by Martin Thomas | Aug 20, 2024 | Around Me, Hubbards Hills, Lincs Connect, Louth, WhatsOnLincs
WhatsOnLincs – Hubbards Hills
WhatsOnLincs – Hubbards Hills in Louth, Lincolnshire is a true gem in the Lincolnshire Wolds and is a ‘must visit’ if you’re in the area.
It’s certainly not the best picture I’ve ever taken but it does show an image of the park. This is part of the poster that is situated at the entrance of Hubbards Hills at Halfpenny Lane. There are two entrances (one at Halfpenny Lane) with the second entrance via Crowtree Lane (accessible from Edward Street). This map gives a location for finding the hills but more importantly (for the purpose of this blog) it gives a key to the facilities provided.
Car Parking
There is a pay and display car park ( postcode LN11 0QW) from the Crowtree Lane entrance which is very convenient for the cafe and toilets. The Halfpenny Lane entrance (postcode LN11 9QU) has free but very limited car parking. Hubbards Hills are very popular all year round so don’t be too disappointed if you can’t get a free car parking space.
Hubbards Hills By Bus
WhatsOnLincs – Hubbards Hills by bus: There are local bus stops at Crowtree Lane and Love Lane which give you a short but picturesque very short walk to the Hubbards Hills. I haven’t tried the bus route so I can’t comment too much on it. However, I do believe that the bus runs from the Louth bus station.
Hubbards Hills – Getting In
If you manage to park on Halfpenny Lane you’ll be level with the park paths and will be able to walk straight in. This lower level is accessible by wheelchair. If you look immediately right at this entrance you’ll see some steep steps which lead to the top of the hills. The path runs across the top of the park along the edge of the grounds of the Louth Golf Course. If you’re able to tackle the steps you’ll be rewarded with some beautiful tree top views over the park land.
Treetop View In Summer
Hubbards Hills Treetop View In Summer
The path from the top of the steps is not paved and by its very nature, is riddled with tree roots. Exercise caution if you are visually impaired or unsteady on your feet.
From the top of the steps you’ll notice that there is a signpost offering additional walking routes. Remember though that this is the Lincolnshire Wolds so be prepared to have to tackle a few hills and rougher terrain.
The path atop the park runs the length of Hubbards Hills. The descent is fairly gentle and the track leads down to the single track, leave canopied Crowtree Lane. Turning left will take you back into Hubbards Hills at the cafe and toilets entrance.
If you park at the pay and display car park at Crowtree Lane entrance be aware that there is a descent from the car park to the paved path along the bottom of Hubbards Hills. It’s worth noting this small descent if you are planning on taking a wheelchair. It is accessible but you’ll need to take care.
WhatsOnLincs – Hubbards Hills At Water Level
The paved path running along the bottom of Hubbards Hills is most definitely wheelchair friendly. The grassy banks alongside are significantly steeper though. However, with that said, don’t let my words put you off. You’ll be glad you visited even if you can’t manage the steep banks, The River Lud is beautiful and well maintained (as is the rest of Hubbards Hills) by the charity trust who run the area.
During the summer Hubbards Hills is a magnet for families with young children. The river flows gently, is shallow and lovely and clear. It’s ideal for young paddlers while the family set up for a picnic.
The Shallows At Hubbards Hills
The Shallows At Hubbards Hills
Hubbards Hills – Health And Safety
I’m no expert but looking at the condition of the banks, paths and bridges it appears evident to me that health and safety of visitors is a high priority for the trust as they maintain the grounds. Some of the trees have been taken down since I visited previously but the opening up of the stream area seems to have worked well.
Getting Out
this paved path (with the cafe behind you) will take you back to the Halfpenny Lane entrance and free car park. However, if you have time, do stay to enjoy this beautiful space. It’s great for children to play and explore, ideal for a picnic and a paddle but equally as pleasant to just sit, enjoy nature and contemplate.
Hubbards Hills is open all year so you can enjoy all of the seasons here. If you look at the map above you’ll see Louth town centre. Yes, it ‘is’ that close! When you’ve finished at Hubbards Hills do take some time to explore Louth too. It has a vibrant market every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Donations To Hubbards Hills
If you would like to make donations to the upkeep of Hubbards Hills please follow this link: www.hubbardshillslouth.co.uk
Until Next Time…
Further Reading In The WhatsOnLincs Library
by Martin Thomas | Apr 4, 2024 | Blogging, Lincolnshire Blogger, Lincs Connect, LincsBlogger, LincsConnect
The Original Lincolnshire Blogger
The original Lincolnshire Blogger (AKA Martin Thomas, ‘Simply Fit’) came to prominence in January 2011 (with the Lincolnshire Blogger concept being born in 2009) and quickly grew in popularity. The dedicated website followed in November 2015.
Initially writing as a columnist in the Lincolnshire Echo, The Target, Retford Times, Horncastle News, Louth Leader, Market Rasen Mail, Weddings Today and a few other newspapers and magazines the theme has always remained the same. Helping and informing people has, and is still at the top of the agenda for the newspaper and web based blogs and columns.
The Original Lincolnshire Blogger – The Beginnings
Initially the published works began as health and fitness columns with links to local charities, organisations and clubs to help give them a voice in the media.
The first regular column was instigated on 7 September 2011 in The Lincolnshire Echo but prior to that the published writing goes back to November 2009 in my capacity as the sponsor for The Midwife Of The Year (MOTY). The domain names were established at the same time while waiting for the website to be built.
Here are a couple of my early columns dating back to 2011 and early 2012:
Early Columns
The Lincolnshire Blogger – Moving On
The popularity of my columns soon grew and demand increased as more invitations for writing and radio interviews began to arrive. I wrote articles both as ‘Simply Fit’ and ‘Lincolnshire Blogger’ but the latter didn’t take off properly until 2015.
Fast forward to Covid in 2020. The blogs took on a new focus. The supportive blogs to help and inform people were gratefully received.
The Last Blogs Before Covid
The last Blogs before the pandemic included ‘New Website’ and ‘The New Logo’ with one of the last blogs being an advertising blog for the ‘Comedy Hotspot’ events. Little did I know what was going to happen in just a matter of days after its publication!
Little did we know what was to come in just a few days time! If you would like to read one of the last blogs before the Pandemic lockdown just click on this link: Comedy Hotspot
The Lincolnshire Blogger With Covid
It’s ironic that it took a major pandemic to shake me out of my fear of writing blogs. Everything up until then felt like ‘practice’ for the real thing!
Having contracted Covid the day before lockdown I was quarantined in the house. Luckily my bedroom was next door to my office so as a result I made use of my time by brushing up on my blogging skills. The writing has always been easy for me. The fear of the technology (along with my dyslexia) had been holding me back. I find the computer quite easy to use but WordPress (the website & blogging platform) somehow felt extremely difficult.
My first lockdown blog doesn’t look the slickest in the world but it was the start of my ever improving blogging journey. Thank goodness for YouTube tutorials and the help from the local Twitter community.
“Have We Become Numb” was the first lockdown blog of many. Thankfully they improved over time! Click on the blue link above if you would like to have a look.
Moving Up-To-Date
We faced many challenges during the pandemic and the LincsConnect blogs certainly went a long way towards helping people to navigate their way through it. Post pandemic blogging helped us through new challenges as many of us were nervous about reverting back to our pre-pandemic lifestyle. Once again, I did my bit with my blogs to help as many people as possible.
Blogs For Advertising
Rather than becoming ‘old fashioned’, blogging has become even more relevant recently as many people turn away from familiar social media platforms and embrace new ones. Readership has become very fragmented across the many platforms with ever more confusing sites launching on a regular basis. Twitter has certainly changed (not for the better) and Facebook experiences ever increasing updates which makes it more and more difficult to navigate. The blog has remained constant and as a result continues to be the perfect advertising medium.
Gala Fireworks used a LincsConnect blog to advertise their event at the Lincolnshire Showground. The blog is extremely useful as it’s much bigger than a standard advert. It contains more information than a standard newspaper editorial yet has a small link that can be easily copied and posted on any social media platform. The link comes with its own advertising picture (of your choice) which can be embedded onto a website as a permanent advert. All in all, it ‘is’ the perfect advertising tool. Click on the blue link above to see how effective a blog can be for advertising.
Take Your Advertising Forward
Get in touch if you would like to have a blog written for your business, organisation or charity. It’s ideal for advertising on any platform so contact me if you would like more information.
Alternatively, if you already write your own blogs you can get in touch to chat about sharing links.
Advert
Mandarin Therapies provides bespoke mobile complementary therapies from the comfort of your own home. Call 07966 174878 to book
18lb 6oz River Pike in the Dark.
Lincs Angler provides fishing tuition in the Lincolnshire area. Find more information in the Lincs Angler guest blog
by Martin Thomas | Feb 26, 2024 | Advertise, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Blogger, Lincs Connect, LincsBlogger, LincsConnect, Networking, What's on Lincs
The LincsConnect Hour
The LincsConnect Hour is on Twitter (X) every Monday evening from 8.00pm.
The #LincsConnect Hour is on Twitter (X) on Monday evenings from 8.00pm
How To Join The LincsConnect Hour
Hop across to Twitter (X) on Monday evenings from 8.00pm. It’s simple to join in, all you need to do is go to the Twitter search bar, type in #LincsConnect then tap on the ‘search’ button if you’re using the App or hit ‘return’ if you’re logged in from a computer search engine. Then tap or click ‘Latest’.
That’s it! Once you’re there, simply follow the instructions from whoever is hosting the Hour. The #LincsConnect Hour often starts off with introductions and adverts along with an invitation for embers to post any adverts they may have. General chat between members follows as part of the introductions then sometime around 8.10pm the host will post a question. There are often 3 or 4 questions during the Hour but the format is flexible and dependant on the host on the night.
This Monday 14 October 2024
Please do join us on Twitter at 8.00pm on 2 Sep 24. Join Jason from @JASPlumbLincs to do some free networking, chat with locals and don’t forget to post your adverts.
Who Can Host?
Hosting is open to all local followers so if you would like to have a go just get in touch to organise a date.
Why Host?
Hosting is a great way to get yourself known and is ideal for promoting what you do. It’s FREE networking across the whole County and more often than not, the #LincsConnect hashtag can be found ‘trending’ across the world. That’s great free advertising for you!
Use this template for your advertising when you host the #LincsConnect Hour
Simple
That’s it! I told you it was simple!!
Advert
This blog is sponsored by Mandarin Therapies
Contact Mandarin Therapies for your mobile complementary therapies, injury prevention and rehabilitation sessions. Tel 07966 174878
LincsConnect Hour Host Advertising
Hosts can now have their details and advert added to this blog so let me know if you would like to host and advertise. You can use this blog to advertise the fact that you are hosting and encourage more people to join you. The more people who join, the more exposure your advert gets!
We look forward to seeing you (virtually) on Monday evening.
by Martin Thomas | Jan 25, 2024 | Lincs Connect
New Beginnings With Mandarin Fitness – The same Old Story
New beginnings with Mandarin Fitness – Exercise, diet, protein, carbohydrates, High Intensity Interval Training, Injury….. You’ve heard it all before.
Every January all of these topics will have probably been bombarding you from morning till night. You can’t escape it in January and you are ‘expected’ to have a New Year resolution. The expectation is that you will want or need to lose weight and get fit. Fast forward to pre-summer holidays and watch it all repeat again!
Reality Check
The realities are though that the majority of people who take up exercise and a new diet plan in January are doomed to failure. Why though? Is it because you have been pressured into it by the media, celebrities, friends, families and Personal Trainers?
Perhaps you feel under pressure to conform with what is expected of you? Here is a question and answer for the ladies:
“How do you get a bikini body?” The answer is simple “put a bikini on!”
The picture on the left is the real image. The picture on the right has been edited to portray ‘the perfect body’ image
New Beginnings With Mandarin Fitness – Don’t Be Pressured
The point I’m trying to make here is that whatever happens, you mustn’t feel pressured or bullied into conforming to the ‘skinny body’ picture that you may have in your mind. The ‘six pack’ may never happen for you. It’s a fact and I would like you to hold that in your mind.
We are all different and that is a fact too.
Body Type
Ectomorph, Mesomorph and Endomorph are three distinctly different body types. You are what you are and, like it or not, that’s the way it is. You can search any of those body types on the internet for a full description to save me rambling on here but the reality is that regardless of how many nuts and seeds you eat or litres off water you drink your body type will never change.
However, this doesn’t mean that you can just give up and pretend that any weight issues you may have just don’t matter. On the contrary, we know that an increased waist circumference is linked to heart disease, stroke and some cancers. We also know that too little body fat carries health problems too.
Morphology – you are what you are!
Confused?
So where does this leave you? Hopefully not confused!
Do you need to exercise? Of course you do! Your body type may dictate that you will never be lean with a six pack so do you stop considering what you eat? Of course not! Remember, “Everything in moderation”
New Beginnings With Mandarin Fitness – Your Health Is In Your Hands
If you don’t enjoy exercise and prefer to eat comfort food then consider this: “Your health is in your hands” – you should love yourself and the body you’re in so don’t try to reach the unreachable goal.
You can change habits though and there is plenty of professional help around from health professionals to fitness professionals. Consider ‘functional fitness’ as a goal. Many of you may not want to go to the gym or take up running but can you get out of your chair easily? Could you run or jog a short distance if you need to? Can you lie down and get back up again with ease? If the answer to these questions is ‘no’ then perhaps you need to consider your perception of fitness.
Take your body type (whatever it is) for a walk, swim or cycle. Don’t cut out carbohydrates from your diet but you can drastically cut down by reducing confectionary. It’s a good start!
If you are new to exercise, self conscious, unable to move as well as you should but would like to make improvements then you might like to contact me for help. I will visit you for a dedicated 1 to 1 consultation but I’m afraid there will be the normal charges for that service.
If you have any questions about starting exercise please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Injuries
March is my busiest month of the year. Why? Because so many people are too enthusiastic at the start of their fitness/activity journey and trainers often push people to exercise beyond their safe limits. March is the time when my phone is most active with people asking for help. Don’t be a statistic. Take your time to ease into exercise. There is no rush, you have the rest of your life to get it right!
Biomechanics coaching with Mandarin Fitness in Lincolnshire for injury prevention and injury rehabilitation
Until Next Time…
That’s it for now. I hope you find this blog useful. If you have any comments or would like any more information please do get in touch.
You can email martin@mandarinleisure.com or call me on 07966 174878. You can also visit the website www.mandarinleisure.com or for a quick response you will find me on twitter @MANDARINLEISURE @MandarinFitness @MandarinMothers of Facebook MandarinFitness
by Martin Thomas | Jan 4, 2024 | Detox, Fitness, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Mandarin Fitness
Mandarin Fitness Detox
Mandarin Fitness Detox – Did you over indulge over the Christmas holidays? Perhaps Easter was a chocolate fest? Are you ready to detox?
When Is The Best Time?
The simple answer is ‘NOW’
Now is the time detox. In fact, you’re already doing it. You don’t need to buy a special drink or go on a special ‘detox’ diet so put your credit card away.
Mandarin Fitness Detox – Every Day
Your body is detoxifying itself every single day of your life. It does it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, every year since the day you born.
If your body stops detoxifying itself, get medical help as a matter of urgency!
What Do You Need To Know About Detox?
The End
That’s it! There is no more to say about ‘detox’ other than to remind you to save your money by not believing the adverts that telly otherwise.
If you like this blog please do feel free to comment. Likewise, if you would like any other health and fitness advice please do feel free to contact me.
