Claypole

Claypole is a small village in the Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, sitting close to the Nottinghamshire border about four miles south-east of Newark-on-Trent, just off the old Fosse Way and a short hop from the Grantham-to-Newark stretch of the A1. Its name comes from the Old English for a 'clayey pool', a nod to the heavy farmland that surrounds it, and the village appears in the Domesday Book as 'Claipol', already recorded with a church, a priest and a mill.

Today Claypole is a working village rather than a tourist destination, with around 1,400 residents, a scatter of brick and pantile cottages along Main Street, and flat, fertile Lincolnshire countryside stretching away on every side. Its centrepiece is the Grade I listed Church of St Peter, a striking building dating from around 1300 whose stonework carries over 300 masons' marks, carved symbols and even a medieval game board scratched into the fabric by builders centuries ago. It is the kind of place best used as a peaceful, well-connected base for exploring the market towns and historic houses of the Newark and Grantham area.

Top things to do near Claypole

Claypole itself is a place to unwind, but it sits within easy reach of some of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire's best-known historic attractions.

• National Civil War Centre, Newark — an award-winning museum in Newark-on-Trent exploring the 17th-century Civil Wars through original objects, costumes and interactive displays, with a town trail linking on to the castle.
• Newark Castle — a riverside ruin dating from the mid-12th century that withstood three sieges during the Civil War; the grounds and gardens beside the River Trent are open to wander for free.
• Belton House, Grantham — a National Trust Carolean mansion from the 1680s set in 1,300 acres of formal gardens and ancient deer park, around 30 minutes' drive south.
• Woolsthorpe Manor — the modest farmhouse near Grantham where Sir Isaac Newton was born and later developed his ideas on gravity, complete with the descendant of his famous apple tree.
• Belvoir Castle — a grand stately home on the Lincolnshire/Leicestershire border, seat of the Duke of Rutland, with formal gardens and regular events across the year.
• Grantham town centre — a handsome market town with a historic core, independent shops and the parish church of St Wulfram, one of the tallest medieval church spires in England.

Getting to Claypole

Claypole lies just off the A1, making it an easy stop for anyone travelling between London and the North; Newark and Grantham are both within a ten to fifteen minute drive. Newark North Gate and Newark Castle stations offer regular services on the East Coast Main Line and connecting lines, including direct trains to London King's Cross, while Grantham station also has fast London services, typically around an hour. The nearest airports are East Midlands Airport, roughly 45 minutes away by car, and Doncaster Sheffield, a little further north.

Best time to visit Claypole

Like the rest of Lincolnshire, the area is at its best from late spring through early autumn, when the surrounding gardens at Belton House and Belvoir Castle are in full bloom and the flat farmland lanes around the village are pleasant for walking and cycling. Summer brings the Five Bells' annual beer festival in the village itself. Autumn suits visits to the Civil War Centre and indoor attractions in Newark, while winter is quieter, with shorter days better suited to a cosy pub lunch than long countryside walks.

Where to stay near Claypole

Claypole has limited accommodation of its own, with a handful of bed and breakfast rooms available above the village pub. Most visitors base themselves in Newark-on-Trent or Grantham, both of which offer a wider choice of hotels, guest houses and self-catering cottages within easy striking distance of the village and its surrounding attractions.

Food and drink near Claypole

The heart of the village is The Five Bells Inn on Main Street, a traditional brick and pantile pub with a large public bar, a small lounge and restaurant, and a strong local ale selection including guest beers from Lincolnshire microbreweries. It also offers a handful of rooms for overnight stays. Beyond the village, Newark and Grantham both have a good spread of independent cafes, restaurants and pubs to suit most tastes.