment andperforming arts by a range ofprofessional and amateur bodies,but for a truly ‘up close andpersonal’ evening with some ofthe country’s top comedians andmusicians, the Ropery Hall is theplace to be.Whether you like fine dining or simply enjoy a meal out, there is a wealth of foodand drink experiences awaiting you inNorth Lincolnshire.17NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE | FOOD, DRINK & ENTERTAINMENTFor a comprehensive guide toeating out and entertainment visitwww.visitnorthlincolnshire.com18Lincoln and York City BreaksNorth Lincolnshire is a perfectlocation for combining a visit tothe wonderful cities of Lincolnand York.Lincoln is a beautiful city toexplore and is crowned by LincolnCathedral, which sits across apicturesque cobbled square fromthe castle. There are manymuseums and attractions acrossthe city, including The Collection,The Museum of Lincolnshire Lifeand Lincoln Guildhall.York, renowned for its exquisitearchitecture and tangle of quaintcobbled streets, has a wealth ofattractions like the iconic YorkMinster, JORVIK Viking Centre, the National Railway Museumand Castle Museum where youcan learn about its Roman, Vikingand Medieval heritage. Heritage & Culture ToursAs well as the cities of York andLincoln, there are also manyother opportunities to combineNorth Lincolnshire’s heritage andculture highlights with othersclose by such as vibrant Hull, the2017 City of Culture, the stunningmarket town of Beverley, with itsawe-inspiring Minster andhistoric buildings and EnglishHeritage properties such asGainsborough Old Hall.Gainsborough Old Hall, describedas a “hidden gem in Lincolnshire”is over 500 years old and one ofthe best preserved timber framed manor houses in the UK. Famousvisitors to the hall included JohnWesley and The MayflowerPilgrims. Coinciding your visit tothe hall with Epworth, home ofthe Wesleys or one of theupcoming Mayflower 400celebrations would be a perfectcombination.Family Days OutNearby is bursting with manyopportunities for the wholefamily. The Deep in Hull, one ofthe most spectacular aquariumsin the world, The YorkshireWildlife Park at Doncaster withnearly 400 animals includingtigers and polar bears and thetraditional seaside resort ofCleethorpes are all just a 30minute drive away.North Lincolnshire asa base to explore...North Lincolnshire is an ideal location from which to explore furtherafield, with these destinations all less than an hour’s drive away…19NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE | NEARBY DESTINATIONSNext >