This is a lovely little walk around Balby Doncaster’s outskirts is 5km (3mile) with options to extend it around iPort lakes. In Winter, bring your wellies and explore Balby, Loversall and iPort area of Doncaster. It’s great for the whole family and if you’re a keen birder, then bring your binoculars; the wildlife around iPort lakes is becoming increasing diverse as the ponds mature and attract migrants, especially during the winter months.
Distance: 5km / 3miles (options to extend it)
Time: ~1 hr 20mins
Parking: It’s lockdown – you should be walking from your doorstep!
If you’re reading this and it’s not lockdown, you can park at Tesco Extra (Balby), Loversall Village or residential streets around Woodfield Way. Please park considerately.
Who’s it for: Everyone with a pair of wellies or if it’s been dry, trainers will be fine. It’s not suitable for buggies.
1.Starting in Balby Doncaster, at the top end of Woodfield Way at Tesco end, cut through the Dominion playground and under the disused railway line bridge and head up the farm track (Hall Baulk Lane) to the main road (A60). Once at the main road, take a left turn and head over the A1 motorway. Once across the bridge, take the next left which brings you into Loversall village.
Loversall
Loversall is an attractive little village which has been designated a conservation area since 1979. You can take a stroll off route and visit the 14th Century medieval St. Katherines Church. For more information on the history of Loversall, visit Loversall Parish Council.
2. Follow the road through the village and to the right. Half-way down the incline, take the lane on the left (Rakes Lane). You may see some ponies or sheep in the small fields.
3. On the left you may see a glimpse of the grade II Loversall Hall. Follow the track (Rakes Lane), through the gate keeping the old farm buildings of Low Farm on your right.
4. This is where, if it’s been raining, your welligogs will come in handy. Follow the muddy track through the fields. Listen out for the skylarks making a commotion. I’ve also heard woodpeckers around here too.
5. At the end of the lane, you’ll reach the iPort lakes. Here, you can have your own explore or, you can keep to the left and follow the muddy path. It joins the main tarmacked cycle way from the Amazon sheds. Take the left and follow the path, keeping the farm buildings on your left all the way around, past Annabel’s café (temporarily closed at the time of writing this).
iPort Lakes
The lakes around the iPort are a great example of how development can work with creating new habitats for nature. Vast quarries were dug out , this material was then used to raise the ground for the vast sheds, including Amazon, to be built on. The holes were then filled with water, planted with reeds and grasses and stocked with fish. 5 years on and the whole area is maturing nicely with many birds now making their home here. It makes a great addition to the adjacent wetlands at Potteric Carr. There are also a few path through the area making walk around Balby Doncaster even easier, especially during Lockdowns.
6. Follow the path, past the M18 Lake and over the bridge. From here you can head straight on, or if you want to take a little detour, take the track right and follow it all the way around the fields until you reach the disused railway. Look out for the track to the bird hide. There’s occasionally highland cattle in the fields, great crested newts and a plethora of birdlife. From here, the railway will bring you back to the Dominion playground.
Please keep to the signposted footpaths and be respectful of residence when parking and other footpath users.
If you want to take your walking a step further and want to learn how to read a map, then WildWays offers map reading skills for all the family whatever you’re level. Get in touch. To keep up to date with my other walks around Balby Doncaster, further afield and other antics follow me on social.
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