Discover Fishtoft through a walk across the low-lying Fens, historic buildings and the waterscape along The Haven. The Fishtoft Walk starts at the Church of St Guthlac and runs between the village of Fishtoft and The Haven. Further insights come from the church’s different building phases, Rochford Tower and the history surrounding Havenside Country Park.
On foot through the Fens
The Fishtoft Walk starts at St Guthlac Church on Clampgate Road. From there, it runs through the low-lying Fens between the village and The Haven. This gives you two specific points to help you navigate the route: the start at the church and the destination by the water. The walk focuses on the landscape between Fishtoft and The Haven.
Smaller landscape features also have their own significance: the ditches along Burton Croft Road in Fishtoft provide a habitat for water voles. This is a specific connection to nature, distinct from the route description, which draws attention to the local ditches.
Church and building history
The Church of St Guthlac is a parish church dedicated to the Saxon saint St Guthlac. Its parts date from the 12th, late 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Its building history thus spans several centuries. In 1853, the church was restored and a vestry was added—a further clearly dated stage in its history.
Rochford Tower offers a different architectural note. It dates from around 1460; it was slightly altered in the 17th century and partly restored in the 19th century. Specific architectural features include a brick-vaulted lower level with three pointed-arch niches. In a pointed-arch niche, the upper sides meet at a point; this detail makes the shape easy to visualise.
Hobhole Drain also has a clearly defined building history: it was designed by John Rennie and built between 1802 and 1812. Together with the information about the church and tower, this offers a glimpse of different historical periods—from medieval buildings to water engineering in the early 19th century.
Waterscape and remembrance
Havenside Country Park overlooks the saltwater stretch of the River Witham, known as The Haven. The park can be reached on foot via the riverside embankment path. This makes the embankment path a useful point of reference for visitors planning to walk to the park.
In Havenside Country Park, the Pilgrim Fathers’ Memorial marks the site formerly known as Scotia Creek. A group of Puritans were arrested there in 1607 while attempting to gain religious freedom. The memorial was erected in 1957. The waterscape and the history of remembrance come together here at a named place.
A simple comparison can help you choose what to focus on: the Fishtoft Walk passes through the Fens, while the church and tower reveal different building histories. At Havenside Country Park, the focus is on the view of the River Witham and the commemoration of the 1607 event. The same name appears in two ways here: The Haven is the destination of the walk and also the name of the saltwater stretch that the park overlooks.
Discover more destinations: Scunthorpe, North Killingholme, Little Sutton, Tattershall, Colsterworth, Boston, Barrow-Upon-Humber, Harlaxton.
For the broader travel overview: Lincolnshire.
