Baumber Walled Gardens 24-03-2024

The last time the group had cycled to the Walled Gardens was back in October and today we’d have very similar weather conditions, except that the north westerly winds would start off strong and gusty at 30 mph. Temperatures about the seasonal average at 11 Degrees Celsius.

 

Meeting up with today’s Ride Leader Tim Newbery at Louth’s Meridian Leisure Centre were Alan Hockham, John Rickett, Steve Croton, Sven Livesey, Martin Wood and John Weeks. Tim had to admit to John that with well over 2000 feet of climbing, the route might not be best described as undulating but verging on mountainous. Chris Owen had indicated that he’d meet up at Donnington with Paul making his own way to the Walled Garden. That would make us a ‘Red Arrow’s Nine Ship’, the largest attendance for months.

 

Climbing up to the Bluestone Heath Road the Wolds looked resplendent in the sunshine and a number of Buzzard were in evidence soaring above our heads. We met up with Chris a little earlier than expected on the Louth side of Welsdale Bottom which he’d only just ridden up, so was no doubt in training for something or other. More climbing followed to take us past Belmont Transmitting Station, then a pleasant ride along the attractive wooded lanes through Panton, Sotby and Hatton.

 

Passing through Minting we would return to the ‘Lincoln Road’ where fortunately it was just a few hundred metres to the turn off for the Walled Garden where Paul was waiting for us with menu in hand in readiness for our order in the Potting Shed Tea Room. Really busy today as there was also an ‘Arts and Craft Fayre’ in full swing but we were eventually served with steaming cups of tea and coffee and an assortment of hot and cold snacks.

 

This rare example of a double walled garden at Baumber dates to the nineteenth-century, once belonging to the former Stourton Hall. Sold to Thomas Livesey in 1768 and largely rebuilt, the grand hall was eventually demolished in 1953 but much of the parkland survives and is managed to raise red deer for venison.

 

Chris, Paul and John Weeks would return to their respective homes from the gardens with the remaining sextet continuing onto Hemingby and the steady long assent along Green Lane.

 

Following a sharp climb up Red Hill and past the Nature Reserve, we would arrive back in Louth a little after 2.30 pm with John Rickett very generously buying coffees for all the members at the Leisure Centre. 60 km covered. 

Thanks to all for the company and to all the photo contributions.