The Parish of the Asterby Group is beautifully situated in the Horncastle Deanery, on the Lincolnshire Wolds, to the south west of  the attractive market town of Louth, east of the historic county town of Lincoln and to the north of Horncastle itself and is set in rolling, peaceful countryside in an area of outstanding natural beauty.  It consists of the villages of:

**Asterby

Benniworth

Biscathorpe

Burgh-on-Bain with *Girsby

Donington-on-Bain

Gayton with *Grimblethorpe

Goulceby

Market Stainton

Ranby

Scamblesby with *Cawkwell

and Stenigot

 

*   Churchless parishes

** Redundant church

 

Worship in the village churches is shared on a rota basis with some parishioners travelling from their own villages to worship together, while others attend formal worship only when it is held in their particular village church.  Numbers fluctuate with greater numbers attending at Harvest, Christmas and special services. 

There are few amenities in any but the largest villages of Donington-on-Bain and Scamblesby and regular public transport is not available except through the excellent Lincolnshire County Council Inter-Connect service linking the outlying villages with regular transport provision available in the market towns of Horncastle and Louth.  Private taxis also serve the villages.  Both primary and secondary school children are bussed to their schools daily from each village.  The travelling library visits many of the villages monthly providing a limited choice of literary material.  Basic banking facilities are available at the Post Office in Donington-on-Bain.  The area is criss-crossed with public footpaths, including the long distance Viking Way, and is very popular with ramblers.  Monthly walks are organised by a parish group called the “Asterby Amblers” which explores the local area.  The River Bain runs through the area with some fishing available.  This is a predominately agricultural area with well-tended arable fields, cattle and sheep grazing as well as both deciduous and coniferous woodland providing cover for a varied bird life.  Many tourists visit this attractive area and they find accommodation in the various bed and breakfast facilities available in the villages.  Caravan camping sites also exist.