Aerial view of the remains of Bratoft Manor — The moat is all that remains of Bratoft Manor, the former home of the Massingberd family | © National Trust Images

Nottinghamshire & Lincolnshire

Gunby Hall to Bratoft Manor walk

Explore the Gunby parkland and grounds on a four-mile walk to the church in the nearby village of Bratoft. Discover the Medieval moated manor site, the former home of the Massingberds of Gunby on this linear walk.

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Total steps: 8

Start point

Gunby Hall and Gardens

Step 1

Enter the gardens through the ornamental gates at the front of the house. Go left past the house and follow the garden path towards the church. Leave the gardens and go through the gate on your left before the church.

Step 2

From St. Peter's Church, carry straight on and cross the parkland. From time to time, the field will be home to the tenant farmer's herd of Lincoln Red cattle. Continue to the stile keeping the cottages and trees on your left.

Medieval village of Gunby

Explore the lumps an bumps of the once thriving village of Gunby, which was originally known as 'Gunnebi' and is first recorded in the Domesday Survey when the land was granted to Eudo Fitz Spirewic, a Norman baron. All that remains today are the earthworks of hollow-ways, tracks and housing platforms. When walking across the parkland, look out for brown hare, green woodpecker and mistle thrush.

Step 3

Follow the path and climb over a second stile into a field. Turn left and follow the fence line by the trees to the gate and kissing gate. Follow the purple way markers along the green lane.

Step 4

At the end of the green lane turn left. Continue along the lane and through a field until you reach the disused East Lincolnshire railway line.

Step 5

Cross the old East Lincolnshire line and walk along the edge of the field and climb over the next kissing gate.

Painted lady butterfly at Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire — Painted lady butterfly at Gunby Estate, Lincolnshire | © National Trust Images/Derek Hatton

Step 6

You have now reached the site of the medieval moat, which you will see in front of you.

Bratoft Manor

Through the marriage of Sir Thomas Massingberd to Joan de Bratoft in 1495 the lands of Bratoft and Gunby and the moated manor house at Bratoft came into the family, surrounded by fish ponds and an extensive park. An Elizabethan garden seems to have adorned Bratoft Manor, of which archaeological remains can be seen in the landscape today. It was Sir Henry William, the second baronet, who decided to move the family home to Gunby. Some of the bricks used to build the house were quarried from the old manor house at Bratoft.

Step 7

You may return the way you came, or you can extend your walk with a visit to Bratoft church (not National Trust) which has connections to the Massingberd family. Carry straight on along the side of the moat, go through the kissing gate, and walk straight on along the track. You will see a road ahead - carry straight on and take the first left to the church on the left. Turn left and left again to come back to the end of the track.

St Peter and Paul's Church

Bratoft's church was built in the fifteenth century, and was partly restored in the memory of Charles Langton Massingberd in 1889, having a brick West tower built in 1747. Inside is a unique painting depicting the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Next door to the church is the Old Rectory, built in about 1840 by Rev Algernon Massingberd. It is now a National Trust holiday cottage.

Step 8

Retrace your steps back to Gunby Hall and Gardens.

End point

Gunby Hall and Gardens.

Trail map

Map route for Gunby Hall to Bratoft Manor walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

Gunby, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, PE23 5SS

01754890102

gunbyhall@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Gunby Hall to Bratoft Manor walk

Total steps: 8