Monksthorpe Chapel walk
Monksthorpe Chapel was built in 1701 and has a rare open air baptistry. Built in a time when those who believed in the full immersion of believers risked persecution and even imprisonment, this unique secluded chapel was built to look like a barn in order to avoid being discovered. The key is available daily between February and October from Gunby Hall & Gardens for a suggested donation of £5.
Visiting the chapel
If you want to have a look inside the chapel, you can pick up a key (£5 suggested donation) from the team in the Gunby car park during normal Gunby opening times.
Total steps: 13
Total steps: 13
Start point
Gunby Hall and Gardens, grid reference: TF466668
Step 1
Go through the white gate (next to the toilets) from the courtyard towards St. Peter's church, past the carp pond. Leave the gardens through a small gate and go through the gate on your left before the ch urch.
Step 2
Go past St. Peter's church and bear right following the fenceline of the gardens. From time to time, the field will be home to the tenant farmer's herd of Lincoln Red cattle. Look to your left and you will see the remains of the deserted medieval village. Go through the wrought iron kissing gate and continue across the field to another kissing gate.
Step 3
Cross Gunby Lane and continue straight on along the edge of the fields towards Candlesby. The path bears 90 degrees to the right. Continue downfield towards the main road, then turn left over the footbridge. Go through a kissing gate, another gate by a cattle grid and along a short path and you will come out behind Candlesby church.
Step 4
From Candlesby church, retrace your steps to the cattle grid, turn right and head down the hill, taking the right folk in the path towards small cattle pen between two gates. Please close the gates carefully behind you.
Step 5
Head slightly left towards a corner of the wood. With the wood on your right, continue on to a kissing gate and footbridge The path continues along the edges of the fields, bearing slightly to the right. The footpath is well marked with yellow arrows, until you come out at the concrete bridleway.
Step 6
When you reach the bridleway, turn right and continue straight on until you reach the road.
Step 7
At the road, walk straight on and follow it as it bears left. Turn left at the T-junction. You will see a poultry farm on your right, and a farm track signposted 'Monksthorpe' straight ahead. Follow the track until you arrive at Monksthorpe Chapel on your right.
Step 8
You have reached Monksthorpe Chapel. To return, retrace your steps to the bridleway.
Step 9
At the bridleway, you may return to Gunby the way you came, or, to make the route circular, walk straight on and continue as the bridleway turns into a green lane, until you reach Gunby Lane.
Step 10
Turn right onto Gunby Lane and follow the road as it bears left towards Bratoft.
Step 11
Turn left at the next T-junction.
Step 12
After passing a couple of cottages on your right, you will see the entrance to the old railway line on your left. Follow the old railway line for just under 1km, until it is crossed by the footpath. Along the railway you may see bullfinches, yellowhammers, long-tailed tits and, in summer, whitethroats.
Step 13
Turn left off the old railway line onto the footpath, crossing a field and past some woods. Turn right at the end and then keep left on to a green lane. Go through a kissing gate into a field with the woods on your right. Leave the field through kissing gate on your right. The footpath bears left and you enter the parkland through a kissing gate, where St. Peter's church is visible.
End point
Gunby Hall and Gardens, grid reference: TF466668
Trail map
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