Walk the Viking Way – get the badge to prove it!

A brand new walking scheme has been launched by the Lincolnshire County Council commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Viking Way, a 149-mile path running from the Humber estuary to Oakham in Rutland.

The scheme offers three tiers of badges: bronze, silver and gold, depending on the distance of the path completed by the walker. Badge applications will officially open on the 5th of September 2026 (exactly 50 years to the day that the The Viking Way was opened), and participants will have twelve months (closing on the 5th of September 2027) to apply for their badge.

The trail passes through some of Lincolnshire’s most significant landscapes, including the Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape, the Lincolnshire Limewoods, the Lincoln cliff villages and the Kesteven uplands.

Chris Miller, Head of Environment at Lincolnshire County Council says he has “enjoyed shining a light” on the route, and has acknowledged the importance of the Viking Way to many locals. He hopes that the badge scheme will “keep that momentum going” and that it will give both new walkers and those who have trekked the Viking Way before something to aim for. The council is also thankful for the co-operation of landowners along the path, who have worked to install improved seating across the trail.

More information on both the badge scheme and the Viking Way itself is available on the Visit Lincolnshire website, www.visitlincolnshire.com.