Beverley 15-16 May 2024

Wednesday 15th May

High pressure the previous Wednesday and Thursday had given us warm sunshine, however this week low pressure would dominate and threaten rain for most of the mid-week break. Never the less, John Rickett, Steve Croton, Martin Wood, Paul Linder and Tim Newbery assembled at Louth’s Meridian Leisure Centre at 09.30 am on the Wednesday for the ride to Beverley.

 

Rob Cook would depart a little later for his route to Beverley with the aim to meet up with us for an evening meal. He was on a cycle camping trip to Piel Island in Morecambe Bay.

 

A little rain necessitated the donning of waterproofs on departure but our outbound route through North Ormsby and then up to the Lincolnshire Wolds to East Ravendale (where some of us had been just a few days ago) proved uneventful, a south east breeze aiding our efforts.

 

Bikes were variously loaded, some with panniers, others preferring to carry provisions in backpacks. Room certainly for sandwiches and coffee for a picnic which we’d take at the attractive village of Swallow. Sitting in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church all was peaceful, spotting a number of hare and birds of prey.

 

The rain by now had largely ceased and skies were brightening as we continued along an undulating Sustrans NCN Route 1 to Great Limber, before departing northbound to Brocklesby and Ulceby. We spotted ‘Chums’ Café which has only recently opened and decided to try it out on our return. Today we planned to take lunch at the Humber Bridge.

 

With a number of cafes to choose from, we plumped for The Viking Way Café Bar, the former coastguard station. Very fine too sitting outside with splendid views of the iconic suspension bridge in increasingly good weather, warm sunshine now breaking through the clouds.

 

Spirits buoyed and waterproofs packed away, time to cycle across the bridge. A ferry from Barton to Hessle would formerly have transported passengers across the river throughout the Middle Ages, assisting those following the ‘Pilgrims Way’ from Lincoln to Beverley. The bridge offers fine views of the Humber and the National Byway offers equally interesting views from beneath which Steve enjoyed, before winding its way to Swanland.

 

We arrived in Cottingham just as large numbers of schoolchildren had ventured out following their day of studies and we had to be alert for unexpected incursions and badly parked cars. A short section of footway and cycleway at Dunswell soon led us back to the rural Long Lane to enter Beverley, arriving at the Hotel about 4.30 pm having covered 56 miles - the weather still fine and dry with some sunshine.

 

We made contact with Rob and headed into town for a spot of sightseeing before heading back to ‘The Potting Shed’ for refreshments, conveniently located by the Premier Inn. Perhaps a bit of a disappointment but Rob very kindly supplied a round of drinks which was much appreciated and very welcome. It had been a long day in the saddle.

 

Beverley has a wealth of history with a number of historic markets, in addition to the Minster which itself was built upon a monastery dating to around 700. Saturday Market is dominated by an elegant Market Cross and on an adjacent building is a rare cast iron Cyclists’ Touring Club winged wheel from around 1890, used by the Akrill family who dealt in cycles and guns. Interesting too to see the provision of secure cycle parking in what was once a car park. Parking was a problem in the Market before the advent of cars, with farmers fined for not removing their horses.

 

 

Our route would require a climb to take us through Barton and Barrow Vale and we were pleased to take a break at Ulceby. We had promised ourselves a lunch at Chums Café. Very fine it was too with a large selection of fayre at affordable prices. We also chatted to two women cyclists who were members of a Cycling UK club near Snitterby and were out on a day’s ride. Still dry and bright, temperatures remarkably close to 20 Degrees Celsius.

 

We’d now once again pass through the attractive village of Hatcliffe and after stopping for a few photo calls, we’d enjoy the descent to North Ormsby and Utterby. The weather was beginning to turn and having been lucky so far, we encountered grey skies, lowering temperatures and a few minutes of slight rain. After a bit of a delay to deal with a puncture we arrived back into Louth a little after 3.45 pm having covered 53 miles. Paul would continue cycling back home.

 

Many thanks to all for their company and support. Thanks to Rob for the round of drinks and we hope he enjoys some fine weather whilst on his cycle camping trip on the west coast (weather apps suggest a taste of summer).