This walk begins from the bus stop in Alford Market Place (Grid Ref: TF455759). With the Public Library on the left, walk past the Pay & Display car park and then turn left down Caroline Street. Follow the bend in the road to the right which then becomes Hanby Lane. After passing the towns secondary school, the road becomes a path which is followed to Farlesthorpe Road. Turn left onto a roadside path and then, at the road junction, follow Farlesthorpe Road round to the right. Follow this road for a further 125 metres.

Turn right at a Public Footpath sign and cross a stile. After just a few metres, turn left over a second stile and walk straight ahead with a dike on the left. After 2 fields, the path turns right along the field edge for 250 metres. Turn left along a crossfield track and follow the track, at first right and then left. As the farm track turns sharp right, the footpath leaves the track. Walk straight ahead, across the arable field, passing just to the right of 2 electricity poles to the footbridge ahead. Cross Well Beck Drain and then walk ahead, slightly right across the next field to a footbridge, aiming for a point 90% of the way along a line of trees ahead. The next field is crossed to a signpost approximately 60% of the way along the line of trees.

Ascend an incline on to the course of an old railway line which previously ran from Willoughby to Sutton on Sea, Mablethorpe and beyond. This section of the line has now been turned into a nature reserve run by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Turn right and follow the trackbed to the south-west. Ignore the footpath 150 metres ahead on the left. As we walk along, views of Willoughby church can be seen on the left, through gaps in the bushes. When the nature reserve ends, join a new path heading east along the southern edge of a dyke. Upon entering a second field take an immediate right along the fieldedge and follow the footpath to Station Road in Willoughby.  Before continuing on the footpath opposite, it is worth making a visit to the Village Green and church.

Turn left along Station Road and follow a roadside path until the road bends sharp right to arrive at the north-western corner of the Village Green. Follow the edge of the Village Green towards the church, pass through a gate and over a track. Keeping to the right hand side of the next field pass through the gate ahead between 2 bungalows and exit onto Church Lane. Turn right and after just a short distance, left into the churchyard. of St Helena. Willoughby is the birthplace of famous explorer Captain John Smith and the church contains some fine stain glass windows depicting his life. Exit the churchyard and walk west along the road to arrive back at the Village Green. Turn right on to the Green and use the benches to take a break. Walk back to the north-west corner of the Village Green and retrace steps along Station Road.

Turn left on to a footpath opposite the one which came from Alford. Walking to the left of the village allotments, follow for 200 metres, pass through a gate and then turn right. Exercise extreme caution when crossing the Clover Industrial Estate being aware of any forklift trucks in the vicinity. Cross the next 2 fields to reach Hoplands Wood, another nature reserve. This woodland provides the option to complete an additional 1 km waymarked circular route. Exit the woodland over a footbridge and then walk across the next field aiming for a position to the left of the woodland ahead.

Cross a footbridge over a flowing stream and then turn right onto a track. Follow the edge of the woodland and at the second corner we leave the track as it turns sharp left. Pass through a gate and walk parallel with the woodland and climb the steep hill to the fieldgate visible ahead. Exit the field, cross the road and turn left along the road. Just 50 metres ahead is the entrance to Mill Hill nature reserve and former quarry. From the gate, the impressive quarry face can be seen. The reserve is normally open to the public and if time permits is worth a visit. During April part of the reserve is covered with wild primroses.

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