Walking & Trails
The very best walking, hiking and running routes around Boston.
Head out on the trail
Enjoy Lincolnshire’s glorious countryside in Boston and find the perfect walking, running or outdoor trail to stretch your legs and get that well-earned break into nature. Boston has a selection of trails to choose from that allow you to explore hidden gems, experience local wildlife, and learn more about Boston’s local history. Be inspired by the Pilgrims Walk in Fishtoft or explore the natural wildlife of Jessop's Jaunt circular route. Whether it’s an adventure exploring coastal nature reserves, a short stroll in the park with family, or a dog-friendly place to explore, there’s something in Boston for everyone.
Enjoy a mammoth 19km challenge route with Boston Waterways- showing off everything Boston has to offer as you explore the stunning waterways around the town, packed with history and supporting a vast ecosystem of local wildlife and natural beauty.
Explore dedicated trails, accessible routes and family-friendly walks in Boston’s stunning countryside and make the most of the great outdoors.
Popular walking routes in and around Boston
Boston’s countryside features a growing collection of routes made by visitors and residents for other users to enjoy through AllTrails. Take a peek, be inspired, and find your new favourite walk. We have highlighted some of our favourites.
1. Boston Waterways
Distance: 12 Miles | 19km
Shortlisted in the 40 Best Boxing Day Walks 2022, this circular walk celebrates the waterways and nature reserves surrounding Boston. Enjoy big open skies as you walk along the waterways and drains of Boston, a great route for experiencing wildlife and having a sample of Boston’s great outdoors.
This is a long flat circular walk, and some paths may be muddy in places. The route starts in the centre of Boston at the Guildhall and takes you out of Boston to the south along the Haven towards Havenside Country Park where, at high tide, you can enjoy stunning views of The Wash with boats frequently travelling in and out of the port. Towards the south end of The Haven, you are greeted by the Pilgrim Father’s Memorial standing proud in memory of the pilgrim father’s attempt at religious freedom.
Incorporating Boston’s history, the fantastic outdoor spaces and the unique waterways that so timelessly feed into Boston’s character, this route has it all to truly celebrate what makes Boston special. Embark on your next adventure now.
Enjoy this route by accessing the GPX file to use straight on your phone, or see below.
2. Pilgrim's Circular Walk
5km | 3.1 miles
The Pilgrim’s Circular Walk is an easy 5km route along the Haven and up Hobhole drain. This trail is great for family strolls and features a large amount of wildlife and nature. Enjoy the Pilgrim Fathers Memorial, breathe in the fresh ocean air of The Wash and experience the lovely wildlife on offer with the whole family. Along the route, you can also expect to see the engaging structure ‘Horizon’, part of a series of installations along Lincolnshire’s glorious coastline. This structure explores nautical navigation themes and is great to engage with keen young explorers, as they identify incoming ships, it's certainly a highlight of the trail.
The country park is also home to ‘Horizon’, an engaging structure built as part of a series of installations along the Lincolnshire coast known as ‘Structures on the Edge’ which promote developing artwork and coastal architecture. Horizon explores themes of nautical navigation by allowing visitors to imagine journeys into the unknown and beyond the horizon, as the Pilgrim Fathers once did. The structure’s design incorporates instruments and methods used throughout time by marines to navigate at sea. It’s best to see it with your own eyes!
The route begins at the car park at the end of Scalp Road in Fishtoft. To access the parking, follow the brown signs for the Pilgrim Father’s Memorial.
For a slightly more challenging route at Havenside Country Park, why not try out Jessops Jaunt, an 8.5km circular route taking you into the village of Fishtoft?
3. Jessops Jaunt
Explore Boston’s countryside and wildlife with Jessops Jaunt, an 8.5km circular route taking you alongside The Haven, through Boston’s rural countryside and into the quaint village of Fishtoft before returning down Hobhole drain to the Pilgrim Father’s Memorial. This route is great as a longer route for families, and to experience nature and wildlife in one of Boston’s stunning country parks. You may be able to spot some rare species of birds along the route.
At the halfway point of the route, you will reach the village of Fishtoft with the Red Cow Inn, a cosy Batemans pub serving food and drink throughout the day and makes a perfect, well-earned, halfway rest.
4. Boston Town Walk
3.75 miles | 6km
The Boston town walk is the perfect walking route to explore the historic town centre of Boston. The route takes you 6km around the town, along the River Witham, to the Grand Sluice, up through The Old Cemetery and back to the town centre down the Maud Foster Drain.
The first stage of the route gives you the opportunity to explore Boston’s high street as you head towards The Stump (St Botolph’s Church), the route then takes you alongside the scenic walkways of the river Witham up a short walk towards the Grand Sluice. Why not stop off at Boston Lock Café for a well-earned refreshment and indulge in the engineering history of the Grand Sluice, with views of The Stump in the background?
The route then takes you back into town and through Central Park where you can enjoy the town centre’s beautiful green space before heading north to The Old Cemetery – a stunningly overgrown cemetery, now preserved as an area for wildlife to thrive. The final stretch of the route takes you along the Maud Foster Drain towards the windmill and then back into the town centre to finish at Boston’s Guildhall.
This walk is a fantastic way to experience the history and heritage of Boston whilst also getting your steps up.
A detailed breakdown of the route and directions to take with you can be accessed here.
5. Frampton Marsh Loop
6.6km | 4.1 miles
One of the most popular nature reserves in Lincolnshire, RSPB Frampton Marsh features a stunning array of wildlife, big open skies and plenty of nature to indulge yourself in. This route celebrates all of that.
A rewarding 6.6 km route takes you all the way around the nature reserves and gives you the chance to spot rare species of birds and enjoy the open spaces and fresh sea breeze. This route is great for everyone and is a popular spot for bird watchers who often travel from across the country to come and see seasonal flocks call the marshy wetlands their home.
The loop begins at the site’s car park and visitors centre with accessible parking available and on-site toilets and refreshment facilities to enjoy at the start or end of the walk.
Plan your route and find out more about Frampton Marsh. Use this route as a starting point, there are other paths around the reserve waiting for you to explore – if you’re feeling up to it, extend the route, visit the bird hides and see what wildlife you can spot.
This circular route typically takes around 1hr 30 mins to complete.
6. Sir Joseph Banks Country Park Loop
The Sir Joseph Banks Country Park Loop is a short 3.1 km circular route taking you through the country park and surrounding woodlands. This route is great for dog walkers, young families, and extending with a picnic in the great outdoors.
Enjoy spotting the wood-carved statues in Westgate Wood, the picturesque owl tower rising through the wildflower fields of Oak Wood and the meadows and ponds of Jenny’s Woods. This is a popular walking spot so expect to be greeted by other dog walkers and lovers of the outdoors as you make your way through the all-weather paths of the country park.
This route starts at the car park at the entrance of Jenny’s Woods on West End Road, PE21 7LL. There is plenty of car parking available at the start of this route. There is also a small refreshment van at the entrance to the site, offering hot drinks, snacks and even treats for the dogs.
Reaching the end of Jenny’s Wood will see you meet a small country lane, be sure to watch for cars as you pass over into Westgate wood, the route then takes you up through the trees and down through Oak Wood where you can enjoy a picnic in the covered picnic area next to the Owl Tower or continue on the route and stop off for a post-walk recharge in one of the 2 places to eat in Westwood Lakes; The Fisherman’s Rest or The Mallard’s Lounge.
7. Freiston Shore Circular Route
8.5km | 5.2 miles
Freiston Shore Nature Reserve is a stunning RSPB site of wonderful wildlife and natural beauty. This route gives you the opportunity to experience the site's beauty to the full extent. A popular spot for bird watchers, family walks, and runners.
This is an 8.5km circular walk around the outskirts of the nature reserve starting at the car park just off Shore Road, PE22 0LY.
The route begins with a walk around natural lagoons dotted with a variety of birds and other wildlife before heading along the sea bank wall all the way down to the edge of The Haven, for stunning views overlooking The Wash. The route then takes you back around the marshland towards the car park. This route is perfect for a natural break into nature, enjoying a marvellous selection of bird species. Find out more about Freiston Shore.
8. The Water Rail Way | Boston to Lincoln
54km | 33 miles
Are you feeling up to the challenge? This is the ultimate Lincolnshire route and is certainly not for the faint-hearted. This mammoth 54 km route takes you all the way from Boston’s town centre, right the way up to Lincoln using the water railway – a dedicated cycle path linking the town of Boston to the city of Lincoln.
This is a popular route for Cyclists, with many joining the trail midway for a shorter route.
Most of the route consists of off-road walking and public footpaths. Extend a walk from Witham Way Country Park along the Water Rail Way and enjoy artwork dotted along the route inspired by the county’s heritage.
Find out more about the Water Rail Way and embark on your next adventure here.
