West Ashby combines prehistoric sites with a named circular walking route. Horncastle Golf Club is also located in West Ashby Country Park. This offers different focuses for planning a trip: prehistory, hiking and golf. The contrast is particularly clear at the archaeological sites, which differ both in their dates and in their described visibility.
Prehistoric sites: dates and visibility
Shearman's Wath Henge dates from the late Neolithic to the early Bronze Age and is dated to approximately 2350 to 1501 BC. This time span is an approximate historical classification, not a single year. The henge is designated as Scheduled Monument 1017875 and is located in West Ashby, 330 m north of Thimbleby Mill. No visible remains survive at ground level because the monument was levelled by ploughing.
The two Neolithic long barrows are located 590 m northeast of Thorn Covert in West Ashby and are designated as Scheduled Monuments. They appear as cropmarks and soil marks in aerial photographs. The sites therefore also differ in their described visibility: no remains of the henge survive at ground level, while the long barrows' features are visible in aerial photographs. Their dates offer another distinction: the long barrows are identified as Neolithic, while the dating of the henge extends into the early Bronze Age.
Circular walk and landscape
The “Horncastle, Fulletby & West Ashby” circular walking route passes through West Ashby. It follows part of the long-distance Viking Way and enters the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Viking Way is therefore one element of the route, while the protected landscape provides another named context. The circular walk can thus be described both by its course through West Ashby and by its connection to the landscape.
The route is a different kind of destination from the prehistoric monuments: it is identified as a circular walk and has a landscape connection, while the sites are distinguished primarily by their dates and visibility. If hiking is your main focus, the named circular route is a specific point of reference; the archaeological sites, by contrast, offer two different ways to explore prehistory.
Golf and finding accommodation
Horncastle Golf Club is located in West Ashby Country Park. This adds a distinct golfing connection alongside the archaeological and landscape interests. The location places the club in the country park, adding another topic to consider when choosing what to do during a stay in West Ashby.
When looking for a hotel in West Ashby, it helps to decide on the main focus of your trip first. Those interested in prehistory can compare the two sites by date and visibility. For hikers, the circular route—with part of its course along the Viking Way and its connection to the Lincolnshire Wolds—is a specific point of reference. If you want to include golf, you can factor the club in the country park into your travel plans.
Discover more destinations: Immingham, Kelby, East Kirkby, Friskney, Leadenham, Bradley, Hemswell, Wrangle
For the overview of the wider region: Lincolnshire.
