Gunby Hall 17-09-2023

Cycling UK Louth’s Sunday Ride to Gunby Hall, 17th September 2023:

There had been a request from Paul to re-visit Gunby Hall and Tim had obtained the requisite permissions from National Trust’s Nigel Hodges (Gunby Hall’s senior Visitor Experience Officer).

Weather-wise, rain or thundery showers were due from about 5 pm so plenty of time for our return by about 3 or 4 pm.

Turning up at Louth’s Leisure Centre were John Rickett, Rob Cook and Paul Linder to join today’s Ride Leader Tim Newbery.

Our outbound route would take us through Little Cawthorpe and Muckton before descending from the ‘Top Road’ to Claythorpe Water mill for the first cuppa of the day. So far so good with warm sunshine breaking through the cover of low cloud and we were pleased to have met up with Alan Hockham who had cycled a more direct route from home.

Cycle Route ‘C4’ would now take us on an ‘undulating’ journey through Haugh and Rigsby; always enjoyable on this boundary of the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The B1196 would direct us through Willoughby and Welton le Marsh, arriving at Gunby Hall on schedule a little before midday. Tim apologises to anyone who hadn’t realised that we’d need to walk up to the house from the car park as perhaps the joining instructions had not made that clear.

Rob would enjoy an alfresco lunch whilst looking after the bikes and Alan would take advantage of rare opportunity for him to try out some new routes and destinations for future club rides. That would leave Tim, John and Paul to continue up to the Grade-II listed clock tower, carriage house and stable block where the café is located. The house is somewhat older, having been built around 1700 for Sir William Massingberd, a Baronet in Lincolnshire. There is much to discover, including links to Tennyson, Darwin and Vaughan-Williams but we’d leave a visit to the house and gardens to another day.

Our return route would take us away from the B1196 and along Cycle Route ‘C3’ through the attractive marsh villages of Sloothby, Bonthorpe and Farlesthorpe (the latter where Alan had visited the rather fine fishing pond and nature reserve).

Rob fancied a cup of tea as we arrived in Alford and we all took advantage of a break at the Manor House. The tea rooms are closed on a Sunday after 24th September but remain open on a Wednesday until 25th October.

Routeing through Authorpe and the Carltons, we’d arrive back in Louth before half past three having completed about 80 km (50 miles). Quite a few more for Paul as he needed to visit Louth’s Garden Centre before returning home.

Next week, ex hurricanes ‘Lee’ and Margot’ are expected to bring much more unsettled and perhaps stormy weather.